Happy Monday, FUTcast crew!
We are officially on the other side of the Black Friday chaos. Thunderstruck has landed, the packs have been ripped, and the market is still trying to figure out which way is up.
If you logged in this weekend, you saw the power curve shift. The Thunderstruck cards are live, and while the dynamic upgrades are the main pull, it’s the sheer volume of content — flash SBCs, objective grinds, and endless store packs — that has the market in a chokehold.
But we aren't done yet. TOTW 12 leaks are already surfacing, a new Flash event is live, and we have a mountain of SBCs to grade.
Let’s get to work.
Promo & Event Updates
TOTW 12 Leaks & Predictions
After a weekend of big performances, the data points to a balanced squad with some heavy hitters up top and rock-solid options at the back. Here is how TOTW 12 is shaping up:
Lautaro Martínez (89 ST): The clear headliner. A lethal finisher for Serie A squads, though his pace split will determine if he’s meta or just good fodder.
Karim Benzema (86 ST): The veteran Frenchman finds the net again. Expect high shooting stats, but likely low stamina and agility.
Malick Thiaw (86 CB): A massive boost for Milan fans. If he gets decent pace (80+), he becomes a very viable Serie A center-back option.
Phil Foden (86 CAM): The City star is predicted to feature. His dribbling is always elite, but he needs a significant pace boost to compete with the current power curve.
Alberto Moleiro (86 LM) & Kenan Yıldız (85 CAM): Keep an eye on these two for technical dribbling stats. They could be budget beasts for hybrid squads.
Objective: Thunderstruck Flash Event 3
The third installment of the Flash Events is live. These are short-term, low-stress tasks that reward you with fodder packs — vital for the current SBC grind.
Win 1 Game: Reward — 3x 81+ Players Pack.
Score 1 Goal in 3 Separate Games: Reward — 2x 84+ Players Pack.
Verdict: Do these immediately. It takes 3 games max (Squad Battles or Rivals), and with 84s spiking in price (see Market Watch), that pack is essentially free coins.
SBC Spotlight
There is a lot to cover today. Here is your rapid-fire guide on where to put your fodder and where to save it.
Base Icon Matchday Pick (Cafu / Carlos Alberto) (~534k) — Great Value. This is the big one. Getting a choice between two top-tier Brazilian defenders is huge. Carlos Alberto is preferred by most for his superior PlayStyles, but Cafu is still elite. If you have the coins/fodder, this is a Yes.
Jules Koundé (~477k) — Pass. It’s a great card, but ~480k for a right-back/center-back at this stage is steep. Unless you are running a strict Barcelona/La Liga setup, there are tradeable options that do the job for a fraction of the price.
Ronald Koeman (~348k) — Avoid. Way too overpriced. His stats are great for a CDM conversion, but for a CB, his work rates and pace can be tricky. Save your fodder.
Base Icon Upgrade (~234k) — Gamble. No max rating limit means you could hit R9 or Pele, but the weight on these is usually heavy on the low-end icons. Do it only if you’re feeling lucky.
Christopher Nkunku (~81k) — Skip. An okay card, but there are so many better CAM/attacker options available now. He doesn't move the needle enough to justify locking in the coins.
Grace Geyoro (~70k) — Pass. Decent stats, but hard to link outside of specific setups and lacks the wow factor of a 70k card.
86+ Base Hero Upgrade (~55k) — Worth the Gamble. It’s cheap. For 55k, getting a shot at a Ginola, Toure, or Marchisio is worth the risk. Even a bad pull doesn't hurt your club too much.
86+ Campaign Mix Upgrade (~45k) — Gamble. Another Casino SBC. Can payout big with a Thunderstruck or Centurions card, but the weight is usually tilted toward the lower end. Good for duplicates.
Esther González Rodríguez (~15k) — Skip. Cheap, but useless. No PlayStyle+ and average stats. Don't waste the squad.
Cheapest Solution For Base Icon Matchday Pick
Task | Requirements | Recommended players (rating) |
Task 1: Brazil | Brazil players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 85 | Alexandra Popp: 85 Foord: 85 Girelli: 85 Granit Xhaka: 85 Giugliano: 85 Svenja Huth: 85 Vivianne Miedema: 85 Kim Little: 85 Ederson: 85 Damaris Egurrola: 84 Cata Coll: 84 |
Task 2: Top Form | TOTW players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 85 | Alexandra Popp: 85 Foord: 85 Girelli: 85 Granit Xhaka: 85 Giugliano: 85 Svenja Huth: 85 Vivianne Miedema: 85 Kim Little: 85 Caroline Weir: 85 Damaris Egurrola: 84 Cata Coll: 84 |
Task 3: 86-rated squad | Team overall rating: Minimum 86 | Marie Katoto: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Ada Hegerberg: 87 Millie Bright: 87 Ruben Neves: 84 Maanum: 84 Isco: 84 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Cata Coll: 84 Pedro Goncalves: 83 Gimenez: 83 |
Task 4: 86-rated squad | TOTW players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 86 | Marie Katoto: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Ada Hegerberg: 87 Millie Bright: 87 Ruben Neves: 84 Maanum: 84 Isco: 84 Sergej Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Harvey Barnes (TOTW): 84 Pedro Goncalves: 83 Gimenez: 83 |
Task 5: 87-rated squad | Team overall rating: Minimum 87 | Endler: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Marie Katoto: 88 Gabriel: 88 Ella Toone: 85 Giugliano: 85 Girelli: 85 Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Maanum: 84 Xavi Simons: 84 |
Task 6+7: 87-rated squad | TOTW players: Minimum one Team overall rating: Minimum 87 | Endler: 88 Irene Paredes: 88 Robert Lewandowski: 88 Marie Katoto: 88 Gabriel: 88 Ella Toone: 85 Giugliano: 85 Girelli: 85 Milinkovic-Savic: 84 Maanum: 84 Harvey Barnes (TOTW): 84 |
Task 8+9: 88-rated squad | Team overall rating: Minimum 88 | Rodri: 90 Alessia Russo: 89 Khadija Shaw: 89 Mapi Leon: 89 Endler: 88 Marie Katoto: 88 Girelli: 85 Laura Freigang: 85 Svenja Huth: 85 Isco: 84 Viggosdottir: 84 |
Market Watch
Market Momentum: The market is behaving exactly as expected during a fodder-heavy promo. We are seeing a massive divergence between low and high-rated cards.
Fodder Split: 84-rated cards have exploded, up 16.68% according to the Index. This is driven by the specific requirements of the Flash SBCs and upgrades. Meanwhile, the general Index 100 is down 6.54% as people sell meta cards to fund packs.
Investment Tip: If you are holding 84s, sell them NOW. This spike is your exit liquidity.
Strategy: High-rated fodder (87+) is currently dipping. If you plan on doing the Carlos Alberto/Cafu pick later in the week, buy your high-rated fodder during this dip before it rebounds.
Evolutions: Magician of the Right (60k Coins / 700 FC Points)
A new Evo has dropped for Right Midfielders/Wingers, and it is a strong one.
Upgrades: Massive boosts to Passing, Dribbling, and Pace.
Best Candidates:
Trinity Rodman: Becomes a speed demon with great physicals.
Antoine Semenyo: A community favorite for his physical presence.
Oscar Bobb / Ethan Nwaneri: Great for Premier League hybrids.
Verdict: It is a bit expensive, but the upgrades are OP. It breathes life into cards that were falling behind the power curve.
Quick Hits
TOTW Leaks: A balanced drop is coming. Lautaro Martínez brings the finishing, while Thiaw and Foden offer solid upgrades for Serie A and Prem hybrids.
EVO Summary: Magician of the Right (60k) is a must-look. It transforms wingers like Rodman and Semenyo into end-game threats with massive passing and pace boosts.
SBC Verdict: The Base Icon Pick (Cafu/Carlos Alberto) is the value king. Gamble on the cheap Hero Upgrade, but avoid the overpriced Koundé and Koeman.
Market Moves: 84s are flying (+16%) — sell now. Index 100 is down, making it a buyer's market for high-end meta cards.
The Grind: Hit the Thunderstruck Flash Event 3 immediately. Easy 84+ fodder for just 3 games.
Good luck with the grind, and let's hope for some blue flares in those Flash rewards,
Shahmeer