MLB 26 Stubs Guide — How to Earn & Buy Stubs

Stubs are the premium currency in MLB 26's Diamond Dynasty mode, functioning as the economic engine for all player transactions, pack purchases, and market activity. With Stubs, you can buy player cards from the Community Market to fill out your Diamond Dynasty squad, purchase packs in the hope of pulling high-rated diamonds and specialty series cards, acquire equipment and perks that boost your created player's attributes in Road to the Show, and buy stadiums, uniforms, and customization items for your Diamond Dynasty team. Stubs come in two forms: earned Stubs, which are gained through gameplay and cannot be purchased from the PlayStation or Xbox storefront, and purchased Stubs, which are bought with real money directly through the game's store. The stub economy in MLB 26 is distinct from other sports games because Sony San Diego maintains a relatively stable market with predictable supply and demand cycles tied to content releases. Understanding how to earn Stubs efficiently and when to spend them on the market is essential for building a top-tier Diamond Dynasty squad without spending hundreds of dollars on packs.

MLB 26 offers multiple gameplay avenues for earning Stubs, allowing players to build their Diamond Dynasty collection without spending real money. Conquest mode is one of the most reliable methods: each Conquest map offers hidden pack rewards, Stub payouts for capturing territories and completing maps, and repeatable missions that reward Stubs and packs for accumulating innings played with specific team affinities. Battle Royale is a draft-based mode where you build a team from random player selections and compete for up to 12 wins. Each win milestone rewards packs and Stubs, with 12-win runs paying out premium rewards including rare diamond players and substantial Stub bonuses. Ranked Seasons offers the most consistent Stub income for competitive players — each season rewards Stubs based on your final rank, with World Series and Pennant Race tiers paying the highest amounts. Daily Moments are quick, single-game challenges that refresh every 24 hours and reward a mix of Stubs, packs, and XP toward the seasonal program. Programs are the backbone of MLB 26's progression system: each program (Topps Now, Monthly Awards, Featured Program) offers Stub rewards at various XP thresholds, plus player cards that can be sold on the market if you already own them or do not need them.

While you can earn Stubs through gameplay, many players choose to buy Stubs to accelerate their Diamond Dynasty progress. The official method is purchasing Stubs directly through the PlayStation or Xbox store, with prices typically ranging from $4.99 for 5,000 Stubs to $99.99 for 150,000 Stubs. However, third-party sellers often offer better rates per stub, allowing you to get more value for your money. When buying from third-party sellers, the safest delivery method is through the in-game Community Market: the seller lists a common or bronze player card at an inflated buy-now price, and you complete the purchase. This mimics normal market activity and does not require sharing your PSN or Xbox account credentials. Never provide your login details to any seller. For market investing, the golden rule in MLB 26 is to buy during content drops and sell during content droughts. When a new program or pack type releases, the market floods with new cards and prices drop — this is your buying window. Prices recover over the following days and weeks as supply tightens. Gatekeeper cards needed for major collections (like Live Series collections) are excellent long-term holds, as their value tends to rise throughout the game cycle as more players complete collections. Weekend evenings often see the most market activity and best prices for sellers, while weekday mornings favor buyers.