The real priority for investing time in this major Pipeline Series update for MLB The Show 26 is the final collectible reward, Jesús Made.
This card is not only ambidextrous but can also play shortstop, second baseman, and third baseman, boasting very well-rounded fundamentals. For the current Ultimate Team, an infielder with such versatility in hitting, speed, defense, and multiple positions is extremely rare.
So, how can you unlock Jesús Made in the shortest amount of time? The core strategy is simple: get the free cards first, then focus on farming Conquest and Mini Seasons cards, and only consider buying more from the market last.
Low-Cost Pipeline Cards
Before starting the farming mode, check your collection. MLB 26 has already released several Pipeline Series cards, all of which can be added to this collection.
The first is Joshua Báez, from Player Program, which can be obtained by completing a home run-related mission.
The second card is Max Clark, unlocked at 22,000 XP node in sixth XP Path. If you missed it before, you can get it directly from Marketplace.
You can also pick up Pipeline players through August Spotlight content, while George Lombard Jr. is available from a free store pack. Since none of these cards are difficult to get, returning players may already have several of them.
Locking these four cards into your collection is equivalent to completing the early game progress. Then you can consider the approximately 36 cards you actually need to farm.
Choice Pack Cards
Here's a common pitfall: MLB 26 players in different Pipeline card packs are not the same.
Besides providing 5 player cards, Pipeline Program also gives away multiple Pipeline Choice Packs. Each pack allows you to choose three players. These cards are not sold and will not appear in Marketplace.
These players can only be obtained through playing MLB 26 and acquiring Choice Packs; you cannot directly complete the pack by spending Stubs.
Deluxe, Premier, and Ultra Packs form another player pool, with some players available for get directly from Marketplace.
Each pool contains approximately 15 cards, so both sources should be considered when completing your final collection. Prioritize completing free content and Choice Pack initially, leaving Marketplace for later.
Conquest
For MLB 26 players with limited time, Conquest is one of the most worthwhile priorities.
Pipeline Conquest map rewards players with various items, including Deluxe Pack, Choice Pack, and Premier Choice Pack. Completing the entire map grants a No Sell Choice Pack, allowing you to choose three player cards at once. Just completing this first run significantly boosts your collection progress.
This final reward can be obtained repeatedly. If you still need players from Choice Pack that cannot be acquired from Marketplace, you can defeat eight Strongholds again to farm No Sell Choice Pack.
However, there's no need to repeatedly farm Conquest in the early game. Complete the game once to collect all available rewards, then decide whether to return to finish based on your collection gaps. This will save time.
Pipeline Mini Seasons
In MLB 26, Mini Seasons is a more suitable primary farming mode if you want to unlock Jesús Made as quickly as possible.
While Mini Seasons doesn't offer exclusive Pipeline player cards, the mission rewards are plentiful. 20,000 PXP unlocks Ultra Choice Pack, which allows you to directly select Pipeline Ultra Pack.
Additionally, 75 Hits grants Vault Pack, and 100 Hits and other statistic missions reward Deluxe Choice Pack. When farming these objectives, you can advance multiple rewards simultaneously, avoiding spending time on a single card pack.
When farming Mini Seasons, try to use Pipeline Series players as much as possible; this will also help you advance 9,000 PXP goal. If you want to speed things up even further, go to a Custom Stadium suitable for stat farming and appropriately increase the game difficulty to improve PXP acquisition efficiency.
Events and Diamond Quests
Events also offer Pipeline Packs, but if you're only aiming for the few Deluxe Packs after reaching 75 or 100 stars, the time investment might not be worthwhile. For MLB 26 players with limited playtime, it's recommended to prioritize Mini Seasons and Conquests.
Diamond Quests can also be considered later. It also offers a chance to obtain Choice Packs, but the rewards are inconsistent. If you can maintain a high win rate on high difficulties like GOAT, you can farm it; otherwise, Mini Seasons offer more consistent rewards and are better suited for long-term collection.
Unlock Leo De Vries
Pipeline series also includes a very strong Chase Pack player, Leo De Vries. He's also an ambidextrous shortstop, but his current price is high. While My Legacy Program can also get No Sell card, it requires accumulating 250,000 PXP with Pipeline players, which is also a significant time investment.
Fortunately, completing Jesús Made collection doesn't require locking all cards. Stage reward cards also count towards the total, so only 40 cards need to be locked, allowing you to intentionally skip two.
To save as many MLB The Show 26 Stubs as possible, skip Leo De Vries and use your second skip on whichever player is the most expensive on Marketplace at the time. This won't affect unlocking Jesús Made and will significantly reduce the collection cost.
Recommended Acquisition Route
First, acquire the low-cost Pipeline cards, then complete one Pipeline Conquest. After that, focus your time on Mini Seasons while also progressing through PXP and Hits missions.
Once the collection is nearly complete, fill in the gaps by acquiring more cards. Continue acquiring Choice Pack exclusive players through Conquests or PXP and acquire tradable players directly from Marketplace. Leo De Vries and the most expensive card at the time can be skipped initially; use other cards to reach 40 slots.
For the vast majority of MLB 26 players, this is currently the most stable, resource-efficient, and long-term play through for unlocking Jesús Made.
Since card prices and farming options can change, follow EZG Facebook for the latest MLB 26 updates and Player's Choice giveaways, and @ other players to join in.
Considering his versatility, multiple infield positions, top-tier speed, and well-rounded stats after Parallel, this Pipeline Ultimate Reward is definitely worth farming specifically for a complete set.
