Raven 2 Fresh Start Server Zero: What Are Players Really Getting With This New Server?

With the launch of Phase 3, the profession landscape in TBC Anniversary is shifting. The introduction of new Epic Gems and Jewelcrafting recipes has made Jewelcrafting a profession many players are considering switching to.

However, the server economy in TBC Classic Anniversary differs significantly from the original Classic era. Supplies of low-level materials from Old World have dwindled, causing the prices of certain common ores, bars, and basic materials to rise.

Consequently, leveling Jewelcrafting from 1 to 375 requires more than just speed; you must also consider material prices, crafted-item returns, and whether the final few skill points are worth the cost.

Why Level Jewelcrafting Now?

The biggest impact of Phase 3 on Jewelcrafting comes from the new batch of Purple Gems and their associated recipes.

With these high-level gems, BCC Anniversary players have more options to optimize their current gear. New Jewelcrafting recipes are also available through Hyjal, Black Temple, and reputation vendors.

Since high-level Jewelcrafting content will arrive later with Sunwell Plateau, reaching 375 now can reduce the pressure of catching up later.

Of course, whether it is worth switching professions still depends on your class build, server prices, and the value of your current profession.

Jewelcrafting 1-300

Many players are surprised by the cost of the 1-300 range.

Shopping lists from traditional guides might cost 800 - 1,200 TBC Anniversary gold on some servers, while a route adjusted for current material availability can theoretically reduce the cost to below 700 gold.

The main reason is the scarcity of low-level materials. As most players have reached the endgame, fewer people are mining Copper, Silver, and other Old World ores, driving up prices.

Therefore, check Auction House on your TBC Anniversary server and adjust your route based on real-time prices instead of blindly following older guides.

How to Save Gold from 1-300?

The rings, necklaces, and green-quality items crafted while leveling often retain resale value.

Some can be listed directly on Auction House, but listing too many identical items at once can slow sales and lower prices.

If you have an Enchanting alt or a friend who can disenchant items, compare the prices of Dust and Essence. In many cases, disenchanting green-quality jewelry is easier than selling every finished item individually.

Handled properly, crafts from 1-300 can recoup around 200 gold, meaning a nominal 700 gold material cost does not equal the final net expense.

Some stages also rely on Yellow recipes, which do not guarantee a skill point with every craft. Treat shopping-list quantities as minimum requirements and prepare a small surplus of materials to account for unlucky skill-ups.

Jewelcrafting 300-375

Upon entering Outland, the cost rises significantly. On some servers, leveling from 300 to 375 can cost over 1,000 gold.

However, high-level gems, jewelry, and transitional gear crafted during this stage are easier to sell, so their resale value should be included when calculating the real cost.

Most basic Jewelcrafting recipes required for 300-375 can be obtained from trainers or vendors in Hellfire Peninsula.

Alliance players can visit Tatiana in Honor Hold, while Horde players can visit Kalaen in Thrallmar.

Before getting materials in bulk, make sure you already have the required vendor recipes.

365-375: Speed or Savings?

The final 10 skill points are the most expensive part of the entire 1-375 route.

Using Meta Gem recipes such as Earthstorm Diamond can make 365-375 alone cost over 600 gold. For players who want to reach 375 quickly, this is essentially trading gold for time.

If you are not in a rush, Brilliant Glass offers a more cost-effective alternative. Its material cost is much lower than repeatedly crafting Meta Gems, but it has a 24-hour cooldown.

That gives you two options: use expensive Meta Gem crafts for speed, or make Brilliant Glass daily and finish 365-375 gradually.

With Purple Gems entering Phase 3, demand for Blue Gems may also decline. If prices remain high on your server, consider monitoring Auction House before acquiring them in bulk.

Server economies vary, so always base acquires on your own market conditions.

Recipes After 375

Reaching 375 is only the foundation of TBC Phase 3 Jewelcrafting. Its long-term value depends heavily on the recipes you collect afterward.

Many recipes are gated behind faction reputation, dungeon drops, and raid progression. The Consortium is one faction Jewelcrafters should prioritize.

Epic Jewelcrafting recipes in Phase 3 mainly come from Battle for Mount Hyjal, Black Temple, and The Scale of the Sands Quartermaster.

Purple Gem recipes have different sources: some drop in raids, while others require reputation with The Scale of the Sands.

If you plan to keep Jewelcrafting long-term, building reputation and collecting raid recipes is more important than simply reaching 375.

Jewelcrafting and Mining

Mining remains the most natural companion profession for Jewelcrafting. Ore can be converted into gems through Prospecting, while bars obtained through Smelting can be used for many 1 - 300 recipes.

If you do not want to spend hours mining, you can get ore from Auction House and level Mining through Smelting. The full route costs around 650 TBC Phase 3 gold, depending on your server economy.

The resulting bars can be used for Jewelcrafting or resold, so the full amount is not necessarily a sunk cost.

Optimal 1 - 375 Leveling Route

If your goal is to reach 375 quickly, gather the required materials upfront and use Meta Gem route for the final skill points.

If cost-efficiency matters more, sell or disenchant crafted gear, use Brilliant Glass to progress through 365 - 375, and wait for better Blue Gem prices before getting in bulk.

For long-term Jewelcrafting players, Phase 3 is also about building reputation with The Consortium and The Scale of the Sands while collecting recipes from dungeons, Hyjal, and Black Temple.

Jewelcrafting is expensive in TBC Anniversary Phase 3, but once material costs, crafted-item returns, and endgame recipe value are considered together, it remains a worthwhile profession in Phase 3.

Grinding Gear Games is paying more attention to Path of Exile 2 with the upcoming Patch 0.5.5 and Forbidden Rites Event, launching at 1 p.m. Pacific Time on September 4th. However, the full patch notes and event details have disappointed some players because Forbidden Rites will run alongside the existing Runes of Aldur league until 1.0.

With two leagues operating at the same time, players will need to manage separate economies, with item and currency values differing between them. This raises an important question: should you stock up currency continuously, perhaps by buying Orbs from the marketplace, to prepare for your character?

EZG.com's answer here is that you definitely need it, and the more the better. If you want to know why, then read on, where we'll explain in detail and tell you the best place to buy it.

Why Do We Need Currency?

Although character progress and loot are reset with each league update, that doesn't necessarily mean currency earned near the end of a league is worthless. If anything, having enough currency can give you a significant advantage when you're trying to push through new content.

And with Forbidden Rites running alongside Runes of Aldur, the value of being prepared becomes even more obvious. You are dealing with separate economies, changing item prices, and an entirely new event environment. According to EZG.com's analysis of Grinding Gear Games' league patterns in Path of Exile 1 and Path of Exile 2, there are three reasons why keeping a healthy currency reserve can still be worthwhile.

Improve Your Efficiency in Clearing Stages of the Event League

This is probably the most obvious reason, but also the players tend to underestimate.

When a new event begins, everyone wants to push ahead. The problem is that your character doesn't suddenly become stronger just because the league changed. If your gear is outdated, you'll still have to farm, trade, craft, and upgrade before you can comfortably handle tougher content.

That's where having extra currency can save a lot of time. Instead of spending hours waiting for the right drop, you can invest in upgrades when your character hits a wall and get back to clearing content.

Of course, currency won't turn a bad build into a great one. But when you're already using a solid build, having the resources to keep your gear competitive can make the difference between slowly crawling through the league and actually keeping up with its progression.

Master More Farming Skills

Here's a less obvious benefit: being rich enough to experiment can actually make you better at farming.

Players often talk about farming as if there's one perfect strategy everyone should follow. In reality, the best method can change quickly after a new league starts. Prices move, demand changes, and players discover new ways to make currency.

If you're constantly broke, experimenting becomes risky. You tend to stick with whatever feels safe because you can't afford to waste resources on a strategy that might fail.

Having a decent currency reserve changes that. You can test different builds, maps, mechanics, crafting methods, and farming routes without worrying that one bad decision will wipe out your entire budget.

Ironically, having currency to spare may help you learn how to make even more currency.

Familiarize Yourself with the Next League Mechanism

And this may be the biggest reason to keep some currency available: you don't know exactly what the new league economy is going to look like.

Forbidden Rites will introduce its own mechanics and progression, such as Ritual changes and Trial of Chaos rework, while players figure out which items, builds, and strategies actually matter. Early assumptions can become outdated very quickly once thousands of players start testing the content. 

So having currency gives you room to adapt. You can try the new mechanics instead of immediately falling back on the safest farming method. When the meta changes, you can adjust your build. You can invest in an item that suddenly becomes valuable or test a strategy that looked questionable at launch.

So even if your character will eventually be reset or moved on, the currency you have during the league can buy something that is arguably more valuable than another piece of gear: the freedom to experiment.

Is It Still Worth Buying POE2 Currency Now?

EZG.com can say this with confidence: yes, having enough POE2 Currency is still worth it, especially if you're treating Forbidden Rites Event and the balance changes in Patch 0.5.5 as a preview of what Path of Exile 2 could eventually look like at 1.0.

That said, nobody can predict this league's economy perfectly. The markets in both Forbidden Rites and Runes of Aldur are still extremely unstable. An item or gem that looks incredibly valuable today could suddenly lose most of its value tomorrow because players discover a new farming trick, an unexpected build interaction, or even a bug, which means you need to be prepared for the moments when you actually need it.

In fact, market volatility can create opportunities as well as risks. Once players discover the strongest builds and most profitable farming methods, demand for certain currencies, gear, and gems can change almost overnight. If you happen to hold something that other players desperately need, you may be able to trade it for a significant profit while the market is hot. 

That extra capital can then be reinvested into better gear, build experiments, or more difficult content. So the real question isn't whether every Orb you buy today will retain its value tomorrow. It probably won't. The better question is whether having enough currency gives you the flexibility to react when the market, meta, or Forbidden Rites itself changes.

And in leagues this unpredictable, that flexibility may be worth far more than simply watching your currency sit in your stash. Okay, now that the biggest problem in front of us is solved, the next thing to consider is where to buy currency.

EZG.com is Your Choice to Buy Currency Now! - Cheap, Full Stock, Safe and Fast Delivery

Here, EZG.com would like to recommend itself to you and hopes to be your only choice because the shopping advantages it offers are unparalleled.

Cheap

We understand that all players want to enjoy the best gaming experience with the least amount of money, so what we offer here is the cheapest Path of Exile 2 Currency for sale. You don't need to compare prices from other vendors at all.

Moreover, we will offer all registered players very generous discount benefits, such as an 8% discount coupon for your first order, an FR8 code with 8% off applicable to Forbidden Rites event league, and points for daily check-in, which will further reduce the cost of buying currency.

Also, at EZG.com, you can enjoy buy-more-get-more deals. In Runes of Aldur Softcore, buying 100 Divine Orbs rewards 5 extra Divine; buying 20 Divine Orbs rewards you 1 extra Divine; buying 100 Exalted Orbs rewards you 10 extra Exalted; and buying 1 Mirror of Kalandra rewards you 100 Divine.

Full Stock

Of course, as we've emphasized for so long, players should stockpile currency as early as possible. EZG.com, as a popular POE 2 store, also has a very rich inventory. Whether you only need a small amount to craft gear or need a large number to maximize builds, it can provide it.

In addition, to meet players' currency needs in Forbidden Rites Event, EZG.com has opened a separate Forbidden Rites SC server section for you to buy. Here, all tradable currencies, such as Divine Orb, Chaos Orb, and Mirror of Kalandra are available, and the inventory remains plentiful.

Safe

While acquiring virtual game currency from third-party trading websites is risky, trust EZG.com; we take concrete steps to minimize it, such as using robust SSL encryption, over ten secure payment methods, and verified face-to-face delivery.

• SSL Encryption: It ensures that all the private information you fill in during registration and order placement will not be leaked.
• Payment Methods: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Cash App Pay, among others, will ensure your payment process remains secure.
• F2F Delivery: Only your character name is required to complete the transaction, which meets the requirements of player trading.

It's worth noting that EZG.com staff will not ask you to provide any private information, such as your home address, game account, password, or payment information, without a valid reason after you leave Live Chat. Please be aware of such requests.

Fast Delivery

The final advantage that makes buying PoE 2 currency on EZG.com worthwhile is the fast delivery. After you click Pay Now and place your order, we will deliver the required orbs to your character within 0-30 minutes, completing the delivery process - you just need to wait patiently.

However, if you unfortunately encounter a server crash or a surge in orders, the delivery time may be slightly delayed. But don't worry too much, we will continue to ship orders in order, and maybe you will be next.

Of course, if you can't wait, you can submit a refund request to us before all orders begin shipping. Provided you meet the requirements, EZG.com will prioritize your request and refund the full amount you paid for your Path of Exile 2 currency order to ensure the safety of your funds.

The new league may be unpredictable, but your Currency supply doesn't have to be. EZG.com can help you prepare early, keep enough capital available, and you'll have much more freedom to decide how you want to play Path of Exile 2.

With Forbidden Rites now running alongside Runes of Aldur, Path of Exile 2 is entering another period of uncertainty. Nobody knows exactly how quickly the new league economy will change, which builds will dominate, or which items and farming methods will suddenly become valuable. That's precisely why having enough currency on hand can be so useful.

Blizzard has released the full schedule for BlizzCon 2026, with the main events being Diablo: Developer Update and Diablo IV: What's Next. Both events will take place on the main stage and will each last 45 minutes. During this time, Blizzard will showcase some content that they intentionally removed from Season 15 PTR.

Normally, we see lengthy patch notes weeks in advance, but this time, the development team seems to be keeping some trump cards in mind. This article will show you the specific schedule for BlizzCon 2026 and related content for Diablo 4 Season 15.

About BlizzCon 2026

According to the official BlizzCon 2026 schedule, there are two main events and a series of other related events. Details are as follows:

Diablo: Developer Update will be held on the main stage at approximately 2 PM Pacific Time on Saturday, September 12th, lasting 45 minutes.

It's important to note that Blizzard hasn't explicitly stated that this presentation is exclusively for D4, meaning they may also announce Diablo Immortal, Diablo 2: Resurrected, or other titles in the series.

Diablo IV: What's Next will be held on the main stage around 8 PM on Sunday, September 13th, lasting 45 minutes. Generally, Blizzard adding future prospects to a game's title quickly generates high player anticipation, and this time is likely no exception.

In addition, there will be other Diablo 4-related segments. Saturday will feature Art of Darkness: Behind Diablo IV's Cinematics, and Sunday will host a Battle.net 30th anniversary keynote, with CD Projekt Red as a special guest.

Season 15 Confirmed Content

Soul Splinters

This is a brand new socketable item that perfectly embodies Blizzard's classic design philosophy. It provides a significant power boost, but also comes with equally significant negative effects.

Legacy Uniques

Diablo 4 Legacy Uniques make a strong comeback, including items like Leoric's Crown, Nemesis Bracers, and Stone of Jordan, all taken from previous games and reappearing with a brand new look.

Rebirth System

Diablo 3's Rebirth System returns, allowing players to carry over their seasonal characters to the next season, avoiding starting from scratch each time.

Challenge Dungeons and Overland Ambushes

These two new event types sound intriguing. Challenge Dungeons are randomly appearing portals in the open world leading to boss battles, giving you new objectives in Helltides. Overland Ambushes, on the other hand, will make you a target - you'll receive a 30-second warning before demons hunt you down.

However, it's important to note that Blizzard has explicitly stated that Season 15 PTR is only for testing the underlying systems, and the final version will differ. This is essentially a euphemism for saving the best for BlizzCon 2026.

Why Blizzard Is Keeping Secrets This Time?

Before D4 Season 15 3.2.0 PTR test server opened, Blizzard issued an unusually direct warning: the features included in the test server differed from what players typically expected because they wanted to share more content at BlizzCon and didn't want all of Season 15's content to be revealed prematurely.

This meant that August PTR test server didn't contain the complete season content. Players experienced Soul Splinters, Legacy Uniques, Mythic and Unique Charms, Rebirth, Challenge Dungeons, and several underlying systems, but some of the actual season content remained hidden behind the scenes at BlizzCon.

Normally, we see the full roadmap months in advance, including patch notes and detailed information about PTR test server. So why break with tradition this time?

Building Hype Smart Way

By keeping the details under wraps, they not only successfully fueled the enthusiasm of the player community but also bought themselves ample time to develop the game. PTR test server showcased a glimpse of Season 15, but Blizzard is clearly saving the best for BlizzCon.

This is a carefully crafted strategy - giving core players ample time to test and provide feedback on core mechanics, while reserving the most visually stunning content for the highly anticipated event.

Getting Time for Polishing

Furthermore, there are practical considerations. Feedback on Soul Splinters on PTR was mixed; some players felt the resource penalty was too high, while others thought the balance was perfect.

By delaying the release of flashy content, Blizzard can focus on refining core mechanics based on player data, while reserving the most compelling content for the event with the largest audience.

Learning From Past Mistakes

Frankly, Blizzard has experienced some setbacks in content releases in the past. Over-promising and failing to deliver has cost them dearly. This time, they've acted more wisely.

Revealing confirmed content, testing uncertain aspects, and unveiling the big bombshell at the highly anticipated event. While this isn't some sophisticated strategy, it's certainly gratifying to see  Blizzard actually putting it into action.

Could Switch 2 Finally Appear?

This remains a hot topic. Despite increasing speculation about a September release, Blizzard has yet to officially announce that D4 will be coming to Switch 2.

If they do intend to, I think Diablo IV: What's Next event would be the perfect opportunity to announce Switch 2 news.

Viewing Rewards

Players watching the livestream at home can also earn some physical rewards, which can be claimed through Twitch and YouTube from September 12th to 15th. Two hours of viewing will earn you Serrated Skean dagger, four hours will unlock Corroded Cleaver axe, and six hours will earn you Tintinnabulation hammer.

This concludes our introduction to BlizzCon 2026. September 13th is a day to watch, as Diablo IV: What's Next presentation will be held on this day. It's crucial for Season 15, as the remaining important details of the game will be revealed there.

Interested players should remember to schedule their time to watch BlizzCon 2026 livestream and see what surprises Blizzard has in store for us.

Following the conclusion of EA Sports FC 27 Closed Beta, EA announced a series of gameplay adjustments based on player feedback.

Rather than simply fixing bugs, these changes target practical mechanics players encounter frequently, including physical battles, Team Press, defensive depth, Lengthy players, Player Lock, and passing controls.

EA has also confirmed that early Title Updates after FUT 27 launches will take a cautious approach to balance changes. The team does not plan to make sweeping gameplay adjustments simply because a popular playstyle emerges during the opening days.

That makes these post-beta changes particularly important. Mechanics such as Team Press, Lengthy, and Bruiser are likely to enter launch in a similar state and remain stable while players build Ultimate Team squads and experiment with tactics.

Team Press

During Closed Beta, Team Press drew criticism because AI teammates could still aggressively pressure the ball carrier near the user's own goal, reducing how much defending players needed to handle manually.

EA has directly addressed this. In FUT 27, Team Press will no longer have any effect once the ball enters the defending team's defensive third.

Team Press remains usable higher up the pitch, but defenders will apply less pressure than midfielders and forwards. When defenders step out of the defensive line, the space behind them also becomes easier to exploit with through balls.

This places more responsibility on manual defending. Once the opponent enters the defensive third, players need to switch defenders, block passing lanes, and engage physically instead of relying on AI pressure.

Defensive Depth has also been adjusted. Beta feedback suggested defensive lines could still sit too high even with low depth settings. Defenders will now retreat earlier and maintain more conservative positions at lower depths.

As a result, the difference between high pressing and low-block defending should become more noticeable.

For players planning to invest FIFA 27 coins early in Ultimate Team to bolster their defense, attributes such as Pace, Strength, and defensive PlayStyles for center-backs will become even more critical factors to consider.

Bruiser

Physicality was another major discussion point during FUT 27 Closed Beta, particularly around Bruiser PlayStyle and Shoulder Challenge.

EA still wants Shoulder Challenge to be an effective defensive tool, but timing and positioning now matter more. It works best when the defender is side-by-side with the ball carrier, while repeatedly spamming the input from behind is less effective.

Rapid consecutive Shoulder Challenges cause the defender to reach out and lose movement speed, making it riskier to chase attackers while repeatedly pressing the challenge button.

Strength still matters in physical defending, and Bruiser continues to provide an advantage, although the additional benefit from Bruiser+ has been slightly reduced.

High-Strength center-backs and defenders with Bruiser therefore remain useful, but PlayStyle cannot completely compensate for poor positioning.

Lengthy Players

Lengthy players were also highly effective during Closed Beta, leading EA to adjust both AcceleRATE and Triggered Runs.

Triggered Runs now have a distance limit. A single command will no longer keep a player running forward over a long distance, and players must trigger another run if they want the movement to continue.

EA has also reduced the impact of AcceleRATE profiles on overall running performance, bringing Explosive, Controlled, and Lengthy players closer together.

Acceleration and Sprint Speed therefore become more important compared with relying only on a player's movement archetype.

Lengthy is not useless. Tall strikers and some midfielders can still benefit from sustained acceleration, but players need to pay closer attention to individual Pace stats.

Especially during the early stages of Ultimate Team - when spending FC 27 coins on players - relying solely on Lengthy profile is no longer sufficient; Acceleration and Sprint Speed must also be factored into the comparison.

Player Lock

Player Lock carried relatively little risk during the beta. When users switched control to an off-ball player, CPU-controlled ball carrier could automatically avoid defenders, allowing the user to focus heavily on off-ball movement.

In FIFA 27, the ball carrier will no longer automatically maneuver around defenders. Instead, they will continue moving in the same direction they were already travelling.

This gives defenders more opportunities to recognize Player Lock and pressure the ball carrier. CPU-controlled passes during Player Lock will also have slightly more error.

The mechanic can still create manual runs and reposition receivers, but players now need to pay more attention to what is happening on the ball.

Dinked Pass And Corner Kick

EA has also adjusted Dinked Passes, corner kicks, and attacking movement to place greater emphasis on manual control.

Dinked Pass is now fully manual. During Closed Beta, repeated Ground Pass inputs could accidentally trigger it, so EA has removed Dinked Pass from Ground Pass command.

Repeated Ground Pass inputs now produce only a standard ground pass. To perform a Dinked Pass, players need to double-tap Through Pass and manually aim its direction.

Corner kicks also provide less assistance during manual control. While FC 26 already allowed players to control someone inside the box, FUT 27 will no longer automatically guide that player toward the expected landing point.

Player Roles And Attacking Spatial Awareness

Player Roles and Attacking Spatial Awareness will work together to influence AI attacking movement.

Player Roles determine the types of runs available based on position and Role, while Role Familiarity, Role+, and Role++ affect how urgently players make those runs.

Attacking Spatial Awareness does not replace Player Roles. Instead, both systems contribute to attacking movement.

For Ultimate Team players, Role Familiarity therefore remains important when building squads, especially when choosing between cards with similar attributes or market prices.

Career Mode And Authentic Gameplay

Career Mode and Authentic Gameplay will also receive CPU AI adjustments.

EA is recalibrating the differences between Professional, World Class, and Legendary difficulty, adjusting certain CPU sliders, and improving AI behavior in build-up play, 1v1 finishing, and defending against through balls and triggered runs.

Overall, FC 27 keeps the core purpose of these mechanics while adding more conditions and risks to their use.

Team Press still supports high pressing, Bruiser remains valuable for physical defending, Lengthy retains its long-distance running strengths, and Player Lock can still create advanced off-ball movement. The difference is that players will have fewer low-risk ways to rely on a single mechanic.

With EA avoiding major balance changes early after launch, the defensive approaches, movement choices, and squad setups discovered during the opening weeks could remain relevant for longer.

How To Fish may seem like a slow-paced fishing game, but once you start speed running, you'll find it's not as leisurely as it appears. Each island has different resources and bosses, so planning ahead is crucial for when to earn money, when to upgrade equipment, and when to leave.

Early on, saving time is paramount. Instead of slowly fishing, prioritize faster ways to earn money and prepare the necessary items for boss battles in advance.

Below, EZG will guide you through a complete How To Fish speed run route, following the boss order.

Spider Crab

The early game of How To Fish isn't actually that complicated. The fish on the first island don't sell for much, so instead of slowly fishing, collect clams directly. Give the clams to the fisherman, and once you've collected $15, you can exchange them for a Crab Fishing Rod and a can of beer.

Once you get an empty beer can, take it to your boat and throw it out to summon the first boss, Spider Crab. A very useful trick during the fight is to stand on one side of the boat and trap Spider Crab near it. It will still attempt to attack, but it will rarely hit you, so you can safely deal damage.

You don't need to slowly save up money for the knife. Upgrading weapons requires time and How To Fish Gold, while directly killing Spider Crab with your fists is more efficient. After the boss dies, pick up the dropped Meat Sticks and Crab Shells to obtain Boat Keys, then leave the first island immediately.

The Old Pike

Upon arriving at the second island, there's no need to rush to exchange for Radar. Once you're familiar with the route, you can determine direction by observing the sky patterns and directly sail your small boat to your target location. Upon landing, prioritize obtaining Dynamite and extra Inventory Slots, as blasting fish is still the most effective way to earn money at this stage.

Using dynamite allows you to blast a batch of fish at once, up to 5 per blast. Giving the fish to the fisherman will earn you How To Fish Gold, but the value of the fish is somewhat random, with Trigger Fish and Salmon fetching higher prices. Once you've saved enough funds, exchange them for a new lure, a fishing rod, and a gun with upgraded ammo. Then, use boss lure to fish out The Old Pike.

The Old Pike itself isn't difficult to defeat, but it moves very fast, making it hard to consistently land headshots. If you're aiming for a speed run, you can take advantage of its last bullet. When the boss has only one shot's worth of health left, jump and perform a 360-degree turn before firing. This kill method will trigger a multiplier, allowing the fisherman to pay an extra reward.

After defeating The Old Pike, collect the leeches on the ground and give them to another NPC to obtain leech bait, preparing for the next Giant Piranha boss fight.

Giant Piranha

For Giant Piranha, it's recommended to prepare 8 Dynamites beforehand, placing 4 on one side and the other 4 near the rocks. With Friendly Fire option enabled, you won't take explosion damage even if you're standing near dynamite you've placed, so you can safely use explosives to control the boss's position.

After catching a Giant Piranha using boss lure, lure it near a machine to trap it, then detonate a pre-placed Dynamite. This will significantly reduce its health in one go. Smaller piranhas nearby can also be cleared out with explosives to prevent them from interfering with the fight.

When Giant Piranha dies, it leaves behind Meat Chunks and its head. Meat Chunks can be sold directly for money, while boss's head is given to How To Fish NPC to exchange for Coordinates for the next island.

Puffer Fish

Upon entering the third island, fish prices will increase significantly, so prioritize acquiring new Inventory Slots and Standard Lures. In How To Fish, higher-level lures make it easier to catch high-value fish, significantly improving your earning efficiency at this stage.

Here you'll also start encountering Drip Fish, which are actually ordinary catfish wearing hats. To complete Fishipedia achievement, you must collect many Drip Fish, which relies heavily on RNG. Additionally, you need to find Endangered Fish; giving them to an NPC will reward you with Bait for the next boss fight.

The strategy for dealing with Puffer Fish remains primarily dynamite-based. After pre-planting explosives and defeating the boss, you'll obtain new coordinates. Furthermore, giving the boss's dropped meat to NPC will allow you to exchange it for a larger motor, further increasing your boat's speed and reducing travel time later.

Albatross

Starting from the fourth island, the fish themselves become more dangerous. Mini-bosses like Tuna will randomly appear, Parrot Fish will actively attack the player and move very quickly, and Red Snapper will also cause damage. Therefore, it's best to replenish health with clams before entering this phase to avoid excessive health loss while traveling and planting explosives.

Prepare sufficient dynamite before the battle, concentrate explosives in the center of the island, and prepare the professional boss lure. After successfully summoning Albatross, lure it near the shop and use pre-placed TNT to focus your attacks.

Once Albatross's health bar reaches its maximum, detonate the explosives to instantly kill it and obtain the corresponding How To Fish achievement. Finally, take Albatross's head and give it to NPC to obtain the coordinates for the next island and continue the story.

Mutated Bowhead Whale

How To Fish Handyman achievement requires delivering a finishing blow to the final boss, Mutated Bowhead Whale, with your fists. Therefore, it's recommended to prepare 20-25 Dynamites and bring Foot Snails before the fight. Cooking snails provides a significant amount of health, crucial for survival and health management in the final phase.

First, use Fish Bucket to summon Bowhead Whale. Lure it near the pre-placed dynamite and detonate them to quickly reduce its health. After killing Bowhead Whale, throw its corpse into Volcano to trigger the final boss, Mutated Bowhead Whale. 

Mutated Bowhead Whale's primary attack methods are jumping and lava attacks, with particular attention needed to avoid the lava near the ship. At the start of the fight, you can guide the boss to crash into the dynamite, using the explosion to quickly reduce its health significantly. Then switch to the assault rifle to continue lowering its health.

When the boss's health is close to the kill threshold, you need to control your DPS. Because punches only deal 3 damage per hit, and How To Fish doesn't display specific health values, even if the health bar appears low, you can't accurately judge how much health the boss has left.

At this point, don't continue with gun attacks. Instead, replenish Health using Foot Snails while dodging the boss and Lava attacks, slowly dragging the fight into the final phase.

Once you've confirmed the boss is low on health, switch to punch attacks and finally deliver a finishing blow. New Creature Caught message indicates that Mutated Bowhead Whale has been captured, and the final boss achievement in How To Fish is completed. 

The core strategy for How To Fish is to make good use of Dynamite, continuously upgrade equipment, and master the kill mechanics of each boss to maximize earning efficiency. Once you're familiar with the routes on each island, the latter stages will be much easier.

This 99 OVR Spotlight Nick Sogard is a top-tier Red Diamond card released during MLB The Show 26 August Spotlight Drop 3 program. Since this card is obtained through gameplay progress rather than pass through card packs or the market, this is a great opportunity to acquire a top-tier player without spending stubs.

This article will introduce you to information about 99 OVR Nick Sogard and how to acquire him in MLB 26.

About Nick Sogard

Nick Sogard is a 28-year-old ambidextrous hitter for Boston Red Sox. While his primary position is second base (2B), his card demonstrates exceptional versatility, also capable of playing first base (1B), third base (3B), shortstop (SS), left field (LF), and right field (RF).

This makes him an extremely versatile player in any Diamond Dynasty, capable of playing multiple positions as needed.

Sogard card design is inspired by his actual stats from 2026 season: in 38 games, he had a batting average of .267, an on-base percentage of .379, and an OPS of .772, including 9 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 home runs. This player's ability is truly outstanding.

Player Attributes

This card is particularly renowned for its hitting ability in MLB 26. At bat, he boasts a near-perfect batting average, achieving 125 against both left- and right-handed pitchers. This makes him the top-ranked ambidextrous hitter in the entire game.

His power is also far above average, with 97 power against left-handed pitchers and 80 against right-handed pitchers, making him extremely threatening from both sides. His pitch selection is also top-notch, with a discipline of 125 and vision of 115, allowing him to accurately control the pitch count and consistently hit singles. Furthermore, his clutch performance is an impressive 111.

Defensively, he's an excellent fielder with a fielding rating of 85 and quick reflexes, including a 92 forward reaction and an 87 backward reaction. However, his speed is a significant weakness, and his stolen base rating is also quite low. This means he's primarily a hitter; while he can contribute defensively, he's not a major threat on the bases.

In the current rankings, Nick Sogard is considered a top player. He's ranked 5th among all second basemen and 8th among shortstops, third basemen, and other positions. Overall, he's one of the best free players in MLB 26.

Active Quirks

To further enhance the player experience, MLB 26 has equipped this card with six active traits that provide situational attribute bonuses:

• Home Advantage: Performs better in home games, gaining one attribute bonus and increasing PCI (Battering Zone) size.
• First-Pitcher: Proficient at hitting the first pitch, possessing corresponding hitting attributes. Gains a slight bonus in this situation.
• Precision Hitter: Proficient at hitting fastballs, receives a slight bonus against fastballs.
• Baller: Proficient at hitting balls outside the strike zone.
• Night Player: Performs better in night games, receives a stat bonus.
• Starting Strike Player: Performs better when there are no runners on base.

How to Acquire?

Acquisition Methods

Unlike other top players who require a large number of MLB The Show 26 stubs to acquire, 99 OVR's Spotlight Nick Sogard can be obtained through August Spotlight Drop 3 program, which uses an experience point reward path system.

This means you can earn Program Experience Points (XP) by participating in various in-game activities, and unlock 99OVR reward once you reach 50 Program Points.

August Spotlight Drop 3 program offers several ways to earn XP, as follows:

Program Moments

Complete specific in-game scenes featuring Spotlight player. There are seven Moments in total, each rewarding 4 XP upon completion, for a total of 28 Points.

Program Missions

These are repeatable objectives. Common missions include:

• Tallying Parallel XP (PXP) with any players
• Tallying PXP specifically with Spotlight and Topps Now series players
• Tallying extra-base hits
• Tallying strikeouts with starting pitchers

General Gameplay XP

Any XP you gain through standard Diamond Dynasty gameplay (such as in ranked seasons, events, Conquest mode, or offline AI matches) will contribute to your progress on the program's reward path.

Efficient Acquisition Strategy

The most efficient strategy for quickly gaining XP is to combine these activities. First, complete the program's Moments challenges for fast and guaranteed XP.

Then, while playing regular matches, keep an eye on the program's cumulative missions (such as total strikeouts or slug hits). Meanwhile, using Spotlight and Topps Now players in your roster will accelerate the completion of PXP-specific missions, which offer higher XP rewards.

Finally, since the program can be progressed through offline modes like Moments and Conquest, you don't need to play competitive PvP to unlock Sogard.

After unlocking Nick Sogard, you can continue collecting Genao and Henderson, who are also rewards from August Spotlight Drop 3 program. Once you've collected them all, you can unlock another powerful card - 99 OVR JJ Bleday.

This card will be released on August 22, 2026, to commemorate his historic moment. This means that obtaining Sogard is a key step towards unlocking more exclusive rewards and building a powerful Diamond Dynasty team.

That concludes this article about 99OVR Spotlight Nick Sogard from MLB The Show 26 August Spotlight Drop 3 program. Finally, this event is time-limited, so you should prioritize progressing through it to ensure you don't miss out on Sogard or other rewards before it ends. I look forward to your success.