What Are Stubs Really Used For in MLB The Show 26?
Stubs are the in-game currency mainly used in Diamond Dynasty. In practice, most players use them for:
Buying players from the Community Market
Completing Live Series collections
Investing in cards before roster updates
Buying packs (though experienced players rarely recommend this)
Covering event or BR entry fees
The biggest use by far is the Community Market. That’s where the real economy is. If you want a specific card, you don’t wait and hope to pull it. You buy it.
Understanding this changes how you should think about buying Stubs. You’re not buying packs. You’re buying flexibility.
Is It Better to Earn Stubs or Buy Them?
This depends on how you play.
If you grind:
Programs
Ranked Seasons
Events
Battle Royale
Mini Seasons
You can earn a steady flow of Stubs. Flipping cards on the market also works if you’re patient and understand margins.
But here’s the reality: earning large amounts takes time. If you want to complete the Live Series collection early in the cycle, grinding alone is slow unless you play a lot.
Buying Stubs makes sense for players who:
Don’t have time to grind
Want to stay competitive early
Care about completing collections quickly
Play casually but want specific players
It’s not about being better or worse. It’s about time versus money.
How Does the Community Market Actually Work?
This is the part many newer players misunderstand.
The market is supply and demand. Every card has:
A “Buy Now” price (what sellers are asking)
A “Sell Now” price (what buyers are offering)
The gap between those prices is the margin.
When you buy instantly, you pay the higher price. When you place orders and wait, you often save thousands of Stubs.
Also remember: there’s a 10% tax on completed sales. If you sell a card for 10,000 Stubs, you receive 9,000.
That tax is important when deciding how many Stubs you actually need. Many players forget to factor this in when flipping or reselling cards.
When Is the Best Time to Buy Stubs?
Timing matters more than people think.
Prices on the Community Market usually:
Drop during big content releases (new programs, flash sales)
Rise before major collections
Spike when new cards become required for collections
Early in the game cycle, Live Series diamonds are expensive. If your goal is to complete collections fast, buying Stubs early can save weeks of grinding.
Later in the cycle, card values drop overall. At that point, buying Stubs may not give you the same advantage because strong cards become easier to earn through programs.
Ask yourself: are you trying to compete early, or just build a fun team over time?
Is Buying Packs With Stubs Worth It?
Short answer: usually no.
Experienced players treat packs as entertainment, not strategy.
Most packs lose value long term. The odds are posted, and most pulls are low diamonds or below. If your goal is efficiency, buying the exact card you want from the market is almost always smarter.
The only time packs make sense:
Limited-time choice packs with guaranteed value
When you enjoy the risk and accept possible loss
If market prices temporarily make pack value reasonable
But if you're buying Stubs to improve your team, don’t waste them chasing randomness.
What Should You Check Before Buying Stubs Online?
This is where people get careless.
First, understand the platform you’re playing on:
PlayStation
Xbox
Nintendo Switch
Stubs are tied to your account and platform ecosystem. Make sure whatever method you use works with your console version.
For example, some players specifically look to buy MLB 26 stubs Nintendo Switch because they play primarily on Switch and want to boost their Diamond Dynasty team there. Platform compatibility is not something you want to guess about.
Second, consider account safety. If a deal requires:
Sharing your login details
Account transfers
Suspicious instructions
That’s a red flag.
MLB The Show accounts can be flagged or banned if suspicious activity is detected. Losing your entire Diamond Dynasty progress is not worth saving a few dollars.
Stick to methods that do not require you to give away control of your account.
Can Buying Stubs Get You Banned?
If you purchase through official in-game channels, you are safe.
If you go outside that system, risk increases.
The game monitors:
Sudden unusual transactions
Account logins from different locations
Irregular market behavior
Players have lost access in previous years because they tried shortcuts.
Even if it works for others, it doesn’t mean it’s risk-free. The safest approach is always through official store methods tied directly to your console platform.
How Many Stubs Do You Actually Need?
This depends entirely on your goal.
If your goal is:
One specific 99 overall card → Check its market price.
Live Series collection → Add up the cost of top diamonds.
Flipping investments → You need starting capital but not millions.
A common mistake is overbuying. Players purchase more Stubs than they need, then waste them on impulse pack openings.
Before spending money, open the market and calculate:
Exact player costs
Collection totals
Your current Stub balance
Have a plan before adding currency.
What Happens to Stubs at the End of the Year?
This is something many new players forget.
MLB The Show resets every year. When MLB The Show 27 releases, your MLB 26 Stubs do not transfer.
Late in the cycle (after postseason content), spending large amounts on Stubs gives diminishing returns. The competitive lifespan of your purchases shrinks.
If you're buying late in the year, understand you're paying for short-term use.
Are There Smarter Ways to Stretch Your Stubs?
Yes. A few habits separate experienced players from frustrated ones:
Place buy orders instead of using Buy Now.
Sell duplicate cards immediately.
Track roster updates if you invest.
Avoid emotional purchases after losing games.
Don’t chase every new card release.
Stubs feel scarce when spent impulsively. They feel manageable when spent with a plan.
Should You Buy MLB The Show 26 Stubs?
Buying Stubs is not good or bad by itself. It’s a tool.
If you:
Understand how the market works
Know exactly what you want
Value your time more than grinding
Use safe purchasing methods
Then buying Stubs can make sense.
But if you:
Buy packs hoping for luck
Don’t understand market pricing
Spend without a plan
Risk your account security
Then you’re likely to regret it.
In MLB The Show 26, knowledge matters more than overall rating. Whether you grind or spend, the players who understand the economy always build better teams in the long run.
