~4 MIN
Intro
A coaching-style breakdown of every pull, trends, and whether these SBCs actually return value.
Opening ICON packs in FC 26 can feel like a coin-flip between greatness and heartbreak — and the new Max 89 Overall ICON Pack is no exception. It requires one 87-rated squad + two 86-rated squads and can be completed three times, making it one of the more expensive SBCs released recently.
We ran through dozens of these packs to see exactly what players are realistically pulling — the wins, the losses, the patterns, and whether these packs deserve your coins, fodder, or hope.
Here’s the complete breakdown.
SBC COST and EXPECTATIONS
The SBC requirements mean you’re roughly trading in 200–230K worth of fodder, depending on your club. That means the average return must exceed that threshold to be considered good value.
But ICON packs rarely follow averages — they spike between extremes.
Across all attempts, the three-pack run showed a clear pattern:
- Pack 1 = highest chance of a W
- Pack 2 = mid-tier
- Pack 3 = the “pain zone”
Let’s break down the pulls.
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TOP HITS and SOLID RETURNS
✔ Nemanja Vidić (Bruiser+) — A Legitimate W
A fantastic centre-back pull for many squads.
- ~300K on market
- Bruiser+, elite defending, elite physicality
- Pace is his only worry, but he holds a back line extremely well
One of the best realistic outcomes from this entire SBC.
✔ Ashley Cole — Usable, but Outclassed by New LB Evolutions
Strong links, great jockey + defensive animations.
However, new Theo Hernández evo has overtaken him for most squads.
A medium-tier W depending on your team.
✔ Sissi — One of the Shock MVPs
Pulled from a different pack tier (88 max), but she outperformed:
- Excellent dribbling
- Incisive Pass+
- Finesse Shot
- Very smooth on the ball
Often better than ICON CAMs with similar ratings.
If you need a Carry CAM, she shines.
✔ Petit — Surprisingly Good
Despite his stats looking clunky, he feels more agile in-game.
Great for Elite Division pace of play.
MID TIER ICONS
Not Ws, not Ls — just “acceptable:”
- Ashley Cole (again)
- Zanetti (solid CM, weak as RB)
- Barnes (strong Travella angles)
- Figo (extremely common pull, mid-tier performance)
- Scholes / Schweinsteiger (usable but outdated quickly)
These cards won’t transform your squad but don’t destroy the value of the pack.
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THE BIG LOSSES (L TIER)
These are the ICONs dragging down the value of the pack:
❌ Riquelme — 71 Pace CAM = Pain
Instant fodder. Can’t be forced into elite playstyles.
❌ Gattuso — Too Slow, No Identity
Even with Bruiser+, he feels outdated.
❌ Crespo / Van Nistelrooy — Physical but Clunky
Fodder-tier unless you’re nostalgic.
❌ Beckham — Better as a CM, but still mid
Awkward role, rarely meta.
If your club is low on fodder, these are the reason to avoid doing the SBC three times.
HERO PACK SIDE RESULTS: MUCH STRONGER VALUE
Interestingly, Hero Packs had significantly better pulls than the ICON packs — including some massive Ws:
🚀 Lucio — One of the Best CBs in the Game
Nearly 800K–1M coin value.
Top-tier pace, elite physicality, monstrous presence.
🚀 Stam — Another Elite CB
A rare pull, but extremely effective in Elite Division.
🚀 Brolin — The Best Attacking Hero from these Packs
Explosive, versatile, and great finishing.
Even mid-tier heroes like C. Roberto, Dumbia, JJ Okocha delivered much more value than the ICON pack Ls.
SHOULD YOU DO THE MAX 89 ICON PACK? A Coaching Take
If you’re debating the SBC, here’s the honest guidance:
Do it if…
- You have high-fodder overflow
- You enjoy the gamble
- You want a CB upgrade and are hoping for Vidic, Blanc, Rio
Avoid it if…
- You’re low on coins before Weekend League
- You hate inconsistent value
- You need guaranteed improvement
Overall Rating: 6.5/10
It gives Ws occasionally — but the Ls are heavy.
If your goal is squad improvement before Champs, you will very often get more consistent value from Hero Packs or simply buying a reliable meta card.
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