The Thunderstruck promo has brought another valuable Squad Building Challenge (SBC) to FC 26 Ultimate Team. Thunderstruck Challenge 2 is a limited-time puzzle that lets you turn lower-rated cards into a highly rewarding tradable Mega Pack — ideal for stacking your club or making coins on the transfer market.
Thunderstruck Challenge 2 is a single-squad SBC tied to the Thunderstruck promo in FC 26 Ultimate Team. The idea is simple: submit a squad built mostly from lower- to mid-rated cards and, in return, receive a powerful tradable Mega Pack that can significantly improve your club or coin balance.
Unlike many player SBCs that demand high-rated squads and lots of fodder, this one focuses more on chemistry and rarity than pure rating. That makes it a smart choice for players who regularly open packs, grind objectives, or sit on lots of unused gold cards.
If you build your squad efficiently and avoid overpaying, Thunderstruck Challenge 2 can be one of the better value SBCs available during the promo window.
This SBC only has one squad to complete, but the requirements are surprisingly strict when it comes to chemistry and club distribution. Here is the full list of conditions you need to meet:
The challenge here is not the rating — a 78-rated squad can be built with relatively cheap cards — but hitting 31 chemistry while also respecting the club limit and nation/league rules. You cannot simply stack players from one single club or nation and call it a day.
To keep the SBC affordable, you should aim to use cards already in your club first, then only buy the pieces you are missing. With some planning, you can submit a strong 78-rated squad without wasting high-value fodder.
Because the chemistry requirement is high, you need a structured approach instead of throwing random golds into the squad. Below are some practical tips on how to build your team for Thunderstruck Challenge 2.
The easiest way to manage both chemistry and rating is to focus on one major league that has lots of players from the same nation. Good examples include:
Start by picking a nation with plenty of cheap, gold, rare cards in the league you target. Build your core squad from that pool, then add a few players from other nations in the same league to boost chemistry without breaking the club limit.
Because you can only use up to 3 players from the same club, try not to over-stack popular teams like Real Madrid, Liverpool, or Manchester City. Instead, spread your squad out over several mid-table clubs or lesser-used teams.
A practical way to do this is:
You need at least 8 rare players. Most players will simply use rare golds, but don’t be afraid to include rare silvers or rare bronzes if they help with chemistry and you already have them in your club.
As long as you maintain the overall 78 team rating, you can mix lower-rated rares with some 80–83 rated golds to balance everything out. Avoid using 84+ rated fodder unless your club is stacked and you really don’t need them for other SBCs.
A 78-rated squad can be achieved in many ways, but a common pattern is:
Try to use cards that you know you will not use in your starting XI or custom tactics. If a card is already in your main team or useful as a super-sub, leave it out and pick another option from your club.
To maximize value, always begin by scanning your untradeable items. These are effectively free resources for SBCs, since you can’t sell them anyway. Drop them into the squad builder, then adjust for chemistry and rating.
Once your untradeables are in place, go to the transfer market only for the positions or nations you’re missing. This approach keeps your coin spending to a minimum while still securing the tradable Mega Pack reward.
You don’t have to copy this squad exactly — market prices and your club inventory will vary — but the example below demonstrates a structure that meets all requirements. Use it as a template and swap in equivalent players from your own club or league.
Example squad (positions & ratings):
This setup achieves:
Again, don’t stress about finding the exact same names. Focus on the pattern: a mix of mid-rated golds and a few lower-rated players from compatible leagues and nations to hit both chemistry and rating at low cost.
Once you submit your squad, you will receive a tradable Mega Pack. This is a very attractive reward, especially for a single-squad SBC with only a 78 rating requirement.
The Mega Pack includes:
Because the pack is fully tradable, you can sell anything you don’t need on the transfer market. This is where the SBC can become extremely profitable: a single walkout, meta card, or promo item can more than cover the cost of the squad you submit.
In addition, the high number of rare items helps you restock your club for future SBCs. Even if you don’t pull a huge walkout, you’re likely to get several cards that can be used in other challenges or sold for a small but steady coin return.
Thunderstruck Challenge 2 is relatively cheap, but during promos and peak hours, player prices can spike. Here are some smart strategies to keep your expenses low:
If you’re planning to grind a lot of SBCs during Thunderstruck or future promos, keeping a healthy coin balance is extremely important. That’s where external coin management and reliable marketplaces can be helpful.
While smart trading and SBC grinding are effective, not every player has the time to constantly monitor the market or flip cards for hours. If you want to focus more on playing matches and less on coin micro-management, sites like ItemD2R.com can help you accelerate your progress responsibly.
ItemD2R specializes in game currency services for multiple titles, including FC 26. For players who are looking for the best place to buy fc 26 coins, a dedicated provider can make it easier to build a strong Ultimate Team without grinding every single day. By securing a larger coin budget, you can:
If you are considering buying eafc 26 coins, always remember to act within the game’s rules and be mindful of account safety. A trusted platform aims to provide fast delivery and clear instructions so that you can use your coins effectively for squad building, sniping, or simply enjoying packs during promos.
Combining smart SBC strategy with a stable coin balance lets you get more out of events like Thunderstruck Challenge 2. Instead of worrying about whether you can afford one more 83-rated card, you can focus on creating fun squads, trying new tactics, and testing promo items as soon as they drop.
Yes, in most cases it is absolutely worth it. The required rating is only 78, you only need one squad, and the reward is a tradable Mega Pack with a guaranteed 82+ player and a high number of rares. As long as you avoid overspending on individual cards, the value is very strong, especially during promos when special cards are in packs.
The coin cost can fluctuate depending on current market conditions, promo hype, and your platform. If you rely heavily on cards already in your club, the SBC can be extremely cheap, sometimes costing only a few thousand coins. If you have to buy most of the squad from scratch, expect the cost to rise, especially for high-demand leagues and nations.
Like most promo SBCs, Thunderstruck Challenge 2 is available for a limited time. Always check the in-game SBC menu to see the countdown timer. It’s wise to complete it early in the promo, before player prices spike or the challenge disappears.
Yes, and you should whenever possible. Untradeable duplicates are perfect fodder for this SBC. They allow you to meet rare and rating requirements without losing cards that you might otherwise sell for coins.
Even if you don’t hit a big walkout, you still get a substantial number of rare golds and club items. You can either recycle them into further SBCs or list the tradable pieces on the market to recover some of your investment. Over time, consistently completing value SBCs pays off, especially when combined with smart trading or a strong coin base.
Thunderstruck Challenge 2 is a prime example of a low-risk, high-upside SBC in FC 26 Ultimate Team. Build your squad carefully using the tips above, leverage your untradeable club fodder, and consider long-term coin management strategies to get the most out of this promo while it lasts.