In MLB The Show 26 Diamond Dynasty, completing offline missions yields generous rewards. This guide will lead you through the best offline mode: Conquest.
Preparing before Entering Conquest
When you select a map, press the triangle button to view all objectives. Then, attempt to capture them to earn corresponding rewards, such as Colt Emerson on OVR 88. The objectives you choose will affect your overall strategy.
Before entering conquest, you'll need to optimize your player lineup. Different events may require different missions and players. This depends on the progression you're working on. So, add the players you need to complete Team Affinity or any mission.
The Most Effective Conquest Progression Strategy
As a turn-based strategy mode, you need to efficiently advance your progress and capture the opponent's stronghold as quickly as possible. And because it's a single-player mode, it tests the player's strategic decision-making during the game.
To expand your tiles, during the attack phase, concentrate all reinforcements on a single tile, usually an already captured boundary tile. Expand outwards from this tile as far as possible, capturing more tiles until you can't move any further.
The more tiles you capture, meaning the larger your tiles become, the more reinforcements you gain each turn.
Then, if your map objective doesn't explicitly require stealing fans, it's best to skip this step by pressing the start button, as it's not very valuable. Just proceed directly to the attack phase.
Then, concentrate all reinforcements from this turn onto a single tile. Yes, you need to repeat this expansion process. As your tiles increase in size, the reinforcements gained each turn will also increase.
As for the “move fans” phase, it's not very useful in the early game, but it can be used later to consolidate forces. When your tiles are large enough, you can gather your scattered fans at the front line, making it easier to launch a large-scale attack at once.
Note that you only have one chance to move fans per turn, so plan your strategy carefully and use it judiciously.
It's recommended that you clear all the surrounding regular tiles and accumulate enough fans before attempting to capture the stronghold. However, remember that at this point you can no longer simulate; you must play three games to win.
If you have enough reinforcements, you can choose a lower difficulty. For beginners, Rookie is highly recommended. Experienced players should avoid difficulties below Veteran, as the extremely slow pitching speed in Rookie mode will negatively impact your rhythm in other modes.
See? This is a repeatable strategy: concentrate your forces, expand quickly, omit stealing fans, simulate games, and focus on capturing the stronghold. Repeat these key phases every round, omitting all unnecessary steps. Capture the entire map, and you win.
Special Map Differences
For U.S.A. Central Maps and East Maps, the strategies used differ slightly due to the map variations.
In Central Maps, with fewer followers at the start, it's best to prioritize attacking isolated Royals. The overall strategy is similar to general tactics, but you'll need to focus more on building defenses to prevent your path from being cut off.
Eastern Maps are relatively simpler, focusing on rapid outward expansion and building walls. Keeping your attack routes unobstructed will ensure a smooth overall game. Of course, you'll also need to move all your followers to the front lines for attacks.
Operational Suggestions during the Game
Even though many recommend Pinpoint, in this offline mode, it's suggested to use Pure Analog or Meter instead of Pinpoint, as it's faster, less strenuous, and sufficient for completing tasks.
If your path is cut off, don't hesitate to immediately choose a new front line connected to your own; be flexible.
Pay attention to defending your strongholds. You can reduce defensive pressure by surrounding strongholds with tiles. Also, always be wary of AI accumulating followers near your strongholds, as this could pose an attack threat.
At the start of the game, use screenshots or videos to record your opponent's initial movements. This will help you with your strategy. If you make a mistake, don't panic. Stay calm and adjust later.
Other Important Tips
Conquest is the fastest and most efficient way to obtain free rewards. Hidden rewards are scattered throughout the map, including MLB The Show 26 Stubs, packs, player cards, and more. You'll unlock these rewards once you've captured all the tiles. The map can be replayed to repeatedly earn rewards.
If you feel your current player roster isn't strong enough to match the map's difficulty, you can first play other modes to acquire players with higher OVR and improve your team. For example, you can quickly acquire players through Mini Seasons or use new PXP to enhance your players' strengths.
In short, Conquest isn't as difficult as players might think. The key is choosing the right game strategy. Follow the suggestions in this guide, and you'll definitely be able to obtain all the rewards in Conquest faster!
