Destructoid has published a guide to the Striker Instinct Evolution item in EA Sports FC 26, a free upgrade path unlocked via an in-game Squad Building Challenge that boosts a chosen player's finishing, physical and technical attributes across five stages. The guide matters to players building their Ultimate Team squads, as it helps them decide which eligible card to invest the evolution's limited progression into for the best long-term return.

To qualify, a player must have a maximum overall rating of 96, no more than 10 PlayStyles and 4 PlayStyle+, and cannot be a centre-back. Completing all five levels requires playing one match per level in Squad Battles (minimum Semi-Pro difficulty) or in Rush, Rivals, Champions or Live Events, and rewards include boosts to finishing, shot power, vision, dribbling and new playstyles such as Finesse Shot and Gamechanger. The author recommends around a dozen cards, including Claudia Pina TOTY, Lanzini FUTTIES, Kolo Muani FUTTIES, Insigne FUTTIES and James Rodriguez PTG, while noting some picks like Mariona and Renato Sanches work best in specific positions.