FC 26 Instant Magnet Evolution Best Players & Upgrade Path

The FC 26 Instant Magnet Evolution is a free Evolution in Ultimate Team that turns a low-rated winger or attacking midfielder into a pace-focused wide player with Rapid and Quick Step PlayStyles. You pick one eligible player, complete three in-game objectives, and the Evolution upgrades their overall, pace, dribbling, and passing stats while adding the two key PlayStyles. This guide covers the best player choices, the exact upgrade path, and what to watch out for before you commit.

Formula

The calculator above works out your average pace and speed for a run, walk, or cycle. The pace formula is:

Pace (min/km) = Total time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)

The speed formula is:

Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Total time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where:

• t = total time in minutes (e.g., 50 minutes)
• d = distance in kilometres (e.g., 10 km)
• Pace = minutes per kilometre, the standard running metric
• Speed = kilometres per hour, useful for cycling or comparing with cars

Both results are shown because pace is the norm for runners, while speed is more intuitive for cyclists and drivers.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator (50 minutes, 10 km):

1. Pace = 50 ÷ 10 = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

So the calculator returns 5.00 min/km and 12.00 km/h. That is a brisk jogging pace for most people.

What Is the Instant Magnet Evolution?

The Instant Magnet Evolution is one of the free Evolutions released early in FC 26’s cycle, designed to give players a fast, agile wide attacker with improved crossing and close control. It is aimed at bronze, silver, and low-gold players, typically with an overall rating between 60 and 75, who play as LW, LM, RW, RM, or CAM. The Evolution is free to apply, but you must complete three separate objectives in any game mode (Squad Battles, Rivals, or Champions) to unlock the full upgrade.

The name refers to the “magnet” effect of the Rapid and Quick Step PlayStyles, which make the player feel sticky to the ball at high speed and accelerate quickly out of dribbles. These are two of the most valuable PlayStyles for wide players in FC 26, so the Evolution is popular even though the stat boosts are modest compared to paid Evolutions.

How the Upgrade Path Works

The Evolution has three levels, each with its own objective and stat upgrade. You do not need to choose a player until you start the Evolution, but once you pick one, you cannot change. The levels are:

• Level 1: Play 2 matches with the player in your starting XI. Reward: +2 Overall, +3 Pace, +2 Dribbling, and the Rapid PlayStyle.
• Level 2: Win 1 match with the player in your starting XI. Reward: +1 Overall, +3 Passing, +2 Physical, and the Quick Step PlayStyle.
• Level 3: Assist 2 goals with the player in any mode. Reward: +1 Overall, +2 Dribbling, +1 Weak Foot upgrade (if eligible).

The total upgrade is +4 Overall, +3 Pace, +4 Dribbling, +3 Passing, +2 Physical, plus the two PlayStyles. The Weak Foot upgrade only applies if the player’s base Weak Foot is 3 stars or lower; if it is already 4 or 5, you get a small stat boost instead (usually +1 to Shooting).

Best Players to Use

The best choice depends on what you value: a high overall for a bench player, a specific PlayStyle combination, or a player with a unique body type. Here are the strongest options based on the eligible pool (players rated 60-75 with LW/LM/RW/RM/CAM positions):

• Dario Osorio (Chile, RW, ~72 rated): Already has 4-star skills and 4-star weak foot. After the Evolution he becomes a 76-rated winger with 90+ pace and both Rapid and Quick Step. His body type is lean, which makes him feel very agile in game.
• Johan Bakayoko (Belgium, RW, ~75 rated): One of the highest-rated eligible players. He gains +4 to reach 79, with pace going to around 88. He already has the Technical PlayStyle, so the combination of Technical, Rapid, and Quick Step makes him a top-tier budget winger.
• Antonio Nusa (Norway, LW, ~74 rated): A 5-star skiller with a 4-star weak foot. After the Evolution he is a 78-rated left winger with 90+ pace and 85+ dribbling. His 5-star skills are rare at this rating.
• Yeremy Pino (Spain, RW, ~74 rated): Similar to Nusa but with slightly better passing. He becomes 78-rated with 89 pace and 86 dribbling. Pino also has the Incisive Pass PlayStyle, which helps with through balls.
• Samuel Iling-Junior (England, LM, ~70 rated): A cheap option with 5-star skills. He jumps to 74 rated but gets 92 pace and 84 dribbling. His height (1.82m) makes him stronger in duels than the smaller wingers.

A common mistake is picking a player solely for the highest overall. A 79-rated Bakayoko is impressive, but a 76-rated Osorio with 90+ pace and a lean body type often plays better in-game. If you plan to use the player in a first-owner or low-rated squad, choose the one with the best PlayStyle combination rather than the highest number.

Common Problems and Mistakes

The most frequent issue is choosing a player who is not actually eligible. The Evolution screen shows a green checkmark on eligible players, but many players assume any winger under 80 works. Always filter by the exact league, nation, or club requirements shown on the Evolution screen before applying.

Another mistake is completing the objectives in a mode where the player does not count. For the “Play 2 matches” objective, the player must be in your starting XI, not just on the bench. For the “Assist 2 goals” objective, the assist must be made with the Evolution player, not by a teammate. A cross that deflects in off the defender still counts as an assist, but a rebound goal does not.

Finally, some players accidentally apply the Evolution to a player they later want to sell or use in a different SBC. Once applied, the Evolution is permanent and the player becomes untradeable if they were tradeable before. There is no way to revert it, so double-check before confirming.

Comparing Instant Magnet to Other Free Evolutions

FC 26 typically releases several free Evolutions at the start of the cycle. The Instant Magnet is one of the few that gives two PlayStyles, which is its main selling point. Other free Evolutions, like the “Founders Evolution” or “Welcome to Evolution,” usually give only one PlayStyle or a single stat boost.

The trade-off is that Instant Magnet has a lower overall cap. Most free Evolutions cap at 80 overall, while Instant Magnet caps at 79 for the best players. If you have a player who is already 80 rated, they are not eligible. This means the Evolution is best for building a cheap, fast bench or a starter squad, not for upgrading your main team.

For a similar cost (free), the “Pace Boost Evolution” might give a higher overall but only adds the Rapid PlayStyle. If you value Quick Step more, Instant Magnet is the better choice. If you want a higher overall, look for a different Evolution that grants +5 or +6 overall.

Costs and Time Investment

The Instant Magnet Evolution is completely free—no FC Points or Coins are required. The only cost is the time to complete the three objectives. On average, you can finish all three in about 4-6 matches, depending on how quickly you get assists. If you play Squad Battles on a low difficulty, you can score two assists in a single match by putting the Evolution player on corners and crossing to a tall striker.

There is no expiry date announced for the Evolution, but most free Evolutions last for the entire season (about 6 weeks). If you want the player for a specific objective or friendly mode, complete it early. The Evolution does not require any squad rating or chemistry, so you can slot the player into any team.

Safety and Fair Play Notes

This Evolution does not involve any real-money transactions, so there is no financial risk. However, be aware that using the player in online modes will match you against opponents with similar team ratings, so a 76-rated winger with 90 pace might face tougher competition than you expect.

Do not use any third-party tools or automation to complete the objectives. EA’s anti-cheat system can flag accounts that complete matches abnormally fast or with unrealistic stats. Play the matches normally, and you will have no issues.

Also, remember that the player’s stats after the Evolution are final. If you later pack a better version of the same player, you cannot apply the Evolution again. Plan your squad around the Evolved player’s new strengths (pace and dribbling) and avoid playing them as a striker unless their Shooting stat is already decent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the Instant Magnet Evolution on a player I already Evolved? No. Each player can only have one Evolution applied at a time. If you have already used a different Evolution on a player, they are not eligible for Instant Magnet unless the Evolution screen explicitly says otherwise.

Does the Weak Foot upgrade apply to all players? No. The Level 3 upgrade gives +1 Weak Foot only if the player’s base Weak Foot is 3 stars or lower. If it is already 4 or 5 stars, you get +1 Shooting instead. Check the player’s stats before applying.

Can I complete the objectives in friendly modes? Yes, any mode that counts for Objectives will work, including Squad Battles, Rivals, Champions, and most friendlies. However, some friendly modes like “Golden Goal” may not count if they have special rules. Check the objective description.

What happens if I sell the player after applying the Evolution? You cannot sell an Evolved player if they were tradeable before. Applying the Evolution makes them untradeable permanently. If you want to keep the player tradeable, do not apply the Evolution.

Is the Instant Magnet Evolution worth it? Yes, for a free Evolution, it gives two of the best PlayStyles for wingers. The main downside is the low overall cap, so it is best for a starter squad or a fun first-owner team. If you have a high-rated team already, you might skip it.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2