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[FM26] Ultimate Difficulty Pack

This pack introduces two different difficulty experiences, designed for players who want Football Manager to be smarter, harsher, and far less forgiving.

By on Dec 26, 2025   18244 views   92 comments
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Downloads: 1309 / Size: 5.7 MB / Added: 2025-12-26
Football Manager 2026 Data Updates - [FM26] Ultimate Difficulty Pack
🧠 Hardcore Mode – No Second Chances

Hardcore Mode increases difficulty through intelligence, pressure, and competition. Opposing managers are smarter and more adaptable, club boards are far less patient, and the transfer market becomes a ruthless battlefield. There are no easy rebuilds, no long grace periods, and no safe seasons. Tactical preparation, squad planning and consistency are essential to survive.

- Smarter, more adaptable AI managers;
- Highly ambitious and impatient boards;
- A more competitive transfer market without adding extra money;
- Reduced margin for error across all leagues.

Hardcore Mode is fair, realistic, and punishing — difficulty earned, not forced.

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💸 Berserk Mode – Survival Football

Berserk Mode takes everything from Hardcore Mode and pushes it further by attacking the financial foundations of football. Money is tight, budgets are reduced, and growth becomes painfully slow. Every contract matters. Every transfer is a risk. Financial mismanagement is no longer forgiven.

- Global financial nerf;
- Zero transfer and wage budgets;
- Removed sponsorship income;
- Slower club growth and harsher consequences.

This is survival football. Only well-run clubs endure.
Two paths. One goal. Survive football at its hardest.

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Downloads: 1309 / Size: 5.7 MB / Added: 2025-12-26
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Discussion: [FM26] Ultimate Difficulty Pack

92 comments have been posted so far.

  • Gagi1993's avatar
    Has anyone tested this, especially regarding the AI managers? Are they better? I like to play with Everton, but it’s too easy in the current game state. Will this make it harder for the existing team to win the Premier League in the first season? and im not using op tactics without strikers just 433 classic
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    I don't know what the pack includes, probably yes.
  • Rikaiu's avatar
    Would this work combined with daveincid's realism pack as well?
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    if you guys can re-do with the versions i just uploaded i appreciate.
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    it should already on v2
  • ruanba's avatar
    For the transfer market and/or squad management, is there margin for making more challenging in v3?
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    Update v2: Introduced fan pressure into the pack, Club Income in the season should be decreased now. (More) Managers should be now even better.
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    Thats related to the game, but i'll try to make it harder :)
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    * it was end of march when I adjust the budget not April.
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    @SirTAVARES I had 140k available scouting founds so when use them for wages/transfers I should have less.

    Somehow all the budgets were increase. I was still in April and promotion wasn't gain at this stage.

    I got promoted after winning a league in April so the board change the budget again. I have now 1.16m for transfer, 185k p/w (wages).

    It could be a game thing and nothing to do with your update.
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    Update v1: Boards should now be now more agressive, same for transfers.
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    weird in what way? theres many ways of getting money.
    the restrictions should be less after a season.
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    hm a weird thing happened, I wanted to move remaining scouting budged to transfer as I have no money to pay for agent fees (for free transfer) and then moved 2.7k wages into transfer money. Suddenly I got 1.26m for transfers and 20+k for wages.

    I did asked the board to increase transfer budget. Which was rejected twice.

  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    only transfer, sponsors and wages. IF you have debt its normal the money is going to there. Shouls be better next season with hopefully some sponsors.
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    half of Sampdoria squad is made from loan players, the are a lot of players 30+ with height wage and nobody wants to buy them.

    I'm in April now and some of the players is willing to talk to me about the contract.

    I just wonder if the financial problem in the club (repayment plan) is not going to be a reason for sacking. Every month I spend more than I earn. Even though I have almost full stadium each home match 25000 people. Did you interfere with this too?

    Selling players is not an option when you cant sign replacement.
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    well maybe you should sell some players :D
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    yes berserk
  • ruanba's avatar
    You are playing berserk mode, right?
    maybe it’s better the hardcore one…
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    I don't have money for transfers.
    Free transfers impossible because no one wants to join you.
    Even now in February I usually looking to sign players which contract expiring in 6m and non of them want to sign for me.
    Loaning out players to reduce/increase your wage budget doesn't work as it is set to the same.
  • ruanba's avatar
    And did you feel something better in these?
    - Smarter, more adaptable AI managers;
    - Highly ambitious and impatient boards;
    - A more competitive transfer market;
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    playing second time with Sampdoria with the same 343 tactics. I had no issue to get to the first postion.



    I'm in February now and players still not interested to sign for me even though they play is weaker teams in the same league.

    1
  • ruanba's avatar
    Anyone else test this file??
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    @addijimmas i have all files separated in my patreon
  • SirTAVARES's avatar
    money issue should more into the first season and its afor all teams, also being free agents their demands become lower also.
    unless you sell, you wont make money for wages
  • luk4sh31's avatar
    I have simulate a season to the end and all the top players which contract expired and was released has find a clubs. So it it not an issue.

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