![Football Manager 2026 Data Updates - [FM26] Ultimate Difficulty Pack](https://i.postimg.cc/3wQ7TYhd/easy.jpg)
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.
![FM26 Data Tweaks [v1.7 | v2.8]](https://i.postimg.cc/t4fKVrB7/wonderkid.png)
Discussion: [FM26] Ultimate Difficulty Pack
92 comments have been posted so far.
This is the info about ticket prices decreasing after promotion.
I think it is hard now. I have 14 players unhappy because I couldn't offer them the wages they wanted after promotion. So most of them hit the door.
Only kept couple of them with no contract so they can leave anytime.
I will play and see if I get sacked.
After moving money to wages was able to find some better free agents let go by teams in England.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO PLAY THIS VERSION OF THE PACK?
I would say it can be increased for those who managed top teams or in 1,2 division.
I just got promoted with Dover to National League from 1st place (109 points).
I use 4231 formation with basic instruction and won most matches without making to many changes to main approach.
The Board is not as bad I though it is going to be. The already paid for two of my coaching courses.
I was able to convince them also to get money from senior affiliate and the are looking for a club.
Very stubborn if it comes to the way you have to play. Tried remove at leas one approach but failed.
I'm trying to rebuilt the team at the moment. Got 16y old guy in youth intake who is much better than most of my first team players. There are club from championship who want to sign him. For time being board didn't interfere when I rejected the deal - we will see for how long.
Moved all the money from scout and transfer for wages and will try to sigh some young player which I could sell later on for cash. I'm also planning to loan couple of players as you can have 6 long term loanees.
Did you try the hardcore mode instead the Bersek one? At least with the description its seems more realistic…
it's meant to be as hard as possible
Premier League still has some advantages cause i didnt touch any tv incoming.
After 19 matches, I’m first so far. No transfers, one loan player.
You mentioned in one of your comments that I could make money by releasing players.
I asked a few players to mutually agree to terminate their contracts. Even though they agreed, it was blocked by the board because the club has no cash to pay them the money.
you have to build up, its not meant to play a season or two.
Darlington gate 87k, Merch 2k
Bath City 82k, 2k
MK Dons Gate 200k, Merch 35k
there are team top of the league.
In May 2026 (I have all 5 top leagues as playable + lower tier). MONTHLY
Mainz Gate 1.2 mln, Merch. 249k
Dortmund Gate 1.2,ln Merch. 1.3mln
Bayern approx. 2,5mln, Merch. 5mln
Real 4,3 mln Gate, Merch 6.2mln
Barca 5.9mln Gate, Merch 4,7mln
Sevilla 1.2mln Gate, Merch 270k
Las Palmas (tier 2) 600k Gate, Merch 160k
PSG 4,7mln Gate, Merch. 2,2mln
Inter 2.2 mln Gate, Merch 3mln
Arsenal 2.3 mln Gate, Merch 2,5mln
Liverpool 3,7mln Gate, Merch 2,7mln
West Ham 2,4 mln Gate, Merch 730k
Brentford 650k Gate, Merch 150K
Ipswich (tier 2) 470k Gate, Merch 260k
Wrexham (tier 2) 105k Gate, Merch 53.981
Portsmouh (tier 2) 230k Gate, Merch 103k
Like I said big team will get money. This pack would increase difficulty for smaller team (if not make it impossible).
You have to do some options, release players to free your wage, etc.
It's normal you can't buy your average wonderkids every time, thats why this is different, you have to make choices. And it's not a 1 year save.
I didn't touch any prize money, etc, and sponsors increase every year depending on your results.
I have left Mainz after two season as I didn't make any transfer for two years and could make a proper team. They were relegated that season.
Summary:
I think this pack is a good way to make your save more challenging if you are playing teams in 1st and 2nd tier.
For those who like to start a the bottom it might be impossible. I know this is the whole point of this difficulty pack but in lower league this will cause more bad than good.
* you can't sign players as you don't have cash
* you can't sell players because the lower teams doesn't have cash either
* you can't sing free agents as you budget is too low
* you can't keep you "good" players as you wouldn't have cash to pay for their contracts.
* if you get promoted you won't be able to rebuild your team to be competitive
* IF YOU GET SACEKD the game is over for me as I play one team across one save in most cases unless doing a journeyman save or pentagon challenge.
* it could work for you if you choose team with good youth development and use them but I usually manage teams predicted to finish from 15 to 24 so they don't offer to much.
* the board will reject most of your request which in some way is UNREALISTIC. Like I have mention before I'm playing on Berserk v1 pack with Sampdoria (2nd season, in Serie A after straight promotion) and wanted the team to pay for my coaches qualification (started with none) but they are not interested and won't even discus it. Then a week later offer me a new contract 4 time what I was making.
* I will try give it a go but the smaller teams will suffer much more with lack of cashflow than the big one.
* The big ones can sell youth, unwanted players, get money from sponsorship, big stadiums - more gate income (even the prices are reduced), prize money.
Transfers make from July 2027 till February 2029.
I holiday a second season. In second season Mainz was 7th and didn't get sacked.
This is World transfers in Berserk v2 from 2025 to sept 2027
@sirTAVARES yes it is better. I have checked the Mainz save and there is no cash transfers in those league. thanks
Al nasar bought Rovella (lazio) for 50ml and gave him 775k p/w.
Anthony sign for Al-Ahi for 60mln and earning 850k p/w
* maybe cut more sponsorship income in Spain clubs so they can't have so much money for transfers?
One thing you need to be aware of that board will reject most of your requests. I have started with the lowest coaching attributes and asked board 5 time to sponsor my qualification. Every time the answer is NO.
I'm second season with the team and got them promoted so I deserve some respect. hahhaa