Is Maldini’s SBC Worth It in FC 25?

Paolo Maldini’s SBC (Squad Building Challenge) in FC 25 has made a splash in the community, with many players debating whether it’s worth the hefty price tag. Released around February, this version of Maldini has many pros, but also some drawbacks, especially given the state of the game and the availability of more meta defenders. Let’s dive into the full review based on gameplay, stats, and overall performance.

Maldini SBC Card Overview

At 6’1” and mostly lengthy, Maldini offers a solid defensive option. He comes with two-star skill moves and a four-star weak foot, ideal for a center-back. His PlayStyle Plus traits include Slide Tackle Plus, Defender Plus, Stopper, and Fullback. The fact that he has Fullback and Stopper traits indicates he’s best suited as a central defender, not a fullback. However, these traits do suggest versatility in various defensive situations.

Chemistry Style: Shadow vs Anchor

When looking at Chemistry Styles, Shadow and Anchor are the top choices for this card. The Shadow boosts his pace and defensive stats, making him faster and more formidable in tackles and interceptions. Meanwhile, the Anchor Chemistry Style compensates for Maldini’s lower physical stats by increasing both physical and pace. After testing both, the reviewer mentioned that Anchor felt slightly more beneficial for the player’s overall engagement, especially for physical duels.

Although the Shadow Chemistry Style can boost his pace considerably, the lack of physicality with it made Maldini feel a bit sluggish in some situations, particularly against more meta players with higher strength or pace. However, his Running Animation was lauded for being quite solid and compensating for any minor deficiencies in sprint speed.

Gameplay Performance

One of the highlights of this card is his defensive animations. Maldini has strong base mechanic traits that make him effective in manual defending situations. His anticipate, intercept, and slide tackle traits allow him to step in and disrupt the opposition effectively. As mentioned, the Slide Tackle Plus PlayStyle was especially noticeable, often resulting in clear and decisive tackles. The animations for manual defending also rewarded the player, as he frequently made successful tackles withoutneeding to press the tackle button in certain scenarios.

On the flip side, there were some instances where his physical presence didn’t quite match up, especially against stronger attackers or in situations requiring a “block” or Bruiser effect. This is likely due to his lack of specific physical traits, which might have been necessary for top-tier meta play at this stage in the game.

See more of Maldini’s ingame performances in this review from Inception FC.

Pace and Physicality

Pace was an area of concern at first, especially given that Maldini’s card isn’t blessed with exceptional sprint speed. However, the Running Animation made up for this limitation, allowing him to compete against most attackers without feeling too slow. With the Anchor Chemistry Style, his pace becomes more manageable, though it could still be improved for more dynamic gameplay.

What really stood out, though, was his physical stats. Without the Anchor, the card felt somewhat lacking in physicality, often losing out in physical challenges. This can be problematic in today’s meta, where physical presence is essential for a solid center-back. However, with the Anchor applied, his physicality improved considerably, making him much more competitive against the game’s top attackers.

Overall Defensive Capabilities

Defensively, Maldini is quite effective. His positioning and jockeying abilities stand out, especially in tight situations. As highlighted in the review, when using manual defending, Maldini frequently made key interventions without requiring a direct tackle input. His interceptions were solid, though he didn’t always trigger his PlayStyle Plus abilities like Anticipate when necessary, and sometimes the card felt inconsistent in those areas.

Final Thoughts on Maldini SBC

At the time of release, the Maldini SBC was priced at around 1 million coins, which may feel steep for some players, especially considering the availability of top-tier center-backs. The reviewer notes that while Maldini’s defensive traits make him an appealing option for many, there are certainly more meta and physically dominant cards available in FC 25 that surpass him in terms of raw stats and physicality.

If you’re looking to build a link-friendly Serie A defense, or if you’re missing a solid Italian icon in your team, Maldini could be a useful option. His defensive animations, solid running animations, and ability to disrupt attacks make him a good choice for anyone seeking a more traditional center-back.

However, if you’re already rocking cards like Team of the Year (TOTY) defenders or meta center-backs like Varane or VVD, you may want to look elsewhere for upgrades, as the pace and physicality gap could be felt.

At the end of the day, the choice comes down to the state of your club and whether you prioritize chemistry and nostalgia over pure in-game performance.

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