MLB The Show 25's Diamond Dynasty mode offers players countless ways to build their dream team- but not everyone wants to, or can, spend real money to get there. Fortunately, going "No Money Spent" (NMS) is not only possible in Diamond Dynasty, it's a popular and fully viable approach thanks to the mode's grind-friendly structure and generous reward systems.

Whether you're brand new to the mode or looking to improve your NMS squad, here are the best strategies for building a competitive Diamond Dynasty team without dropping a dime beyond the cost of the game.

1. Prioritize Programs and Team Affinity

The heart of a no-money-spent grind lies in Diamond Dynasty's Programs and Team Affinity (TA). These are regularly updated content pipelines loaded with missions, Moments, and reward paths that offer free, high-quality players, many of whom are strong enough to stay in your lineup well into the season.

Some standouts from early Programs include:

·Christian Moore (Pipeline Series, 82 OVR)- A versatile infielder with a strong bat, obtainable just by completing a few Moments.

·Leodalis De Vries (Spring Breakout, 87 OVR)- A top-tier switch-hitting infielder you get by collecting other Spring Breakout players. A true community favorite.

·Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Tokyo Series)- A free ace with a great pitch mix and solid stamina, available by completing the Tokyo Series program.

In Team Affinity, you'll find more free gems, including bullpen help and big bats:

·John Franco (Mets)- A lefty reliever with a screwball and excellent splits vs. left-handers.

·Justin Martinez (Diamondbacks)- A flamethrower with an outlier sinker, splitter, and slider.

·Babe Ruth (Yankees)- An 85 OVR Babe Ruth with excellent hitting stats and quirks, available for free just by grinding the Yankees' TA path.

2. Grind Offline with Conquest and CPU Modes

Don't want to face online players? No problem. Conquest and Play vs. CPU are the best NMS-friendly ways to rack up XP, Program stars, and rewards.

Why Conquest?

·Short, 3-inning games against the CPU.

·Easy-to-complete goals that reward you with packs, players, and XP.

·Progress toward Program missions while collecting stubs, packs, and player cards.

You can double-dip using specific players from active Programs or TA paths to complete Parallel XP (PXP) missions while progressing Conquest objectives.

3. Maximize the XP Reward Path

Every time you earn XP, you move along the seasonal XP Reward Path. This is where you can snag some of the best NMS rewards in the game, including:

·High-rated players like Jake Arrieta.

·Boss choice packs.

·Loads of The Show Packs, Ballin' packs, and MLB The Show 25 Stubs.

Completing Programs alone can net you over 120,000 XP just from rewards:

·20,000 XP- Tokyo Series Program

·50,000 XP- Spring Breakout Program

·50,000 XP- Pipeline Program

All of this XP helps you unlock cornerstone evolution cards and rare packs that add power to your roster- all free of charge.

4. Flip and Invest in the Marketplace

Stubs are king in Diamond Dynasty, and while you can buy MLB The Show 25 Stubs and earn a steady stream of them by playing, you can also make Stubs without playing a single game by flipping cards on the Marketplace.

·Look for low-supply, high-demand cards (Live Series silvers/golds are a good start).

·Use tools like ShowZone or The Show Companion App to monitor trends.

·Buy low and sell high with narrow buy/sell gaps.

This method is time-consuming, but it's a powerful way to fund your NMS journey if you enjoy working in the economy.

5. Target Budget Beasts and Meta Cards

Not every powerful card needs to be a 95 OVR diamond. Many low-diamond or high-gold cards play above their ratings, especially if they have the right quirks, swing animations, or pitch mixes.

What to look for:

·Pitchers with good pitch mixes and velocity (e.g., other sinkers, sliders).

·Hitters with elite quirks like Dead Red, Bad Ball Hitter, or Unfazed.

·Swing animations that are quick and compact- often more important than ratings.

Examples include:

·Jose Alvarado (for his outlier sinker).

·Power-focused gold hitters with useful secondary positions and quirks.

Experiment with these budget-friendly cards to find who fits your playstyle and gives you the most bang for your buck (or no bucks, in this case).

Final Tips for NMS Success

·Log in daily to collect bonuses, rewards, and free packs.

·Complete all Moments, Showdowns, and Missions as soon as they drop.

·Use Event rosters wisely to complete multiple missions at once while earning solid rewards.

·Be patient- the best NMS teams don't form overnight, but a steady grind pays off.

Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 25 makes it possible to build an elite squad without spending real money. By taking advantage of Programs, grinding XP through Conquest, flipping cards, and targeting hidden gem players, you can compete with even the flashiest of squads- all without opening your wallet.