Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

MLB The Show 25: New Diamond Dynasty XP Cap Explained

SDS has listened.

Diamond Dynasty is without a doubt one of the most popular game modes in MLB The Show 25. The unique playstyle coupled with the excitement of collecting cards make it highly enjoyable. But, as with every game mode, having a balance is a must. In MLB The Show 24, San Diego Studio introduced an XP cap, which restricted players from grinding the game on day one and creating an imbalance. 

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This cap was opposed by many, so SDS is back with a new and improved version of the XP cap. Aimed to help players across the board, SDS has listened to community feedback and created a better way of balancing players in Diamond Dynasty. In this article, we’re going to explain this XP cap and talk about why this is important for all casual players of the game. 

What Is an XP Cap in MLB the Show?

As the name suggests, an XP cap is a limit on the XP you can earn through gameplay-based activities. This was first introduced in MLB The Show 24 where it was set to 15,000 gameplay XP per day. Players could only earn 15k XP each day, slowing progress through the program.

SDS explained this was necessary to ensure that the power creep for 99 OVR players was balanced. According to them, players who were able to grind the game on day one had an unfair advantage over the casual players. Additionally, some players were loading up games against the CPU, and exploiting XP by letting the game play itself. To curb this disparity, the gameplay XP cap was introduced. While players could still unlock 99 OVR players, they would be unlocked gradually throughout the 12-week season.

This cap massively nerfed the repetitive gameplay grinding and instantly became controversial.

Diamond Dynasty XP Cap In MLB The Show 25

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Now, with the launch of the latest game, SDS has reworked the XP cap to make it more accessible. However, there’s still a lot of confusion in the community about what has changed. So, here’s a complete explanation of the Diamond Dynasty XP Cap in MLB The Show 25.

Unlike before where you had a fixed 15,000 XP cap per day, players will now have a cumulative XP cap. On day one of the season, the cap is set to 160,000 and increases by 30,000 per day. When day two comes around, rather than resetting your acquired XP to 0, an additional 30K will be added to your pre-existing cap. With 30K being added every day without a reset, it ensures players can play at their convenience without feeling forced to play every day.

This change was primarily brought on due to players complaining of uncertain schedules. A fixed XP cap punishes players for not playing daily. With a rolling-over gameplay XP cap, you are free to gain as much XP as you missed out on during the week. If you do manage to reach the cap on the first day, you’ll only be able to receive a further 30K per day.

Creating A Level Playing Field

Image: Sony Interactive Entertainment

A good chunk of the community wondered what was the need for an XP cap in the first place. As explained above, players who were able to grind out normal matches on day one would receive the top players much earlier than casual players. This creates a disparity within the player base due to time restraints.

The gameplay XP cap forces players to try other game modes and sets everyone on an even playing field. On the flip side, people who are unable to log in throughout the week have the opportunity to catch up during the weekend.

The final question swirling in your mind might be how long it takes to acquire the 30,000 XP (considering you maxed out your XP cap a day prior). While this is subject to your skills in the game, you can max out the XP cap within 3-5 hours. Once that is done, you can try out all the other game modes

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Image of Shahmeer Shahzad
Shahmeer Shahzad
As a lifelong gamer, Shahmeer lives and breathes sports. Whether it’s draining threes in NBA 2K, scoring screamers in EA FC, or chasing pole in F1, he’s all in for the adrenaline. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him cheering on his favorite club, FC Barcelona, or yelling at Ferrari’s questionable race strategies.