Perks are a great way to power up your character in MLB The Show 26’s Road to the Show. You can cover up any weaknesses or just buff them up to be a one-trick pony. Regardless of which path you choose to go down, knowing about all the available perks is necessary. With each perk having different unlock conditions, you don’t want to aimlessly unlock unnecessary perks.
There are three main types of perks: batting, pitching, and fielding. But with only a few spots for perks, you want to choose wisely. I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of all the perks in MLB The Show 26 and what they do, so let’s go through them.
All Perks In MLB The Show 26
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Batting Perks
| Perk Name | Effect | Unlock/Level |
| Contact (I-IV) | Increases Contact (L/R) and Vision. | Program Packs / Market |
| Power (I-IV) | Increases Power (L/R). | Program Packs / Market |
| Jump Start | Boost to Contact on inside pitches early in the count. | Archetype Program |
| Clear for Takeoff | Significant Exit Velocity boost when ahead in the count (2-0, 3-0, 3-1). | RTTS Performance Goal |
| Inner Peace | Boost to Contact when hitting pitches down the middle. | Archetype Program |
| Oppo-Taco | Boost on outside pitches with runners in scoring position. | Silver Archetype Pack |
| Defibrillator | Boost to Vision when your team is losing. | Bronze/Silver Packs |
| Wake Up | Vision boost after striking out 3 times in a row (Anti-slump). | RTTS Achievement |
Pitching Perks
| Perk Name | Effect | Unlock/Level |
| Velocity (I-IV) | Increases raw Velocity and Arm Strength. | Program Packs / Market |
| Control (I-IV) | Increases Control and BB/9. | Program Packs / Market |
| Break (I-IV) | Increases Pitch Break and K/9. | Program Packs / Market |
| Lone Wolf | Pitch Control boost to help close out an inning with no runners on. | Archetype Program |
| Theft Detection | Pitch Control boost during day games with runners on base. | Pitching Program |
| Corner Painter | Control boost during the Postseason or high-leverage late innings. | Gold Archetype Pack |
| Battle Tested | Pitch Break boosts when stamina is low (below 25%). | Diamond Program |
Fielding Perks
| Perk Name | Effect | Unlock/Level |
| Fielding (I-IV) | Increases Fielding, Reaction, and Accuracy. | Program Packs / Market |
| Speed (I-IV) | Increases raw Speed and Stealing. | Program Packs / Market |
| Swift Bandit | Speed boost while stealing to help take the lead. | Speedster Archetype |
| On Your Mark | Massive speed burst during the first 3 steps of a steal attempt. | College Recruiting Reward |
| Slick Fielding | Fielding boost specifically in the 9th inning to protect a lead. | Defensive Program |
| Cannon Arm | Arm Strength boost when there is a runner on base. | Bronze/Silver Packs |
Perks Vs Quirks In MLB The Show 26
With the addition of ‘Dynamic Perks’ and a ‘Parallel Mod’ system, things have definitely gotten confusing. While this adds more customization to the game, it is important to know the distinction between the two.
Perks are items you choose to equip to build a specific type of player, while Quirks are innate traits that represent how a real-life player (or your finished RTTS pro) actually performs on the field. This means that while perks can be added to give your character additional stats, quirks are a projection of that player’s talents on the field and cannot be altered.
You can get perks through program packs or buy them at the Community Market, while quirks are present on the card when you unlock it. Perks are also categorized into bronze, silver, gold, and diamond categories since they are customizable. Remember to unlock better perks along the way for your character.
Since quirks are only found on real MLB player cards, they cannot be changed and remain static throughout. There are two different types, passive and active. While passive quirks simply signify a player’s abilities, active perks activate under certain conditions and give the player a small buff.
If you want a list of all the quirks in MLB The Show 26, you can find them here.
Published: Mar 26, 2026 04:30 pm