Spooky season is here, and MLB The Show 23 is getting into the Halloween spirit with two new programs. Along with that, a new program has been added featuring players from the recent ALCS and NLCS. However, these latest updates have been met with mixed reactions, as some contest that these additions show the weaknesses in the Sets and Seasons system.
Trick or Treat Program
The Halloween theme Trick and Treat programs are similar to the Great Egg Hunt program we saw earlier this year. There are no clear missions to complete in either of these programs. Instead, you will have to play multiple modes across Diamond Dynasty to earn vouchers. Each voucher for these programs will move you one step along the reward path.
There are a couple of vouchers that are pretty easy to find. You can earn one voucher for the Treat program by completing the new Jack-O’-Lantern Conquest map. You can also earn a Trick program voucher by completing the Trick or Treat Showdown. Both of these are repeatable, meaning you will get the voucher each time you complete them.
Outside of that, the clues are pretty sparse. The only hint provided is “There are certain tasks in certain areas, and 13 is a generally spooky number.” It seems like players are just supposed to play as many modes as possible and get the vouchers passively, as opposed to seeking out the specific missions like we did for the Great Egg Hunt program. The part about the number 13 could suggest that you can get vouchers by using players who wear the number 13. This would include players like Ronald Acuna Jr., Manny Machado, and Salvador Perez, among others.
The rewards for these programs are nothing groundbreaking. There are some flashbacks from previous games, as well as a couple 99 OVR cards that will help you complete your collections. The rewards for these programs are listed below:
Trick Program
- Postseason Series Guardians SP Triston McKenzie (99 OVR)
- Finest Series Cubs 3B Patrick Wisdom (99 OVR)
- Finest Series Angels SP Patrick Sandoval (99 OVR)
Treat Program
- Postseason Series Dodgers SP Tyler Anderson (97 OVR)
- Postseason Series Braves RP Tyler Matzek (98 OVR)
- Finest Series Padres 2B Jake Cronenworth (99 OVR)
- Milestone Series Giants RF Mike Yastrzemski (99 OVR)
LCS Program
Along with the Halloween themed content comes new cards for players who showed out during the League Championship Series in the postseason. The program is similar to the other programs from this year’s playoffs, as it features moments, online and offline missions, collections for the Moonshot Event, and a conquest map.
The choice of cards in this program was met with criticism by many in the community. Many of the players featured in this program, especially those that received 99 OVR cards, already had several other highly rated cards in the game.
For example, Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber received a 99 OVR card in this program. This is Schwarber’s third 99 OVR card he has gotten this year. Schwarber received his previous 99 OVR cards in Seasons 2 and 3. The Phillies slugger now has six total cards in MLB The Show 23 Diamond Dynasty, with four being Diamonds and 3 being 99 OVRs.
Schwarber wasn’t the only player to receive an additional 99 OVR card in this program. Phillies SP Aaron Nola received his second 99 OVR card. Rangers C Jonah Heim now has two 99 OVR cards, four 95+ cards, and five total Diamond cards. Phillies C J.T. Realmuto got his third 99 OVR card in this program, with many criticizing the hitting stats of the latest card.
Too Much Repitition?
Now, it is not unheard of for players to receive multiple 99 OVR cards in the same year. Last year, multiple legends like Ken Griffey Jr., Willie Mays, and others got multiple 99 OVR cards during the year. However, seeing several players get these multiple 99s, especially so close together, feels very repetitive. Why would players grind for a card when they already have an incredibly similar version of that card.
This is one issue players have had with this year’s Sets and Seasons format to Diamond Dynasty. The fact that so many cards are being repeated over and over makes it hard for players to feel motivated to continue playing. It is also frustrating that so many players are repeated while other players get ignored. Willie Mays still has not gotten a single 99 OVR card in MLB The Show 23.
Time will only tell if in the end this repetitive nature will continue, or if SDS will find a way to mix things up. To their credit, they have been quick to respond to fan feedback this year. When fans felt that the structure of programs were too repetitive and offline focused, SDS changed the format and added optional online components for those that want to grind that way. Hopefully, they will take this latest feedback and find a way to spread around the more powerful cards.