Ruleset Focus
This week's Battle Mage Secrets challenge introduces the REVERSE SPEED ruleset, which flips the conventional understanding of Speed's impact in Splinterlands battles. In this ruleset, slower monsters gain the advantage, while faster ones lose their edge. Abilities like Slow and Swiftness abilities become less effective, and those monsters with Last Stand or Bloodlust abilities might face drawbacks due to increased speed 😕
Abilities Focus
REVERSE SPEED rulesetas it will put your team in a disadvantage during the battle.
The Battle
In my alt account, jimbei, I was able to engage in a battle that involves the REVERSE SPEED ruleset. To get right into the action, the battle link can be found here. Otherwise, do read on as I go into more detail regarding the lineup and fight.
Let's begin by reviewing the ruleset for this battle. It includes the Stampede ruleset, which permits the Trample ability to trigger multiple times per attack when the trampled monster is defeated. There's also the Broken Arrows ruleset, prohibiting the use of monsters with Ranged attacks. And of course, the primary focus of today's challenge is the REVERSE SPEED ruleset, which we've explored in detail above. The battle adheres to a mana cap of 43 and only permits the use of the Water and Death Splinters.
Summoner, Possibilus The Wise
With the restriction to the Water and Death Splinters in this battle, I chose the Water Splinter for its powerful monsters. Considering the Stampede ruleset, selecting Possibilius The Wise as the Summoner was the optimal decision since it grants all friendly Melee monsters the Trample ability. Another reason why this choice was favored over Kelya Frendul was because Kelya Frendul's +1 Speed buff would not align well with the REVERSE SPEED ruleset 😅
First Position, Legionnaire Alvar
Given the REVERSE SPEED ruleset in this battle, traditional Water Splinter tankers like Diemonshark and Djinn Oshannus with high Speed stats weren't suitable choices. Therefore, I turned to Legionnaire Alvar from the Neutral Splinter to fill the tanking role. Legionnaire Alvar offers robust defensive stats and a valuable ability called Void Armor, which complements its defensive attributes nicely. Additionally, it possesses the Demoralize ability, capable of reducing the Melee attack of enemy units! 😉
Second Position, Cruel Sethropod
Cruel Sethropod shine as an excellent pick for this battle as it is able to deliver attacks from the second position thanks to the Reach ability provided by Possibilus The Wise. Cruel Sethropod boasts impressive health and armor stats, but what truly sets it apart, especially in this REVERSE SPEED ruleset match, is its low Speed stat of 2. While it lacks flashy abilities, its cost-effective 3 mana price aligns with its versatile attributes, making it a dependable option both for offense and as a sturdy tank when needed! 💪
Third Position, Deeplurker
Including the Deeplurker in my lineup when using the Water Splinter is almost a no-brainer decision. Despite its relatively high Speed stat, this creature is hard to omit from my team setup due to its potent prowess with the Opportunity ability, swiftly eliminating the opponent's most vulnerable target. Additionally, the Deeplurker has the capability to inflict Poison on its target. Alongside its formidable offensive capabilities, it also possesses the Demoralize ability, which imposes a -1 Melee attack debuff on the opposing team 😎
Fourth Position, Magi Of Chaos
Magi Of Chaos stands out as an exceptional Magic monster in the game, boasting impressive stats including 4 Magic attack, 2 Speed, and 7 Health. In the context of the REVERSE SPEED ruleset, its low Speed becomes an advantage, further enhancing its potency in this battle. What's more, Magi Of Chaos possesses the Oppress ability, enabling it to deal double damage to target monsters that lack an attack. This ability could prove particularly valuable if my opponent chooses to deploy a Baakjira as their tanker 😜
Fifth Position, Venari Wavesmith
Venari Wavesmith is an exceptional monster in the game, available at an affordable cost of 5 mana. It showcases impressive stats, including 3 Magic attack, 4 Speed, and 4 Health. What truly sets this monster apart and makes it a favorite among players is its invaluable Protect ability. This skill provides the entire lineup with a +2 Armor buff, often proving to be the crucial advantage that can sway the battle in one's favor. As a result, Venari Wavesmith has earned its place as a beloved choice for many! 👍
Last Position, Runi
Last but certainly not least, I have Runi in my lineup. I consider myself fortunate to have this monster at my disposal, and it truly shone in this battle governed by the REVERSE SPEED ruleset. With a Speed stat of just 1, Runi was ironically one of the "quickest" in this particular battle. This allowed it to capitalize on its Opportunity ability, making it the first to strike and eliminate an enemy monster. Moreover, thanks to the Trample ability granted by Possibilus The Wise, Runi had an additional opportunity to launch another attack on the next monster if it were to take out the target monster! ✌️
The Analysis
Given the restricted Splinter choices and the influence of the REVERSE SPEED ruleset, it became quite predictable how my opponent would likely compose their team. Consequently, I aimed to create a well-rounded lineup that could adapt to various strategies, which turned out to be a prudent choice!
In this particular battle, my opponent chose the Death Splinter and decided to field their slower Magic monsters. However, this strategy faced a significant hurdle with my choice of Legionnaire Alvar as the tank. Thanks to Legionnaire Alvar's Void Armor ability, coupled with Venari Wavesmith's Protect ability, my tank effectively absorbed all the incoming damage without a problem 😁
Encountering an opponent's Dr. Blight can be intimidating, especially in the REVERSE SPEED ruleset, where their low Speed stat makes them even more potent. Nevertheless, these Magic monsters come with their own vulnerabilities and can be eliminated rather easily. Take a look at my debut GIF inserted above – that's essentially how the battle unfolded, with my Deeplurker decimating almost three monsters thanks to its Trample ability, boosted by the Stampede ruleset! 🤙
Do you guys have any better recommendations for setting up the team in this particular ruleset? Do share them with me in the below comments.
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