The Challenge
The EVEN STEVENS ruleset for the Battle Mage Secrets challenge this week introduces a restriction where only monster units with even mana costs are allowed in the battle. However, summoners are not subject to this restriction ✌️
As EVEN STEVENS is a rather straightforward ruleset, I would like to make the post more interesting by attempting to make a connection to my previous post about DOCTOR BLIGHT MADE MORE OP WITH BORN AGAIN RULESET 💪
Since Doctor Blight is a Neutral Monster and has a mana cost of 4, it fits perfectly within the even mana cost requirement of the EVEN STEVENS ruleset. This makes Doctor Blight a popular choice for players participating in battles under this ruleset as they can strategically include this powerful monster in their lineup without worrying about violating the ruleset 😜
The Battle
In my alt account, jimbei, I had the opportunity to participate in a battle that demonstrated the points I made in my previous post regarding the immense power of Doctor Blight when combined with the Born Again ruleset. Furthermore, this battle also aligned with the EVEN STEVENS ruleset that is the focus of this challenge. To get right into the action, the battle link can be found here. Otherwise, do read on as I go into more details regarding the lineup and fight.
Let's begin by examining the ruleset for this challenge. The primary focus is the EVEN STEVENS ruleset, which we already discussed. Additionally, we have the Equal Opportunity ruleset, granting all monsters the Opportunity ability from the beginning of the battle. Lastly, there is the Born Again ruleset, providing all monsters with the Rebirth ability at the start of the battle. The mana cap for this battle is set at 30, and only the Earth and Dragon Splinters are prohibited.
Summoner, Kelya Frendul
When facing an EVEN STEVENS ruleset, my natural inclination is to opt for either the Water or Dragon Splinters, as they possess formidable monsters with even mana costs that meet the requirements. However, since the Dragon Splinter is not allowed in this particular battle, I have selected Kelya Frendul as my preferred summoner. Kelya Frendul offers advantageous attribute buffs, such as +1 Armor and +1 Speed, which are also well-suited for the Equal Opportunity ruleset 😁
First Position, Djinn Oshannus
Djinn Oshannus is an excellent monster with naturally high speed and health attributes. Its Phase ability, combined with its impressive speed, enables it to evade magic attacks using the same hit/miss calculations as melee or ranged attacks. Additionally, its Void ability aids in reducing incoming magic damage. Ultimately, I opted for Djinn Oshannus as my front tank instead of Demonshark due to the Forcefield ability which could reduce attack with 5+ damage to 1 damage instead. This strategic choice could prove beneficial if my opponent decides to utilize Demonshark as their own tank 🤗
Second Position, Deeplurker - Deeplurker is an essential addition to my lineup whenever I opt for the Water Splinter. It possesses impressive destructive power with its high Melee damage and the ability to inflict Poison on its targets. However, in this particular battle which has the Equal Opportunity ruleset, its Opportunity ability doesn't shine as brightly as before 😅
Third Position, Torrent Fiend - To be honest, Torrent Fiend was selected as I have ran out of mana. It is a particularly useful fodder unit when there is space available in the lineup, and the fact that it costs nothing is a definite advantage! Since my Torrent Fiend is at its maximum level, the Headwinds ability it possesses is a welcomed bonus 😂
Fourth Position, Igor Darkspear
Fifth Position, Xenith Archer
Selected Igor Darkspear and Xenith Archer for their cost-effectiveness and strong impact relative to their mana cost. Igor Darkspear, in particular, has the added benefit of potentially stunning the opposing monsters with its Stun ability, causing them to miss their next turn when stunned 😵
Last Position, Wave Brood
Like Djinn Oshannus, Wave Brood serves as a reliable backline tank for me because of its impressive health and inherent abilities like Void and Return Fire. With the Equal Opportunity ruleset active, Wave Brood's Taunt ability redirects all attacks toward itself instead of the monster with the lowest health. This allows me to have more control over the battle and protect the low-health monster to continue their assault 🤠
The Analysis
As anticipated, we both opted for the Water Splinter and selected Kelya Frendul as the Summoner for this battle, adhering to the EVEN STEVENS ruleset. My lineup selection was also pretty much on point as Djinn Oshannus effectively countered Demonshark with its Forcefield ability. Meanwhile, Wave Brood benefited from Torrent Fiend's Headwind ability, minimizing damage received from ranged attacks and subsequently retaliating with its Return Fire ability when damaged by the opposing Ranged monster.
However, what truly made my opponent's team stand out was the presence of Doctor Blight. I must admit that all of my strategic plans quickly crumbled in the face of this formidable monster.
The Born Again ruleset only served to amplify its power, allowing Doctor Blight to accumulate an impressive amount of health through its Scavenger ability whenever a unit fell in battle. At one point, it had amassed a staggering 17 health, an overwhelming force that proved too difficult for my team to overcome 😭
Once again, this battle showcased the incredible versatility of Doctor Blight, reaffirming the fact that it can seamlessly fit into any lineup due to its Neutral attribute. Its adaptability is truly remarkable, and I find myself longing to possess a max version of this extraordinary monster someday 🙏
If you made it this far, I sincerely appreciate your time and value your encouragement. Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions so that we can discuss about other strategies. Thinking about giving Splinterlands a try but haven't signed up yet? Feel free to use my referral link: https://splinterlands.com?ref=ak08, and be sure to reach out to me if you have any questions!
Are you interested in reading some of my future writings? Don't forget to follow me! In the meantime, here are some of my most recent blogs if you'd like to view them:
Social Media Challenge - A battle analysis showcasing incredible synergy between
DOCTOR BLIGHT AND BORN AGAIN RULESETBattle Mage Secrets - A battle analysis featuring the
EQUAL OPPORTUNITYruleset.Social Media Challenge - A battle analysis, showcasing the
DEMORALIZEability!Battle Mage Secrets - A battle analysis, featuring the
EQUALIZERruleset!
All banners, dividers card and battle images used in this article are open source and obtained from the Splinterlands team or made by flauwy. Do check out his link for other amazing designs!