Ability strategy twitter.png

Introduction

This week we have a look on the halving ability this is an very rare ability. As far is i know there are only two units that have this ability.

Ability

The first time this unit hits a target, the target's attack is cut in half (rounded down).

Notes:

Can be cleansed
Halving remains even after the unit wielding it dies.
Halving has a 100% chance of activation (if the attack does not miss).
Halving impacts ranged, magic, and melee attacks.
Halving does not halve the strength of armored strike. The strength of that armor based attack will be reduced only when armor is reduced.
Halving does not stack - regardless of the amount of time the unit is hit with a Halving attack

Fun Fact: This ability is a tribute to bitcoin's halving.

Official ability information from splinterlands: List abilities

Synergies / strategy

Abilities benefits

Shield/Void - Depending on what attack type you expect it benefits to also use one of the extra reduce damage which might reduce the damage down to 0.

Shield/Void/Headwinds - Depending on what attack type you expect your opponent will play it might be useful to select that type to decrease even further with one of these abilities.

Bloodlust - When you expect your opponent is selecting an bloodlust unit. It might be useful to bring a halving unit so the potential gained stats are reduced again.

Be aware of abilities

Cleanse - Halving on a unit can be cleansed
Immunity - When you encounter an immune unit the halving will do nothing.

Ruleset benefits
What Doesn't Kill You - Prevent your opponent from fully using the enrage ability to their advantage by halving their attacks!

Select / favorite

Allllll mine halving units:

After long comparison i have chosen Arkemis the Bear. I was lucky i got one halving unit this so i could be writing this post including an battle report.
Makes me appreciate this unit even more and shows again how rare this ability is.

I like this unit because the halving ability but also the protect and massive health is very good. Because of the stats it also an very expensive unit so mostly played in high mana games.

Most paired with these summoners and units:

Strategy

High mana match with the new rules FabFour only 4 units can be selected and ranged units will have return damage because of the Fire and regrets ruleset.
I expect some heavy hitter so an big tank with halving might be perfect choice here.

Rulesets

Earthquake:
All non flying unit will receive 2 damage every turn. Note also unit that have flying and are snared will take damage.

FabFour:
Only 4 units may be selected

Fire & Regret:
All unit gain the return fire ability. This will cause ranged attacked to receive some damage back.

The Lineup

Summoner

Card	Reason
	Do i need to say more when you are following my battle post you see this summoner very often. An very versatile summoner. Extra speed health and armor are always welcome.

Monsters Lineup

#1	#2	#3	#4

Arkemis the Bear (lvl 5)
Start of this week my only halving unit.... Some extra shield and massive health will help in a battle with only 4 units.

Baakjira (lvl 3)
Strong tank. In the second position because it will be buffed by Kulu Mastermind. Slow/extra health and heal are all important in this match. When it gets into the front it might sustain itself with the heal and still do 3 damage even when Kulu Mastermind dies.

Kulu Mastermind (lvl 3)
also an important unit here it buffs the Baakjira with the weapon training and it will attack the weakest unit for 5 damage.

Deeplurker (lvl 10)
One of my best units love the poison in combination with the opportunity is strong. Now the combination of demoralize and halving it might reduce the damage of my opponent big time.

The Battle

Reference

Link to the battle:
Link to battle

Rounds

Start :

Interesting setup... My Baakjira will do fine against all the magic attackers and the halving unit will reduce the damage of Uriel the Purifier from 3 to 1. So Uriel the Purifier will do 3 damage every other turn.

The only thing is hard to get trough is Iziar lucky not an level 3 with martyr 🤣. And it will be resurrected once.

Round 1:

The magic damage is hurting my Arkemis the Bear so that will be dead quickly sadly. Still it did his very important halving.

Round 2:

Iziar is dead but also my arkemis the bear. I i do not miss i do 10 damage per round to the weakest unit. So one round to kill Adelade Brightwing second round to kill Djinn Renova.
I do not see any trouble anymore.

Round 3:

Forgot about the earthquake rule set so i attacked Djinn Renova even better because that one had had 4 damage.

Round 4:

One one unit left. A strong unit that now only does 3 damage every round so the halving ability still have its effect.

Round 5:

Did not expect it to be finished in one round but did 12 damage in one round.
Vicotry.

Conclusion

Halving is an rare ability and sometimes very useful as demonstrated in above battle.
I have not seen the Halfling Alchemist but Arkemis the Bear is an pretty common unit

Previous ability strategy posts

Below you will find references to the other ability strategies / analysis posts.

Ability	post
Affliction	Ability post: Affliction
Amplify	Ability post: Amplify
Backfire	Ability post: Backfire
Blast	Ability post: Blast
Blind	Ability post: Blind
Bloodlust	Ability post: Bloodlust
Camouflage	Ability post: Camouflage
Conscript	Ability post: Conscript
Close Range	Ability post: Close Range
Cleanse	Ability post: Cleanse
Cripple	Ability post: Cripple
Deathblow	Ability post: Deathblow
Demoralize	Ability post: Demoralize
Dispel	Ability post: Dispel
Divine Shield	Ability post: Divine Shield
Dodge	Ability post: Dodge
Double Strike	Ability post: Double Strike
Enrage	Ability post: Enrage
Flying	Ability post: Flying
Forcefield	Ability post: Forcefield
Fury	Ability post: Fury
Giant Killer	Ability post: Giant Killer
Halving