Introduction
This week battle mage secret is an restrictive rule set: Taking Sides. You will not able to select any neutral units.
Ruleset
Simple: No neutral units may be used.
Official ruleset information from splinterlands: List-of-In-Game-Rulesets
Abilities Synergies / Strategies
There are no abilities that have special bonus or debuffs on neutral units.
Therefor this chapter can remain empty
Their is one big advantage Lux 
can still be used 😍.
Avoid
Same a for avoid their are no special abilities units that thrive with the absence of neutral units.
Example battle
Strategy
Medium mana battle perfect for lux in combination with the water splinter
Both no neutral and no ranged units makes number of unit to choose from limited. Either magic or melee.
I will do an magic protect with melee play
Rulesets
Taking Sides:
Rule set of the week. No neutral units are allowed.
Broken Arrows:
No ranged units are allowed.
The Lineup
Summoner
| Card | Reason |
|---|---|
 | The one neutral I still can play. Still in love with my lux while i'm also considering selling it to buy more rebellion packs choices choices ..... |
Monsters Lineup
| #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
Baakjira (lvl 3)
Magic protect with self heal this is very strong unit in the front also when it extra healed by the Merdaali Guardian
Merdaali Guardian (lvl 6)
extra healer to keep the baakjira alive as long as possible.
Noa the Just (lvl 3)
Very fast unit with dodge when it gets in the front an my opponent uses melee it has an hard time hitting this unit. At the point of writing this post I saw it was better to place this unit in the second position.
Deeplurker (lvl 8)
With the opportunity and poison it will hit on the weakest units killing them one by one, that is the plan.
Pelacor Bandit (lvl 8)
Fast with flying so when it is targeted my opponent might also miss.
Kulu Mastermind (lvl 2)
Normally i would have placed in the second position but i also expect some sneak attack so this will protect my back.
The Battle
Reference
Link to the battle:
Link to battle
Rounds
Start :
Lets analyze the battle setup.
Similar splinter different line-up my opponent also expected an magic play and has countered it with two strong magic protected units.
My units have some higher levels so that the first advantage. The two sneak units are hitting into an shield so that is the second advantage. I think this battle is mine.
Round 1:
Looking strong, the resurrect of my opponent is gone and first unit in the back is killed.
Round 2:
My opponent is missing at least an healing unit. Also my Merdaali Guardian is repairing some shield in the back.
Round 3:
His Deeplurker is not dead this game is over it will take some round to get trough to this units because they are strong but my opponent is weakened enough so it cannot fight back.
Round 4:
One or two more round my opponent Djinn Oshannus is not doing enough damage to hurt my Baakjira
Round 5:
Victory my team has taken no damage or it has bean healed and repaired already.
Conclusion
The Taking Sides is not huge impact on selecting units even with another restrictive rule set like broken arrows there are plenty of option left.
This is when you have an enough units to choice form. It might happen that because of the restrictions you do not have many units to choose from then it is time to not only upgrade your units but also considering buy some extra unit from some different editions.
Previous ruleset strategy posts
The series continues, below you will find references to the other ruleset strategies / analysis posts.
Briar patch
Aim True
Aimless
Up to Eleven
Armored Up
Back to Basics
Broken Arrows
Close Range
Counterspell
Earthquake
Equalizer
Equal Opportunity
Even Stevens
Explosive Weaponry
Fire & Regret
Fog of War
Ferocity
Going the Distance
Healed Out
Heavy Hitters
Holy Protection
Keep Your Distance
Little League
Lost Legendaries
Lost Magic
Melee Mayhem
Noxious Fumes
Odd Ones Out
Reverse Speed
Rise of the Commons
Silenced Summoners
Wands out
What Doesn't Kill You
Stampede
Super Sneak
Taking SidesThat's all for this week hope you enjoyed reading this ruleset strategy/analysis. See you all on the battlefield.
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