In the Earth Splinter, the one I'm really looking forward to is Clay Golem gets Stun. I'm kind of in the same boat you are. My rating is around 2000 so qualifies for Gold, but my collection power is only around 83k. Got a ways to go there. I just keep chipping away though. Every time someone pounds me with a card I didn't think was that powerful, I end up buying it. lol
Back to the Earth Splinter.....the Wood Nymph adds Strengthen to Heal which can really come in handy trying to get an extra shot out of your low health back row. It could also be enough to give you tank an extra point of heal if it moves it from 8 to 9 for example. The Mushroom Seer gets Poison, which I've found to really come in handy against people who do what you were talking about...namely double healing their tank. And Unicorn Mustang adds Reflect to their Void which is definitely going to make some people upset when they come at me with plus magic. Stack that with the Prismatic Energy (Neutral) which does the opposite (adds Void to Reflect) and heavy magic opponents are going to be in for a rude awakening when the teams are revealed. lol I can't wait.
Of course I've got to figure out a way to get a level 5 Earth Summoner. Nothing is cheap these days....
RE: Interesting new abilities from Silver to Gold - Life Splinter