Hey guys, it's Jakkal, and, while I am not entirely back to creating content, I will be periodically creating stuff again at a smaller scale to help those who are still here:
Recently, my Guild, @clanft-bank gained some new members who have joined for SPS Brawls, and we went up to Tier 2, where we are earning more, but facing more challenge: Many of our players needed to adapt to brawls and needed some strategies. In order to capitalize on this, the Clan and I will be writing a joint series of Strategies focused around Gladiator Cards, and Brawl Strategies for newer, smaller players in each league who are looking to play a bit more competitively.
We did Earth and Fire already, so it's time for Death, and we will move through each Splinter in Novice League before switching to Bronze League. My guild mate was strongest in Water, and had asked about Earth and Death strategies initially, so this will hopefully help them out!
Death's Gladiators are actually really easy to get the hang of, in my opinion: They are the most balanced, and are basically just direct upgrades to normal cards you utilize in death anyways, as such, Death's Gladiators... don't really bring anything new to the table, but they bring it harder and stronger than usual!
This also means that most of these Gladiators are usable, and don't have a 'clear winner' quite like Quora is for Earth most of the time.
This strategy guide will be for Novice players specifically, and assume all 1 BCX, I am NOT rating these cards for their additional abilities or levels, purely as is.
Whistling Damon | B Tier - The Little Sniper that Could
Low Mana | Decent Range Damage | Sniper
At 1 BCX, Whistling Damon is deceptively powerful: He is essentially a snowballing Twisted Jester, and that makes him a really strong offensive core for Death's low mana. As such, he effectively replaces Soul Strangler in your line ups. His snipe means he can snag kills early on, which can potentially make him very dangerous very quickly.
He is best in Blast rulesets, where he can capitalize on blast easily. He also does quite well in Equalizer, however, there are other, more optimal cards for this.
Best Summoner: Any Death Summoner, but works best with Thaddeus because of the -1 HP
Avoid Using: In Armored Ruleset or against Contessa/Ilthain
Favorite Position: Play this bad boy in Position 3, where he is safely behind something like Windeku+Riftwing, which will protect you from snipe and being too close to the front when your tank falls
Witch of Warwick | B Tier - Life Drain is a Witch
2 Magic | Life Steal | Low Speed
This card is a little more niche, compared to the other Death cards, but when she gets going, and when you get to use her in her preferred rulesets, she can dominate. She is a slightly stronger card to use in place of Life Sapper, and you should play her similarly. Avoid using her against Thaddeus, who turns her basically into a 5 Mana Life Sapper.
He rules 2 rulesets imo, Reverse Speed and Equalizer where he can ramp up and really devour her opponents.
Best Summoner: Thaddeus
Avoid Using: In Standard, or against Mimosa and ALSO Thaddeus
Favorite Position: This card does quite well in Position 3-5, where she's hidden away from sneak attackers and the frontline.
Kotriphus Bayne | D Tier - He gets better, I promise
Mid Mana | High HP HP
This is the worst Death Gladiator in the game at 1 BCX. There's almost zero reason to use this guy in all situations, as Windeku is just flat out better in everyway. There are a few niche situations where he is fine to use in, but they are all rulesets that double up on melee attacks.
In short, you'll be using this guy, maybe, in Melee Attacks from Anywhere, Super Sneak, and Opportunity
He DOES get better, as he levels, he becomes a very aggressive, high damage, anti-melee tank that can wipe opponents pretty hard: Does he beat Windeku? No. But he has more uses as he's leveled at least.
Best Summoner: Pyre? I guess?
Avoid Using: Against Mylor and in Equalizer ... and well, pretty much period.
Favorite Position: in my Unused Cards pile as well, sorry buddy.
Liza Fox | B Tier - Heavy Hitting Ranged Damage
Mid/High Mana | High Range Damage
Liza Fox is another simple card, she's strong ranged damage, decent speed, and alright health. Does she look familiar? Use her in place of Dhampir Stalker, you lose out on True Strike, but you gain a much stronger card overall.
She is best in Standard Rulesets and Equalizer, as well as Close Range rulesets, she's a solid pick in almost all high mana Death battles, unless of course, you have the Legendary...
Best Summoner: Thaddeus (That -1 HP really matters for Bloodlust!)
Avoid Using: Against Ilthain or Return Fire Ruleset
Favorite Position: I like her in the back, she has decent health and speed, and you can generally put her in Position 5 or 6 to rain down some ranged damage on your opponent.
Gorth | A Tier - The Little League King
High Melee | Decent Health | High Speed | Weaken
With Weaken and Bloodlust at 4 Mana, this is a naturally niche card, being a front line tank. He is a very powerful card, limited solely by his inability to attack outside of Position 1 without a supporting Ruleset
He is excellent in Melee Attack from Anywhere, Super Sneak, and Opportunity rulesets, and of course, is one of the Kings of Little League
Best Summoner: Zintak (to weaken your opponent's frontline)
Avoid Using: In Thorns Ruleset, Against Mylor
Favorite Position: He's usually limited to Position 1, but in Melee Attacks from Anywhere and Super Sneak, I put him in the middle to build up kills
Xulax Nightwind | B Tier - The All Rounder of Death
High Mana | Void Armor Tank | High Armor | Decent Health
Xulax is a Legionnaire Alvar, but stronger, faster, and snowballs far harded than Legionnaire could ever hope to at 1 BCX. He has Void Armor, with a ton of armor and health, and is one of the few times Death can really capitalize on Armor. Pair him with Owster, and he will flatout dominate any Magic comp he comes against. With Djinn Muirat, there's a tonnnnnn of armor and health to get through before they hit your backline, making Death sneak comps valid as well.
He is best in Standard ruleset, and does excellently as a General Tank in almost all situations: Seriously, this one you can really use in any high mana situation to relatively great effect.
Best Summoner: Owster or Mimosa for sure, which either secure him as Anti Magick King, or give him additional general usage against Ranged as well.
Avoid Using: In Thorns Ruleset or against Mylor, and especially not in Unprotected Ruleset
Favorite Position: This is a Position 1 Tank in almost all situations, the only exceptions being generally Equal Opportunity. Even in Attack From Anywhere/Super Sneak, he's best up front to eat some magic damage to protect your other melee monsters.
𝕊𝕚𝕘𝕟 𝕌𝕡 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕊𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕨!
Wanna join in on the Brawling? Play with me on Splinterlands! Not only that, you can JOIN MY GUILD:
We are currently looking for GF Bronze and GF Silver Brawlers!
if you use my link, here: https://splinterlands.com?ref=jakkal
I'll send you 500 DEC when you sign up and get a spellbook, (as long as you show up as referred) which should help you get started via renting! Also, feel free to message me, I can answer any questions, give tips, etc.
You ALSO get entered into every giveaway that I do, and sometimes I'll do special Referral only giveaways and delegations, which will be starting back up again soon as well!