They say that in life, learning never stops. Whether it's mastering the art of cooking your first perfect sunny side up or figuring out why your internet only lags during those Elden Ring boss battles, discovery is a constant. We live in an era where we discover new things each time and make us excited.
Now, imagine stepping into the world of Splinterlands which it is built not just for entertainment but also filled with evolving strategy, layered mechanics, and unique gameplays. That's what it felt like diving headfirst into this amazing card game. Before I ever played my first match, I had no idea what I was diving into but I am sold on and will go on the ride and that was just the beginning of my online addiction for this amazing game.
What was the biggest hurdle you faced when learning Splinterlands?
Without a doubt, the biggest hurdle I faced when I first started playing Splinterlands was understanding the ever-expanding list of abilities. I first started battling around February 2024 and even in just a few months, the game had evolved with new generations of cards that introduced brand-new mechanics. I still remember the time I was just using The Kraken and Alric Stormbringer along with Water Element. It felt like every week I was discovering an ability I could use with a new combo that I hadn’t seen before and each one changed the way I thought about the game.
At first, I thought knowing a few common ones like Sneak or Heal would be enough. But then came complex ones like Knock Out and Snare which requires other abilities and interactions to work. I didn’t expect specific interactions like how Scattershot can bypass Taunt or how Dispel removes some positive buffs like Inspire from other units but not all like Last Stand from Scarred Llama Mage. Sometimes I’d get absolutely wrecked in a match and wonder what went wrong, only to realize later that it was one single ability I didn’t account for. It wasn’t just the abilities themselves but it was how they interacted with the rest of the team, how they synergized, and how each of them working together makes a complex and balanced team.
To me, abilities are the real meat of the game and the hardest part to master especially as a beginner.
Which feature or mechanic took the longest to fully understand?
The Tournaments feature, hands down.
While ranked matches were straightforward, choose a team, hit battle, and wait, tournaments were like a whole different universe with their own rules, formats and complications. I joined a few early on just to experiment, but honestly, I had no idea what I was doing. It wasn't just confused because of how tournaments work but also the time difference when I need to log in since I'm playing from a different country and continent than a lot of players here. As a player based in the Philippines, I found that many tournaments were timed for Western players, meaning I’d have to wake up at 3AM or some time early morning just to compete. That alone already made it difficult to consistently participate.
But what made it worse was the inconsistency. Some tournaments had immediate queues, others had long waiting times, and there never seemed to be one single structure to how they worked. Were there universal rules? Was every tournament just up to the host? It never felt consistent. Even now, I wouldn't say I fully understand it. It’s one feature that I feel needs a bit more clarity for global players, especially those not playing in the “prime” server times.
So even though I love the idea of competitive events with prize pools, the chaotic nature of tournament system is something I doubt I'll ever figure out.
What advice would you give to your past self or a brand new player starting today?
Easy: Stick with Magic units. They’re insanely powerful because they don't miss and ignores armor, which is something that really simplifies decision-making for new players. I found out pretty early on that regardless of what strategy my opponent used, if I had enough magic damage on the board, I usually won the match.
This isn’t just about one match. Ut’s a trend I kept seeing again and again. Like I mentioned, Magic attacks doesn’t miss like melee and ranged, it can’t be blocked by armor, and when stacked together, the pressure it applies is overwhelming. That’s why next season, I’m going back to my Lorkus Magic Spam strategy. When I tried other lineups and mixed things up, I didn’t perform as well as I had thought.
If I could go back to February 2024 me, I’d say: “Don’t get distracted by too many playstyles too early. Find one that works, especially magic-heavy lineups, and master it. Everything else can come later.”
Mastering one strategy is better than dabbling in ten. It's the same as my playstyle with other games like One trick in League of Legends, one strategy only in Hearthstone and many more. As Bruce Lee once said, "I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times."
Are there any specific players, guides, or moments that helped you grow the most?
I didn’t really learn from specific players or guides. In fact, I avoided too much outside influence. What really kept me going were the generational updates and how innovative the Splinterlands development team has been.
When the Rebellion generation was released, the introduction of Summoner Tactics was such a big turning point. It made me excited and made me research more about the game because I thought the player input will be more in the future. Instead of just playing a team manager and let your team go and play, I thought back then that Splinterlands moving towards games like Yugioh where player input in the middle of the game can impact how the game goes. I was already playing then but that shift pulled me deeper.
And then came Conclave Arcana. The new Bloodlines mechanic wasn’t just cool, it was something that made me excited to play every day. I felt like a kid opening a new toy box, trying out combinations and wondering what synergy I’d discover next. That joy of experimentation and discovery reminded me of the kid me when I just play by myself theory crafting how to improve my Yugioh deck and spend the whole day just testing multiple combos. I think being inspired is more powerful than any YouTube tutorial or Discord advice.
For me, the real teacher wasn’t a person. It was the design of the game itself and the way each new release keep me hooked in this game. That is the thing that helped me grow the most.
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About the Author
Hey! I’m Mavis the Muggle, your friendly Splinterlands addict with a slight obsession for all things Harry Potter. 🧙
When I’m not immersed in gaming or wizardry, I’m busy learning new things. Recently, I’ve been having putting a lot of effort and having a blast creating content on Hive so relax!
You can support me by upvoting this post, reblogging, leaving a comment below or by using my Splinterlands referral link.
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