With every win now counting to the focus, competition is definitely stiffer in Splinterlands. Now many might consider the new focus abilities more like a stiff middle finger and some may think it is just the stiffie they have been needing.
Each to their own I guess.
I don't mind the new focus abilities, the only real benefit from this change in the game is that each win counts for something.
The focus abilities actually give focus splinters more value since playing as a splinter for your daily focus can give you the maximum bonus of 70% focus points.
With that in mind if you really want to optimize how much you earn per win aside from the usual Gold Card play you would want to have a splinter focus which I am guessing can give you up to 140% give or take how wrong I am.
The above match had no golds, and used 2 neutrals, ie Earth. It got a 50% bonus.
So for the common man, playing a Splinter Focus is definitely the best way to go. The having extra bonuses for Gold is nice, or if you are playing in Wild then I guess the ALPHA/BETA bonus is nice too but are they really worth the effort?
I am probably the wrong person to ask because I don't tend to try and wheel and deal and grind like a shrieking harpy.
It is like I said, it is nice if you have some golds or maybe you get some rented and it is no hassle.
So really the bonuses are a take it or leave it thing, nice to have but they don't matter that much. You will get to your daily targets a bit quicker, so decide how much value that is to you.
You will maybe get one or two more chests a day for less ECR, that is ok I guess.
It all depends on how you play. There is a lot of choice for people to optimize and no matter which route you choose to suit your style the only real focus to choose is still a Splinter Focus.
With the exception of Dragon. Dragon in this regard is not so great, since who really plays with full dragon squads? That is not their point is it.
Other than all that blabbering, I don't mind the focus change, it does allow a person to play as you wish but the Splinter incentive still remains, and maybe it can be said it is the most rewarding because it makes you the most predictable?