Intro:
I originally became interested in Splinterlands as a card game. I didn't see its true potential because I have had experiences with card games in real life. I had played Magic the Gathering, seeing value in just the cards themselves. Splinterlands took that to a whole new level.
1st Mistake
My first major mistake was not exploring other aspects than just the cards. I purchased a single plot of land because I was only thinking of the effects it could give. I did not think long-term, nor did I do any research. Taking things at their perceived face value was lacking forethought.
The land quickly sold out and they won't produce anymore. Now, I don't regret my lack of buying. At the time, I was doing my best with what I knew. I got quickly overwhelmed by all the new aspects of the game. The lack of immediate rewards also deterred me.
2nd Mistake
So after a while, I got busy with my life and left this game in the dust. After all the untamed packs sold out, as a card collector, I got bored. This was my second mistake.
I should have explored rentals more before my break. I could have earned a lot more during my time off if I just have clicked a simple button on PeakMonsters. There's nothing wrong with taking breaks on games. Sometimes a break is needed to revitalize your interest. My only mistake was not capitalizing on the assets that I already owned.
3rd Mistake
My last and final major mistake is a simple one that many beginners commit. I combined my cards without knowing what it did. Now I read that having higher-level cards benefitted players by giving them more abilities. Misunderstanding what the combine button could do left me frustrated at the results. I had a bunch of legendaries that are only halfway to level 2 and several rares in a similar boat. Having extra cards could have earned me extra rental income. So my advice here is never bulk combine until you are more experienced.
Do your research.
Know what you have.
Use your resources wisely.
Don't click buttons if you're unsure what they do.