While browsing through Splinterlands social media updates, I recently came across some sneak peeks of potential cards coming to the Conclave Arcana packs. Naturally, my curiosity kicked in. I wanted to know which cards might become powerful staples in battles, possibly even turning into high-value or overpowered card choices. These previews hint at some exciting new additions, and I'm particularly interested in how they could impact competitive play Modern Format battle.
Source of the image: https://x.com/GhostlyBG/status/1919162718864510982
One card that immediately caught my attention is Hodlor Human, an Epic Neutral card in the Conclave Arcana set. What makes this card stand out is its dual attack capability—it's a hybrid unit capable of dealing both Magic and Melee damage. To help balance its dual nature, it comes with the Reach ability, making it ideal for placing in the second position of your lineup. This allows it to strike from behind the frontline while using both damage types efficiently.
Source of the image: https://x.com/GhostlyBG/status/1919162718864510982
In terms of stats, Hodlor Human boasts 2 Magic damage, 3 Melee damage, 5 Health, and an impressive 6 Speed. Alongside Reach, it also features Dispel and Phase, adding both utility and survivability. Dispel helps counter buffs on enemy units, while Phase makes it harder to hit with magic attacks, especially with its high speed. This card looks like a strong candidate for many battle strategies, especially in matchups that demand flexibility and offensive versatility
Hodlor Human is a highly flexible Epic Neutral card from the Conclave Arcana set, offering a rare hybrid offense with both Magic and Melee damage. With abilities like Reach, Dispel, and Phase, he becomes a formidable asset in a variety of rule sets. This card might perform exceptionally well in Melee Mayhem, Spreading Fury, Equal Opportunity, and Super Sneak or just plain standard rule set, where his ability to deal damage from frontline positions gives him added value. Rule sets like Equalizer help boost his relatively low health, making him more durable, while Phase allows him to dodge Magic attacks by a higher chance in speed-based setups. Even in restricted formats like Keep Your Distance or Silenced Summoners, Hodlor remains relevant useful due to his built-in versatility and independence from summoner buffs.
To maximize his potential, placing Hodlor in the second position behind a durable tank like Baakjira or Agor Longtail or any tank will do, allow full use of Reach while keeping him protected. His synergy improves when paired with speed enhancer buffs, boosting his evasion under Phase. When paired with Martyr units like Venari Marksrat, Hodlor’s stats can scale quickly, making him a late-game powerhouse. Additionally, his Dispel ability makes him ideal for countering buff-heavy enemies—particularly against Earth lineups with Obsidian or Life teams with Shield support. Altogether, Hodlor is a tactical and high-impact card ideal for advanced setups across modern Splinterlands battles.
I would love to pair it with Martyr strategy but all cards that have Martyrs are in the Chaos Legion set so Martyr strategy would likely be gone for this modern format, except if there is Martyr ability in the new Conclave Arcana...
In the upcoming season, I anticipate that my performance might slightly decline as I continue adjusting to the evolving challenges and adapting to the newly introduced cards. With the release of Conclave Arcana, understanding the best card combinations and how they fit specific rule sets takes time and experimentation. Since I currently own only a limited number of Rebellion reward cards, I expect it may be more difficult to maintain my current league standing, and I may drop to a lower tier until I can build a more optimized deck.
Renting and buying cards, especially those from the newly launched Conclave Arcana set, has become increasingly costly. I typically rely on renting, but due to the rising prices, I’ve had to limit my rentals to a few specific elements—mainly Earth, Dragon, Water, and Neutral. Each season, I end up spending around $5–$10 just to stay competitive with those rented cards. As a result, I’m planning to create a more focused deck composed of only the most useful and synergistic cards tailored for the modern format to help streamline both my strategy and expenses.
