Lee Jordan : Hello and welcome to the first Quidditch Game of the Season. It's Gryffindor vs....
Minerva McGonagall : (in her usual stern, low voice) psst Jordan! We're not at Hogwarts.
Jordan : (sheepishly) Oh right, Sorry Professor McGonagall.
(with enthusiasm restored) Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, Monsters and Summoners of the Splinterlands! Welcome to the first Quidditch Battle of the season and it's the ultimate test of your strategery. It's a 12 Mana Battle. Buckle up and Maximize the least amount of resources you are allowed on the Battleground!
I tried to actively shun out Lee Jordan's over-enthusiastic welcome and focused on the ruleset Madam Hooch just handed us. A 12 mana battle, as Lee had so dramatically announced, with added rules of Closed Range and Meele Mayhem. Water, Death and the Earth Splinters were active.
It was only my first year at Splinterlands, School of Magic and Mayhem, hardly 3 months in. But I have already figured out this much, a low mana battle is indeed the ultimate test of strategery. This is where the gap between the first years and the second/third year students becomes the lowest. A low mana game is where, if you play your cards right, you have a good chance of taking down a lot of seniors and their much higher leveled cards. And 12 mana is as low as it gets.
The timer was ticking. I thought to myself, I can not afford to miss attacks. I have to be spot on and maximize my attacks. A certain Low mana monster kept troubling my thoughts. I keep hearing how notoriously quick it was and how so many battles were decided just because the opposition couldn't hit it, Cocatrice! While I don't have a Cocatrice, I would be stupid to not prepare for it. It became very clear to me I wanted to go with magic, so that I do not miss! While I understand, a 2 mana summoner is best suited for such low mana games, I wanted an Extra boost to my magic! (Also, I don't have any 2 mana summoner :D)! The decision was made, Alric Stormbringer it is!
Alric slowly got up from his chair walked with all the calmness on to the battleground, wisdom sparkling in his eyes.
Low mana battles usually involve monsters with low health. No attack monsters such as the Furious Chicken have become a norm, which are usually there just to absorb a blow. While I myself was pondering upon the idea of going with a Furious Chicken tank, I didn't want to give my opponent the satisfaction of wasting one of my attacks.
A cunning smile curved the corners of my lips as I picked my level 2 Ruler of the Seas! With Alric Stormbringer, it would have a magic attack of 4, and so a blast of 2, which would very likely take down or at least significantly damage the health of the opposition monster at position 2! Ruler of the Seas also gives an extra bit of pace which becomes quite essential in most battles, not just in the low mana ones!
I now had just 3 mana left and I had already made up my mind on a Furious Chicken tank. Decision to have Ruler of the Seas as the last monster was also set in stone, as I wanted it to stay away from the focus of attack for as much of the battle as possible, because the more attacks it can deliver, the more chances I have to take down as many of the oppositions monsters as I can.
But with this came the tricky issue of what if the opposition uses sneak! The clock ticked on, as a drop of sweat trickled down the sides of my cheek. The crowd outside was going frenzy! The noise was deafening. The only solution I had was to make sure, my Ruler of the Seas get in an attack before it's hit with sneak. With all the confidence in the world, I sent in Creeping Ooze.
2 mana left. The choice was between Ice Pixie and Pirate Archer. In a slightly higher mana game, or an earthquake rule, I would have gone with Ice Pixie. But I felt even 1 damage from the archer's from blast might take down an opposition monster with either 1 health, or something with a higher health, that had already been significantly damaged with the blast from Ruler.
The archer tied the blue ribbon tight on his forehead, and stepped out to the cheers of the crowd, with his blazing arrow in one hand, and his bow hanging from his shoulder. He took his position in front of the Ruler of the Seas, just behind Creeping ooze.
The deathly drum rolls signaled the beginning of the battle. The opposition did have Cocatrice, that too at position 2! Looking at the setup, I could already sense victory, but I have seen crazier things happen at Splinterlands in the last couple of months! So I swallowed my excitement and watched patiently as the battle unfolds.
As expected, Ruler of the seas sends out the first attack, on the opposition Spineback Turtle! A warm sense of euphoria ran through my veins as I watched the blast immediately take down Cocatrice.
Pirate Archer dealt the next blow on the Spineback Turtle, but it only hit the armor. But it's blast did take down his Furious Chicken! Huh! Bazinga!
And from there on, the march to victory was a straight forward one. Madam Hooch blew the final whistle. I walked back to the tent with my victorious team, as Lee Jordan's voice echoed through the Mount Mox stadium : And that ladies and gents, is How You Win a 12 Mana Battle!
The Counter
After the victory at Mt. Mox, it was a much relaxed evening. I sat by the fireplace, sipping slowly into the warm fuzzy caffeinated drink. I was gloating with the victory, when suddenly the thought hit me! What would have happened if the opponent had Lord Arianthus tank? What if the opposition has Ruler at level 3 with silence? The smile on my face faded a little, and a shade of worry began to creep in.
Even I know I'm playing waaay out of my league here with the champions. After all I'm just a beginner with Silver league cards. Playing in champions league means I'm very likely to come up against such opposition. I played the battle in my head in a few different ways, and defeat was imminent. The lineup that today, had brought me glory under the setting sun, wouldn't stand a chance against a Lord A. tank. A level 3 Ruler of the seas would also beat this lineup, duh!
My caffeinated beverage was getting cold, resting on the small fireside table as I paced across the tent. This had been my go to line up in low mana games, and now I myself discovered a flaw in the lineup. How can I overcome this? The obvious answer in my head was, with higher level cards.
I don't have the summoners, I have to play with what I've got.
Counter the Counter
I went out of the tent, under the moonlit night for a breath of fresh air. I could use a Lord A. tank too. I smacked myself on the head, think you doofus, think! Don't just copy. You're smarter than that.
Magic reflect was indeed a great strategy. But what if I could also heal the tank that was giving magic reflect! My heart started pounding with excitement! I did a quick math in my head....3+5+4 = 12! Bingo!
My thoughts raced at the speed of the wild Lightning Dragons!
A Haunted Spirit Tank with chicken at position 2 to counter the first blast if the opposition has any, and a Snipe from Twisted Jester!
Scenario 1 : Lord A. Tank (With 2 mana summoner)
The opposition will have a max of 5 mana left.
While the Haunted Spirit fights the Lord A., takes some damage from opposition range attacks and heals itself. If the opposition has magic attack, it reflects a few back! And the Twisted jester could snipe the others.
Scenario 2 : Level 3 or above Ruler of the seas (With 2 mana Summoner)
The opposition will have a max of 4 mana left, so no Lord A.
In this battle, after haunted spirit returns at least 2 damage to the Ruler, Twisted jester's snipe would take it down in Round one itself!
A few werewolves howled into the night sky. The moon shone brighter than ever. I walked back to the tent while murmuring to myself, Every strategy has a counter, every single one of them. The fire kept my beverage warm enough for me to sip into the mug, and let the the fuzzy warmth run down my throat.
Enter the first ever Splinterlands Quidditch held by the BDCommunity!
BDCommunity Witness
