I remember this ruleset has been used as the theme for Battle Mage Secrets on the last week of March 2023. Back To Basics break down the battle to only the raw parameter of each cards. Cards will be left with their own remaining armor and health. There will be no battle colored with surprising reversal or come-back. Only Summoner effect will be the helping hand for the battle.
With this ruleset, the formation will return to its basic. Melee to hold the bastion in the front-row, while ranged and magic to launch attack in the back-row. This will result in an ideal formation consist of 1 melee, followed with 2 / 3 magic, and ended with 2 / 3 ranged. Melee are literally useful only on the 1st row and would be idle in any other position; which means to gain the most firepower, back-row must be balanced between ranged and magic cards.
Magic cards will become a point of interest. Its a versatile cards which could strike from all position, making them useful as damage contributor but also as backup Tanker. But magic cards have lower damage output compared to ranged cards and tend to be fragile. Most of magic cards rely more on their abilities than raw parameter. Though looks simple, a deeper thought must be taken under this ruleset.
Pros & Cons
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1. Without abilities, the battle will become simplified, and less time would be needed to think for strategy . | 1. There's a predictable pattern on the formation being used, as I mentioned in the opening above. |
2. Status parameter is the sole strength that rule under this ruleset. Thus raw cards (cards without any abilities) would be a priority card in this battle. | 2. Summoner effect could still applies, therefor having powerful summoner (for example with damage buff) could totally change the course of the battle. |
Best Cards To Use
In principle, cards with no abilities should be the best cards to use. Cards with no abilities are being compensated with better raw parameter. Fore example Nerissa Tridawn, Runemancer Florre, Cruel Sethropod, or Kulu Swimhunter. Not only they have much better starting parameter, but also with no abilities their level up growth will be totally dedicated to parameter growth.
WATCH BATTLE
So here we have the battle experience with Armored Up as the ruleset. Click BATTLE LINK to see how the battle run.
The battle has a maximum 50 mana cap, with Armored Up, Back To Basics,and
Lost Legendaries as the rulesets; while all Splinterss are made available except for Earth Splinter.
At 50 mana cap, I have a lot of card to chose. I could deploy card on an average of 7 to 8 mana. This is a battle with extra armor, which means my opponent will inclined to use magic cards. No legendaries will be not much of a problem. But with Back To Basics, I predict my opponent will lock with magic cards to maximize their firepower (since ranged will be less effective against the extra armor).
So I decided to go with Death Splinter since this Splinter have the balance on all types. First I go with 2 (two) layers of Tanker; one is Night Ghoul, the next is War Chaang. I tried to maximize my mana on thick Tanker, and spent less mana on the back-row which focused on high damage low health cards. I put 3 (three) magic cards to follow, all able to discharge 2 magic damage. And last but not least is Dhampir Stalker with its 3 damage. The formation cost a total 46 mana; not the maximum utility but still solid enough.
Across the side, my opponent deploy its Life Splinter. Lead by Grandmaster Rathe, its a smart choice. The +1 armor and Armor Void is a huge boost. The front row filled by Imperial Knight which thick as hell with Void Armor. My opponent followed similar strategy to mine by deploying 3 (three) consecutive magic cards, Djinn Renova, Captain Katie, and Magi Necrosi. To solidify its firepower, my opponent put a double ranged cards. This is a very solid formation both in endurance and striking power.
Thaddius Brood plays importantn roles here, as its magic damage debuff really numb down my opponent firepower. The battle started with exchange of blow targeted on both Tanker. I lost 6 armor and 4 health, while my opponent lost 9 armor. Still this happen with Night Ghoul missed its 4 damage. We both equal in term of speed, so the battle with each sides taking turn to strike one another.
With a few health remaining, Night Ghoul and Imperial Knight keep taking damage one another. Near the end of the round both Tanker fall almost at the same time. Now War Chaang and Djinn Renova both step up to into the front-row. Only a slick damage done to both cards.
Entering Round 3, the tide of the battle start to change. My formation started to gain momentum to deal the killing blow into Djinn Renova. Dhampir Stalker deal a fatal 3 ranged damage right into Djinn Renova. By the time my War Chaang fatally brought down, my formation already struck down Captain Katie armor. This open a momentum to quickly clean up Captain Katie on the following round.
It only 2 (two) strike for my Dhampir Stalker deal the second kill. This undermine my opponent firepower so much, that my Magi Necrosi survived the round. In addition, my formation able to shatter the other Magi Necrosi armor.
A 2 and 3 damage combination is really an effective move in this battle. And it secure another kill this time on Magi Necrosi. The tide keep running to my side, as War Pegasus have to step up to the front-row, and will no longer be able to attack.
Round 6, and the battle run smoothly. My formation start to deal a fury of damage into War Pegasus. Meanwhile no significant reprisal made into my formation. With 1 health remaining left on War Pegasus, it only a matter of time before the battle ends up in the following round.
The fate is finally sealed for my opponent as War Pegasus fallen and no chance for Supply Runner to fight back.
CONCLUSION
A good combination of melee, magic, and ranged cards is the key to victory in Back To Basics ruleset. I think my opponent miscalculated its formation endurance and its firepower are pass overtake by my formation damage output.
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