Hi all,

Introduction

Another post in this series. Thank you for your support in the previous posts 😊

This series intends to determine if there are other aspects of cards that may contribute to increasing its value. Based on your feedback I can focus on more/other things – so feel free to tell me where you want me to go into further detail.
I include some analysis on where the cards fit in terms of gameplay, strategy, comparison with other cards, and a market analysis of its price. Feel free to suggest what more do you want me to look into in this series, and your support is much appreciated!
In this edition I will be looking at the Barking Spider.

Gameplay Analysis

Barking Spider is a Common Earth Ranged Monster from the Untamed Reward set in Splinterlands. It serves as a low-mana ranged attacker, and at higher levels, its Blind ability adds defensive value by reducing enemy accuracy.

Mana Cost: 4
Attack Type: Ranged
Abilities by Level
Level 1: (No Abilities)
Level 6: Blind (Reduces enemy Monsters' chance to hit, increasing team survivability)

Level-Based Insights

Level 1: A basic ranged attacker with decent health, useful as a filler card in Earth teams.
Level 6: Blind makes it more defensive, helping melee and ranged teammates avoid enemy attacks.

Comparative Analysis

How does this card compare to other similar ones?

Vs. Khmer Princess (Earth - 2 Mana): Khmer Princess has Magic Attack and Tank Heal, making her better for supportive roles, while Barking Spider is a more durable ranged attacker.
Vs. Nectar Queen (Earth - 9 Mana): Nectar Queen is a high-damage melee flyer, while Barking Spider focuses on control with Blind.
Vs. Goblin Sorcerer (Earth - 3 Mana): Goblin Sorcerer has Sneak for backline magic damage, while Barking Spider focuses on weakening enemy accuracy.

Key Takeaway
Barking Spider is a low-mana ranged attacker that becomes stronger defensively at Level 6 with Blind. It’s best suited for control-oriented Earth teams that want to reduce enemy hit chances.

Synergies

Mylor Crowling (Earth Summoner): Thorns punishes melee attackers, while Blind makes them miss more often.
Obsidian (Earth Summoner): Doesn't buff Barking Spider directly, but Blind supports magic tanks by reducing incoming melee/ranged damage.
Unicorn Mustang (Earth Tank): A strong anti-magic tank, and Blind helps it evade physical attacks.
Queen Mycelia (Earth Support): Grants Protect (+2 Armor), making Barking Spider more durable.

Ruleset Performance

✅ Favorable Rulesets:
Close Range: Allows Barking Spider to attack from the first position if needed.
Noxious Fumes: Its decent health helps it survive longer than many other low-mana units.
Aim True: Negates the downside of Blind, making enemy attacks still miss more often.

❌ Challenging Rulesets:
Broken Arrows: Disables all ranged Monsters, making Barking Spider useless.
Reverse Speed: Its moderate speed can be a disadvantage against slow enemies.
Healed Out: Loses synergy with healing-based sustain teams.

Market Analysis

Price Overview
Regular Foil: around $ 0.018
Gold Foil: around $ 0.58

Investment Potential
Barking Spider is a budget-friendly ranged attacker that gains significant value at Level 6 with Blind. While it lacks high burst damage, its ability to reduce enemy accuracy makes it valuable in defensive setups.

Ratings

Usefulness: 7.5/10 (Decent low-mana ranged attacker, but lacks damage impact)
Cost-Effectiveness: 9/10 (Affordable and useful for control strategies)
Versatility: 7/10 (Strong in evasion-focused metas but suffers in rulesets that disable ranged attacks)

Conclusion

Barking Spider is a solid low-mana ranged unit with Blind at Level 6, making it a valuable addition to defensive Earth strategies. If you need a cheap attacker that also weakens enemy accuracy, Barking Spider is a great choice.

What do you think about this card? Do you use it in your lineups? Share your experiences in the comments and let me know which card you'd like me to analyze next!
Thank you for your continued support and engagement. 😊