Returning to Splinterlands? Here's What You Need to Know
After a two-year break from Splinterlands, I decided to jump back in and wow, things have changed. If you're also returning player after Chaos Legion set, this guide will help you get reoriented without feeling overwhelmed.
New Mechanics & Systems
1. Conclave Arcana & the Conflicts Airdrop System
The current set is Conclave Arcana, and we’re just getting started for the Conflicts Airdrop phase. You can buy 4 different kind of packs now
Unlike Chaos Legion, where airdrops were based on pack purchases, airdrops now follow a different mechanic:
- Buy a Wagon
- Load your Wagon with Conclave Arcana cards and packs
- Earn points to get chances at the monthly airdrop
- Each airdrop phase lasts 30 days, with a total of 9 rounds
2. Black Foil & Arcana Cards
Two new card types have been introduced:
Black Foils: A Max level card which is Highly valuable in Conflicts and provide a +20% battle bonus
Arcana Cards: A new thematic element tied to the current expansion
Gameplay & Progression
3. Campaign Mode (Foundation Cards)
A new Campaign Mode acts as a tutorial and onboarding path. Even if you’re a returning player, completing it unlocks Foundation cards that can be used in Ranked Battles. More importantly, it gives you summoners which you can start using immediately
4. Automatic Rank-Ups – No More Sandbagging
You can no longer intentionally stay in lower leagues. Once you pass the rating threshold, you automatically rank up—making matchmaking fairer and reducing leaderboard exploits.
5. Simplified Energy System
The old percentage-based energy bar is gone. Now you get:
- 50 Energy Points total
- Each match costs 1 point
- Regenerates at 1 Energy point per hour
Your rewards are not impacted by how much energy you have left
Easier to manage for both casual and competitive players
Rewards & Currencies
6. Glint – The New In-Game Currency
Rewards now include Glint, a flexible currency similar to gold in traditional games. You can use it to:
- Buy cards directly
- Open Reward Chests with potions, merits, energy, and more
Note: Reward Cards are now Soulbound, meaning they can’t be sold unless unlocked using DEC.
Recommendation is to open Major Chests. Have been having amazing results doing so
7. Rank-Up and Seasonal Rewards
End-of-Season chests are gone
You now earn Glint after each battle and receive a share of a season-end pot
Rank-Up Chests are granted as you move up leagues (e.g., Gold III → Gold II)
8. How to Maximize Glint & SPS Rewards
Your rewards scale based on several multipliers:
- SPS staked (rentable now!)
- Win streaks
- Use of Gold Foil, Black Foil, or Promo cards
- Guild Bonuses
- Titles (cosmetic perks with in-game utility)
SPS Staked needed for a higher multiplier
Marketplace & Collection Management
9. Seasonal Rentals
Card rentals are no longer on a daily basis. You now rent for the entire season
10. Card Value Changes
Card prices from Chaos Legion and earlier sets have dropped significantly. These older cards are now mostly used in Wild format, and a mix of power creep and meta shifts has reduced their demand even in Wild. There has alot been said on this so ill create another article about this
Battle Formats
11. Modern, Wild, and Survival Modes
There are now three main game modes:
Modern: Latest two expansions (Conclave Arcana & Rebellion)
Wild: All cards allowed; entry cost: 2,000 DEC
Survival: All cards allowed; but cards go on cooldown when you lose, ideal for players with large collections
Team & Community Updates
12. Leadership Changes
The leadership at Splinterlands has changed. Aggroed, once the face of the platform, has stepped back. A new team has taken over, and early signs show a more focused and transparent development approach.The community on discord do seem to geniunely trust the team more and thats a great sign to see
Why I Came Back
Despite the learning curve and the drop in the prices of my Chaos Legions, two things brought me back:
I'm a TCG addict. I regularly play Hearthstone, Marvel Snap, and Pokémon Pocket, and Splinterlands still offers deep strategy and satisfying gameplay.
It rewards your time. Like any play-to-earn system, your returns depend on what you put in. But unlike other TCGs, Splinterlands lets you monetize both your time and strategy.
Did I Miss Anything?
If you’re a returning player and think there’s a crucial mechanic or update I didn’t cover, let me know—I’ll include it in Part 2. We are in this journey together!
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