The magic of Splintterlands is that no two battles are ever the same, each match brings a new puzzle to solve: A mana limit, Rulesets, the Summoner and the set of Monsters to go to the battlegrounds with. This week comes another Splinterlands Community Challenge – "Battlefield Breakthroughs", which I see very interesting to take part in. A prove of how the right Summoner and Monster Lineup can bring about the breakthrough moments every player desires. Let's take a look at the how it went for me in one of my battle breakthoughs on Frontier.

The battle rule was based on a 42 Mana cap with a Reverse Speed Ruleset, legendary units eliminated yet choices could be made from all elements. The most important part of this ruleset is the Reverse Speed; a good player should consider this first before looking at the mana limit. Slower monsters moves and attacks first in this ruleset and have a higher chance of evading attacks. So basically, the slower the monsters the upper hand for the player. This will always force both players not to lean on the usual power play but instead rely on strategy, synergy and smart lineup.

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Led by Summoner Aurelia
The best I could think of as a counter in this game was the Summoner Aurelia, having a speed of 1, a 6 Mana and the ability to grant all member units +1 health. The ability to buff my team to survive longer to deal damage consistently gave me a balance I needed. Especially in a match with such Ruleset, where usual fast will be turned on.

Then my lineup follows;

1. Dread Tafarian

Tanky frontliner, perfect for the job, Dreadful Tafarian was the best choice for the first position. Has a decent heath of 6, an armor of 1, a 9 Mana and -1 damage to victim. He also has the ability to restore 1/3 of max health rounded down. This monster was built to arbsorb the opponents early strikes and keep the pressure study for the rest to do massive damage.

2. Mad Gearhead

A monster with a sneak- can use melee attack form second position. Slower than most of the monster, give strong hits of melee attacks with precision. A 6 Mana monster, with -1 melee damage and with 5 health.

3. Time Bandit

Placed in the middle is a dwarf with a magic attack to keep the fury strikes coming in. Also has the ability to remove all magic debuffs from the allied units in the first position of member monster. With 7 health, 8 Mana and a -1 damage to opponent.

4. Vicious Quilliun

Target the enemy units with the least health cause of the opportunity ability is Vicious. Placed in the forth position, is a monster with 5 Mana, 4 health and a -1 damage to victim.

5. Kicking Roc

Perfect for range attacks. This monster is human and with a -3 damage to victim. Has 5 health and an 8 Mana monster. This is my favourite monster, could wipe out a monster with just a single swing of weapon. My backline powerhouse delivering finishing blows ones my frontlines softened enemy defences.

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Opponenst team led by Thalgrimore

On other hand, my opponent also came in with Thalgrimore as Summoner with -1 health to all enemy units. Also with a Mana of 6, it being a fiend too.

Monster lineups as;

1. Nim Guard Captain

Very good at defending the frontline, can deflect and evade most attacks. I really like using this monster, but I think not the best choice on my side this time round.

2. Vengeful Monk

Also very good at causing damage of -2 to opponents is this monster. Good at surviving and often swing close battles.

3. Lunatic Howler

A midliner monster that is very dangerous and good at offensive attacks especially when it gets the chance to operate.

4. Sorrow Harvester

Backup damage dealer positioned smartly at the back

5. Black Widow

This monster was placed at the backline providing coverage and additional support to the whole team.

Their team looked so sturdier at first, but in Reversed Speed, the odd changes, and that’s what I needed. That could be the turning point for a glorious victory I said to myself.

The Battle

Time bandit fired a first with a magic attack on Captain Nim Guard but the attack was evaded due to his ability of zero damage from magic attacks. A follow up strike from Mad Gearhead with a melee attack did damage this time round. This means indeed the Ruleset was in favor the Aurelia Summoner. Reverse Speed Ruleset was in favor of my team evading attacks from opponents’ team as well. All my other monster handed a heavy blow before my opponents other monsters were able to respond.
Dread Tafarian managed to absorb the first hits. Time Bandit and Mad Gearhead quickly gave responds thanks to the Reverse Speed. Taking out some amount of health from the opponent’s army at early stages, far far earlier than expected of them.

Dread Tafarians ability to restore 1/3 of max health gave him a longer stand to absorb more strikes before being eliminated finally. Thankfully Nim Guard was taken down him. Nim Guard is one of the monsters that is very had to eliminate. Especially in magic packed opponents. He evades every strike of a monster with 1 power. lol. I was surprised at the pace at which Dread Tafarian was also eliminated but his sacrifice was more than enough to keep the back alive till the very end.

With their frontline broken and crumbling, Vengeful Monk tried to hold the pieces together. And manage to take out Vicious Quiliun and Mad Gearhead my sneak attacker. . But once again my slower monsters were the ones to dictate the pace, acting swiftly was Kicking Roc, with just a strike could eliminate a monster.

In a twinkle of an eye, the 4 monsters left against mine were all eliminated. Kicking Roc - my backline powerhouse with its strong attack potential eliminated the either team of my opponent. Kicking Roc couldn’t have done it alone since it’s a Range attacker and one everyone is off the team she is rendered powerless. My dwarf – Time Bandit stood strong in the frontline to making it possible for Kicking Roc to put off a great show with back-to-back strikes. By the time Black Widow was exposed, she was powerless. This sealed the

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The Breakthrough here was not a single monster performing wonders but the synergy between the Summoner and the monsters coupled with the Reverse Speed Rulesety was the magic. The Summoners buffs kept the team alive whiles the tempo was flipped by the choice of stronger hitter monsters but slower during the fight which brought about the glorious victory.

Lessons from this breakthrough

• Dance to the rhythm of the ruleset
• Summoners are the most aspect of the game
• Slow can be deadly sometimes when deployed right.

A perfect example of Battle breathroughs is this particular game. Not victorious due to card power but because the choice of strategy was built around the ruleset. The perfect Summoner empowered my team and together with the monsters turned weakness into strength and decisive advantage.
This is a reminder of how the fastest or strongest deck is not always the answer to every win in Splinterlands. But adaptability, foresight, and taking what may seem as a disadvantage and making it a triumph.

Thanks for reading and see you in the Arena!!!