Greetings Splinterlands community!
@affliction here, back after a week's break with a new Splinterlands lore video. Though I wanted to complete this video much earlier, I was a bit busy due to family commitments. Our this week's video is based on Axemaster which was a recommendation by @axemaster88 . And creating this was tougher than I expected as I find it quite difficult to generate the accurate scenes I wanted with the AI tools.

If you missed my previous work, do check out the recent videos: * Splinterlands Lore Video: Nidhoggr – The Eternal Devourer * Doctor Blight Unleashed | Splinterlands Lore Series

Now let's focus on today's card and it's lore.

The Card

Stats & Abilities

Double Strike Effect: This monster attacks twice per round with its normal attack. Why it matters: For Axemaster, this means his ranged damage is effectively doubled. At max level with 4 ranged attack, he deals 8 total damage per turn, making him one of the most lethal damage dealers in Splinterlands.

Close Range Effect: This ability allows the monster to use ranged attacks even from the first position. Why it matters: Normally, ranged monsters can’t attack when forced into the front line, but with Close Range, Axemaster can keep dealing damage until the end of the battle. This removes his biggest limitation and makes him far more reliable.

Cripple Effect: Every successful attack from this monster reduces the enemy’s maximum health by 1. Why it matters: Because Axemaster attacks twice per turn, he can apply Cripple two times in one round if both attacks land. This makes him devastating against high-health tanks and synergizes well with damage-over-time or piercing strategies.

Gameplay Analysis

Strengths

• Double Strike: From level 1, Axemaster deals double attacks, meaning even at base stats (2 ranged), he outputs 4 damage per turn.

• Scaling Damage: By level 3, he reaches 3 ranged × 2 = 6 damage per turn, enough to shred through mid-health monsters quickly.

• Close Range at Level 4+: His biggest weakness (not being able to attack in the first position) is removed. He stays dangerous until the last monster standing.

• Cripple at Max Level (6): At full power, every successful hit reduces the target’s max health. Since he hits twice per round, this debuff stacks fast, dismantling tanky frontline enemies.

• Speed 4 Baseline: Respectable speed makes him reliable against slower monsters, especially when paired with summoners or supports that boost speed.

Weaknesses

• No Armor: With 0 armor across all levels, he’s vulnerable to direct ranged/magic damage. Needs protection from shields, taunt, or armor buffs.

• Health Ceiling (8): His HP tops at 8, making him a fragile high-value target for Sneak, Snipe, and Opportunity attackers.

• High Mana Cost (7): Limits use in low-mana battles; best suited for medium to high mana rulesets.

• Ranged Dependency: Without Close Range (pre–level 4), if forced into the frontline, he’s dead weight.

Best Rulesets

• Close Range (Level 4+): Absolute game-changer, lets him keep firing from the front.

• Equalizer: Extra health makes him much tankier, increasing his lifespan.

• Target Practice: With Snipe ruleset, his double strike obliterates enemy supports.

• Aim True: Guarantees his double shots land, bypassing evasion.

Lore

The mysterious clan who call themselves Axemasters are perhaps the most peculiar group of people in the whole of ΛZMΛRÉ. They live under the moist ground in cave dwellings in the eastern thickets of the great Jungle, somewhere between the Palace of Eld and the treacherous tree known as Sligbough Oak. For many generations, they have protected the treasures of Eld from intruders, raiders, and even pirates who are unfamiliar with the legends of the curse. Some scholars claim that the Axemasters consider themselves the stewards and true owners of the treasures of Eld, but if you could get close enough to an Axemaster, they would tell you that they are merely protecting the people who would be foolish enough to touch the cursed treasure.

Genetically, Axemasters are a hybrid race called Meru that was created by merging Human and Mer (with a touch of Chaos magic) into amphibious creatures. Mer stories say that these demon offspring were ousted from Poseidar long ago, that they were not welcome anywhere under the water. As a result, they found the surface and made a home for their clan on the shores. In the years since, the clan has continued to migrate further and further from the water, where their Mer enemies are plentiful.

The Video

Now let's understand how the scenes were identified from the lore and eventually the images were generated to create the transitions for the video.

Scene 1: The Underground Clan Lore focus: The Axemasters live in moist underground cave dwellings in the eastern jungle, guarding treasures of Eld. Visuals: Wide shot of a dark, glowing cave network under dense jungle roots. Strange amphibious figures (Axemasters) move in the shadows, holding twin axes. Treasure chests and golden relics faintly visible, guarded.

Scene 2: Protectors of Eld’s Treasure Lore focus: Generations of Axemasters protect Eld’s treasures from intruders, raiders, and pirates. Visuals: Pirates with torches stumble into the jungle ruins, only to be ambushed by Axemasters leaping from trees and rocks. Motion blur of twin axes slicing through the dark.

Scene 3: The Curse of Eld Lore focus: They aren’t greedy—they protect others from the curse of the treasure. Visuals: A frightened traveler reaches for cursed treasure, ghostly green aura surrounds it. An Axemaster steps in, stopping the hand, warning eyes glowing.

Scene 4: Origin of the Meru Lore focus: The Axemasters are Meru—hybrids of Human, Mer, and Chaos magic. Visuals: A surreal flashback scene—Mer sorcerers casting chaos magic, blending human and Mer features, forming amphibious warriors with dual axes.

Scene 5: Exile from Poseidar Lore focus: The Meru were rejected by the Mer and forced to live on the surface. Visuals: Ocean scene, Meru (Axemasters’ ancestors) being cast out of underwater city Poseidar, swimming upward toward the shore, carrying axes.

Scene 6: Jungle Guardians Lore focus: The clan moves away from the seas and makes the jungle their permanent home. Visuals: Jungle sunrise, Axemasters training together in the treetops, axes spinning in unison, protecting their sacred territory.

And here is the video... Oh and there is an extra clip outside the lore at the end as per the recommendation from @axemaster88

From cursed treasure guardian to jungle ambusher… Axemaster’s story is wild
Watch the lore and read about the detailed article here:https://t.co/MZKme5fdt3#splinterlands #play2earn #Web3Gaming pic.twitter.com/LG3qMcpCHK

— Affliction (@arup2109) October 1, 2025

Tools Used

• ChatGPT / DALL·E → for scene breakdowns and cosmic dragon imagery.
• Pixverse → to animate the still images with flame, shadow, and void transitions.
• ElevenLabs → for the deep, resonant narration voiceover.
• Canva → to assemble, edit, and finalize the video with audio + music.

If you are interested to read about the details how these lore videos are created using the tools mentioned, please give this article read.

Upcoming Videos

• Adelade Brightwing - Recommended by @beffeater
• Flagulon Reine - Recommended by @canada804

Do let me know how you liked this video and I’d love to hear your suggestions on which character deserves the spotlight next.

Until next time…