Splinterlands is a blockchain-based NFT trading card game where players use their NFT trading cards to compete against other players and win matches. But there is a catch: Splinterlands uses a variety of different rule sets, so it's important for players to be able to adapt their strategy to suit the specific conditions of the battle. In today's post, I'm going to be sharing my strategy for winning the Now You See Me rule set that gives Camouflage to all units.
The Rules Explained
Before we start talking about strategy, we need to understand what the rule set actually does. The "Now You See Me" rule set gives all units Camouflage which means that they cannot be directly targeted unless they are in the first position. However, it is important to note that units with the camouflage ability can still be damaged by Scattershot, Blast damage, Trample, and the Wingbreak ability.
But What Does It Mean ??
If you are a new player, it can be a little bit complicated to understand what all of these terms mean. So I want to break things down and make it simple. The key takeaway is that in the "Now You See Me" rule set only your first position unit can be directly targeted. What this means is that your second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth position monsters are relatively safer from attacks than they would be in a traditional rule set.
How Can I Use This Rule Set to My Advantage??
Of course, understanding the rule set is only half the battle. We also want practical strategies that will allow us to use the rule set to our advantage. As it applies to actual gameplay and tactics, there are two key strategies I use in the "Now You See Me" ruleset.
- Place my most valuable units at the rear of the formation
- Use "glass cannons" to attack the opponent from relative safety
The Strategy Explained
It's one thing to hear someone tell you a strategy, but it's another thing to understand how and why that strategy works. So let's break down both of these suggestions. The reason that I feel more comfortable playing glass cannons in the "Now You See Me" rule set is because high power units with low health and low armor are less vulnerable with the Camouflage ability. In a normal match, I would be very hesitant to play a low health monster because it could easily be targeted by something like opportunity. But the glass cannon is relatively safe in the Now You See Me rule set if it is placed at the rear of the formation.
A second strategy that I use is to place my most valuable monsters at the rear of the formation. In a normal rule set, placing a unit at the rear of the formation is no guarantee of safety because it can still be attacked with the Sneak ability. So,in a normal match, I might protect a valuable unit from Sneak by hiding it in the middle of the formation. However the Camouflage ability protects monsters from getting directly targeted unless they're in the first position. So, if I have a really powerful monster that I want to ensure makes it to the end of the battle, it's much more effective to place it at the end of the formation than it is the middle.
A Practical Example
To demonstrate this point, I'd like to share a recent battle. You can watch the replay by following the link here.
What you will notice is that I placed Mystic Scaleweaver in the last position. Mystic Scaleweaver was my strongest monster that deals three magic damage after the Archon +1 magic boost was applied. By placing it at the end of the formation, I ensured that it was safe from direct attacks and that it could keep lobbing massive magic attacks at the enemy from a position of relative safety.
Placing Mystic Scale Weaver at the end of the formation kept it in the battle for as long as possible and ensured that the minus one speed debuff would be applied to the opponent's team for the duration of the match. If I would have put Mystic Scaleweaver in the first position, I would have lost that debuff as soon as it was taken out of the fight.
Reflection
This match was a great reminder of a key fact about Splinterlands: using the rule set to your advantage is absolutely essential. Even though my opponent had a stronger Archon than I did, I was able to use the rule set to my advantage, secure the victory, and win some SPS and Glint.
Join Me in Splinterlands
Speaking about victory, I do want to point out that one of the most incredible things about Splinterlands is that it allows players to earn additional NFTs and cryptocurrency for winning matches. If you like trading card games that require strategy and you're also interested by the possibility of earning rewards, I'd like to invite you to join me in Splinterlands using my referral link.
Disclaimer
As a US resident, I am required to disclose that I might receive a benefit, such as reward or incentive, if you join using my affiliate link or battle replay link. All image credits belong to Splinterlands. Nothing is financial advice.