I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again. One of the great things about Splinterlands is that the rule set frequently changes. This means that even cards that initially don't appear super strong can be absolutely essential in the right context. There are many cards that don't get the appreciation they deserve. So in today's post, I want to shine a spotlight on an unsung hero: Marlai Singariel.
Why Is Marlai Singariel an "Unsung Hero"
At first glance, it might appear that Marlai Singariel isn't an impressive card. It costs a whopping 6 Mana just give a +1 Magic boost. Back in the day, Alric Stormbringer gave all friendly units a +1 Magic buff for only 3 Mana. From that perspective, Marlai looks like an under powered card, and it's easy to see why many players might overlook her at first glance.
In Defense of Marlai - Accessible to New Players
From a strictly numbers standpoint, it's absolutely true that Marlai isn't the most powerful water archon of all time. That being said, I still think she deserves unsung hero status for two primary reasons: she is an accessible card for new players, and she is sufficently strong for her intended purpose.
As I have mentioned in previous posts, Splinterlands isn't just a game that requires strategy on the battlefield. It's also a resource management game, and players have to make difficult choices to decide what cards to purchase and include in their deck. That's one place where Marlai absolutely shines. At the time that I am writing this post, she is the cheapest water Archon which means that she is the most accessible for new players. It's also important to note that she buffs the entire friendly team whereas her nearest priced competitors don't provide any buffs at all or only buff a few individual units.
A More Accurate Comparison
However, it's not exactly fair to compare Marlai to every water Arcon, because Marlai is specifically designed to play in the Frontier format which means we should compare her power level to that of her peers. When we compare Marlai to her peers, it's even easier to see why she is such an unsung hero. Especially in Frontier format where the units and Archons aren't as powerful, the plus one magic buff can be an incredible boost that often leads to victory.
The Best Part....
Let's be honest, it's unlikely that Marlai is going to be the Archon of choice in the Champion League. However, she can compete pretty successfully in at the bronze level. This means that she is a great bridge for players who normally play Frontier format and want to dip their toes into Modern to get a feel for things. For example, I used Marlai in this match to defeat my opponent in the Modern format. This is why I think Marlai is a great card. She is sufficiently strong to allow players to compete in the lower levels of the Modern format and get an experience for what things are like, but she's not so overpowered that she detracts from the premier summoners from the main set.
One More Thing....
Finally, it's important to remember that players can earn additional copies of Marlai by collecting daily rewards in the Frontier format. This allows entry level players who aren't ready to make a massive investment in the game to slowly level up their deck by winning matches.
Join Me in Splinterlands
In fact, being able to win tradable NFTs for winning matches in Splinterlands is one of the reasons that I like the game so much. Splinterlands is fun and entertaining, but unlocking a new rare card or leveling up an Archon adds an additional layer of excitement to the game. So, if you like trading card games and you're intrigued by the possibility of earning NFTs and cryptocurrency for winning matches then I would invite you to check out 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. All image credits belong to Splinterlands. Nothing is financial advice.