**Splinterlands Phase 1.5 Land Preparation Guide: Pre-Launch Checklist**
Land Phase 1.5 brings with it the long-awaited expansion of Splinterlands, allowing you to assign cards and items to plots to produce resources. While this phase is not yet available, you can take some actions to prepare.
**Understand Dark Energy (DEC) Requirements**:
Dark Energy (DEC) is required to power your power source on plots that do not have a *Runi*.
It is recommended to have 10,000 DEC per max level card; lower level cards require less DEC.
Dark Energy management can be done at the region level, without the need to visit each plot
individually.
Any staking adjustments will trigger a regional harvest.
**Know Your Power Sources**:
There are two sources: *Runi* and *Power Cores*. *Power Cores* require DEC, though they do not consume it. They are available for 5,000 DEC and are non-transferable.
Plots with *Runi* do not require DEC, and a *Runi* allows up to 4 workers on a plot or 5 if combined with a Power Core.
**Have Enough Own Cards**:
Only owned cards can work on plots; delegated or rented cards are not enabled for this phase.
**Locking Cards and Items**:
Cards assigned to plots will be locked by default for three days after being unassigned. It is possible to set a longer unlock time before assigning them, up to 30 days.
Titles are automatically locked upon assignment, while totems currently cannot be locked prior to assignment.
**Evaluate Card Placement Based on Preferences and Production Bonuses**:
When assigning cards, consider terrain preferences and any production bonuses.
**Define a Production Strategy**:
Research and grain production can be transferred, but incurs a 12.5% fee.
Magic plots offer a 100% bonus to research and occupied plots grant a 100% bonus to SPS mining.
**Know the Use of Time Crystals**:
They reduce the Production required for a project by 10,000 units, speeding up construction. They can be purchased for 100 DEC each.
When used, they eliminate the need to feed workers during construction.
**Understand the Harvest, Grain, Taxes, and Storage Process**:
At each harvest, workers consume grain, and 10% of resources are paid in taxes. Workers consume .01 grain per base production each hour.
There is no storage limit in this phase, but resources stop accumulating after 7 days without harvesting.
Fortresses and castles have specific harvest costs and increased storage capacities.
**Explore the Lore**:
The expansion adds depth with the history of the Praetoria territories. You can see more in the lore section of Splinterlands.
