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New Cards, Same Ol' Strategies, New Battle Analysis

Greetings everyone and welcome to another Splinterlands battle post, it has been a while since I've actually analyzed a battle and it's strategy, since it's been a while since I've had anything new or exciting to sink my teeth into. However, with the new Conclave Arcana set coming into view I have a newfound interest in actually analyzing my enemies battle tactics and genuinely pondering "Will Arcana be a pervasive set? Should I get some for survival mode and brawling? or can I let this one go down the pipes?"

Overall Brawlin': Killin it'

This last brawl I basically ran 7-0 (old dog up to old tricks), but one match stuck out to me that included a lineup of mostly newer cards with bloodlines. There were no new abilities present in this set, but it was interesting to see that things like "Goblin mech" that should obviously have the "Goblin" bloodline do not. Rather disappointing if I do say so, I was hoping a lot of these older cards would receive a bloodline to make these cards more desirable outside of modern. Especially the ones that are heavily lore-dependent or have things like "Goblin" and "Miniotaur" IN THEIR NAME. Kindof a let down.

The match itself is an example of "Yodin goes brrrrr", but I did take advantage of traditionally tank arrangement and even had a cheeky double attack type with blast on the War Cha'Ang. Even with one of the newer summoners the enemies lineup was pretty shrimpy compared to older staple cards. It might have been better if they chose "poison" instead of buffing 2 creatures considering they didn't have a lineup where 2 melee creatures would've proven advantageous when buffed (no twinstrike etc.). Overall this was a somewhat uneventful brawl this time around, and this was the only match of note because it sported a lineup FULL of new cards. They were fun to see, but didn't bring my opponent the victory he so sorely desired.

I do like the art and design of the new cards I saw, particularly the new minotaurs. There seems to be a lot of lore there and the art is vibrant and well drawn, I appreciate that the team has kept using REAL ARTISTS and hasn't just resorted to AI schlock (yet). My personal favorite in this match was the "New Beluroc Aegis" which is a taunt minion WITH SNEAK AND AMPLIFY. Which is a massive game changer for all existing builds as a neutral and synergizes really well in most lineups that would benefit with taunt anyway, and might be one of the best cards from the new set I've seen so far. Really well done

Talking Tidbits: I want to see more bloodlines

I have been brawling and playing Survival in a somewhat casual way (this isn't my prioritized game, not is it one of the ones I'm focused on to p2e or anything like that). I do want to win don't get me wrong, but my motivation to "stay at the top" of a game that keeps moving the goalpost and changing it's competitive modes (and even it's land resource system) has diminished. Especially considering every aspect of this game is pay to win, not just pay to earn. There is no more "competitive" edge in the game modes now that lvled cards can just wallet slap until the cows come home. It's like Diablo immortal without matchmaking separating whales from noobs, and even that game gets flack for being p2e and it has a "more competitive" matchmaking algorithm as it currently stands. Either way Battlemages you are going to see me in the field attempting to win in both survival and brawls, and I suppose I need to readjust my land holdings aswell. I want to see MORE bloodlines in older sets, newer sets, and more synergy involving said bloodlines. It's a really cool direction and I hope they lean into it. Stay safe out there Battlemages, and until next time this is Rex signing off.