Ruleset Focus

In this week's Battle Mage Secrets, we'll take a closer look at the UNPROTECTED ruleset, a game-changer that strips Monsters of any Armor and denies them the benefits of armor-related abilities or Summoner buffs. This ruleset render certain abilities irrelevant as they hinge on the presence of Armor stats. The absence of protective armor opens up new strategic possibilities, requiring players to adapt their tactics and carefully choose Monsters that can thrive in an environment where traditional defensive measures are nullified! 😉

Abilities Focus

Be cautious when choosing Monsters with the abilities listed below, as they
become ineffective when the UNPROTECTED ruleset is active in the battle.

Repair - Restores some armor to the friendly Monster whose armor has taken the most damage

Rust - Reduces the Armor of all enemy Monsters

Void Armor - Magic attacks hit this Monster's armor before its Health

Shatter - Target's armor is destroyed when hit by an attack from Monsters with Shatter

Protect - All friendly Monsters gain +2 Armor

The Battle

While fulfilling my responsibilities in the Splinterlands scholarship account I have with Balthazar, bltzr-wizard-729, I was able to engage in a battle that involves the UNPROTECTED ruleset. To get right into the action, the battle link can be found here. Otherwise, do read on as I go into more detail regarding the lineup and fight.

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To begin our analysis, let's dive into the ruleset shaping this battle. First and foremost, we have the main highlight of this week's challenge — the UNPROTECTED ruleset, extensively explored in the preceding sections. Following closely is the Born Again ruleset, bestowing the Rebirth ability upon all units, allowing for a self-resurrection once during the battle. Lastly, the Taking Sides ruleset, prohibiting the deployment of Neutral Monsters. It's important to note that the mana restriction capped at 60 and the exclusion of the Water Splinter from participation in the battle.

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Summoner, Quix The Devious

Due to the impact of the UNPROTECTED ruleset, choosing Quix The Devious as my Summoner became an obvious and strategic decision, deviating from my typical choice of Grandmaster Rathe. Furthermore, the generous mana limit imposed in this battle makes the Dragon Summoner an appealing option, allowing the incorporation of high mana-costing Dragon Monsters while still accommodating another Splinter of choice. 😄

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First Position, Uriel The Purifier

Uriel The Purifier emerged as an exceptional choice for the role of primary tank, relying on its substantial Health stats, notwithstanding the loss of its Armor attributes under the influence of the UNPROTECTED ruleset. Its Flying ability provided Uriel The Purifier with a 25% chance to evade attacks from enemies lacking this trait. Notably, its Heal ability proved invaluable, enabling the restoration of up to 4 health per round. This, coupled with its inherently high Health make it a reliable and robust tank throughout the entire battle 💪

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Second Position, Djinn Renova

In my battles with the Life Splinter, Djinn Renova consistently holds a place of favor in my card lineup. Boasting impressive Magic damage along with commendable Health and Speed stats, it stands out as a reliable choice. What truly distinguishes Djinn Renova is its Triage ability, a key factor when strategically placing Iziar (refer to the Third Position) in the backline. This tactical arrangement enables Djinn Renova to adeptly Heal my team, ensuring their sustained health throughout the course of battle 😝

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Third Position, Iziar

Iziar stands as the linchpin of my lineup, playing a pivotal role in the success of my strategy. Attaining Level 3, with the added stroke of luck in acquiring two Gold Foil copies, is crucial for unlocking the Martyr ability, a game-changer in battles! The Taunt ability provides strategic flexibility, enabling me to position Iziar strategically between the Monsters I aim to empower upon its demise. Bolstered by impressive durability, marked by high Health and the Void ability, Iziar emerges as a resilient force on the battlefield 😎

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Fourth Position, Chaos Dragon

The Chaos Dragon, despite its considerable mana cost, undeniably proves its worth on the battlefield, standing as an absolute juggernaut. Although the Scattershot ability introduces an element of unpredictability, which may not be my top preference in battle dynamics, the Chaos Dragon consistently deals substantial damage to the enemy's ranks. Furthermore, the potential for a triple Martyr boost, activated through the synergy of the Born Again Ruleset and Adelade Brightwing's Resurrect ability upon Iziar's demise, significantly amplifies its potency! 😜

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Fifth Position, Adelade Brightwing

Adelade Brightwing's Resurrect ability seamlessly complements Iziar's Martyr ability, creating a dynamic synergy that unlocks the potential for a substantial double or even triple stat boost when Iziar is Resurrected. This combination not only enhances the resilience and effectiveness of my lineup but also introduces a tactical advantage that can significantly impact the course of the battle. However, the Repair ability becomes redundant in this particular battle due to the influence of the UNPROTECTED ruleset 😣

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Last Position, Dhampir Infiltrator

Utilizing the remaining mana wisely in my lineup selection, I strategically chose the Dhampir Infiltrator for the crucial final position. This particular unit brings forth a set of valuable abilities, including Affliction and Cripple, strategically hindering the opponent's ability to Heal and gradually diminishing the maximum Health of the targeted enemy. Additionally, the inclusion of Sneak and Double Strike abilities equips the Dhampir Infiltrator to actively engage in attacks, making it a versatile asset even when positioned in the backline 😤

The Analysis

In a battle offering a wide range of Splinter choices, the emergence of my opponent's Death Splinter was unexpected. Considering my Magic-centric lineup, the -1 Magic debuff posed a potential obstacle by diminishing my offensive prowess. Nevertheless, my opponent's fortunes took a downturn when confronted with my strategic approach, incorporating the Marty ability to grant significant stat boosts, particularly amplified by the Born Again ruleset and Adelade Brightwing's Resurrect ability! 😅

_{After benefiting from Marty's ability twice, as the opponent failed to defeat Iziar for the third Resurrection!}

While my team didn't boast formidable offensive strength at the battle's onset, it resiliently withstood the onslaught of attacks from the opponent. The choice of Uriel The Purifier as my primary tank, despite lacking Armor due to the UNPROTECTED ruleset, posed little concern, thanks to its robust Health pool and effective Healing capabilities! 😎

Do you guys have any better recommendations for setting up the team in this particular ruleset? Do share them with me in the below comments 😜

If you made it this far, I sincerely appreciate your time and value your encouragement. Please feel free to leave any comments or suggestions so that we can discuss about other strategies. Thinking about giving Splinterlands a try but haven't signed up yet? Feel free to use my referral link: https://splinterlands.com?ref=ak08, and be sure to reach out to me if you have any questions!

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Are you interested in reading some of my future writings? Don't forget to follow me! In the meantime, here are some of my most recent blogs if you'd like to view them:

STRATEGIZING WITH WATER SPLINTER IN THE TAKING SIDES CHALLENGE!	TWO YEARS IN SPLINTERLANDS: MY PLAY2EARN JOURNEY!
TARGET PRACTICE CHALLENGE WITH BAAKJIRA!	A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CONQUERING THE SPLINTERLANDS REALM! (Latest Blog)

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All banners, dividers card and battle images used in this article are open source and obtained from the Splinterlands team or made by flauwy. Do check out his link for other amazing designs.