Splinterlands 101: An Introduction for Noobs (Like Me)

I am new to Splinterlands, and I'm studying as much as I can before I purchase my first cards and start playing.

I'll share here what I've learned so far.

What is Splinterlands?

Splinterlands is a play-to-earn, blockchain-based collectible card game. You build a collection of cards, which are NFTs (Non Fungible Tokens).

Each card has unique abilities, and you use them to go to battle against other players. You can buy, sell and trade your cards at any time.

How to Battle in Splinterlands

Splinterlands is not like other games, where a battle lasts for hours.

On Splinterlands, a battle may last even just for a few minutes. Battles are furious and fast.

The gameplay itself is a bit confusing for me as of now, but I'm just starting out to be honest.

People say that it's actually super easy to learn. We'll see...

Basically, you want to go through 3 steps in order to start:

1 - Review the Combat Rules

Before you begin, you must read the rules, because every battle has different rules.

The rules can be special Conditions, Mana Cap (this is the max power of the team), and allowable Splinters.

6 Sources of Magic in Splinterlands

There is an important distinction to make.

You have 6 sources of magic in Splinterlands: Fire, Water, Earth, Life, Death and Dragon (same order in the image below).

A Summoner (more info below) uses magic to call upon the different creatures, habitats and races that exist within the same Splinter.

So, for example, a Summoner of the Earth Splinter will be able to call forth monsters that live in the forests and mountains.

2 - Build Your Team

To build your team, you need to select a Summoner, which will determine the level and type of units available to you.

Then, you need to position your units based on their stats and abilities. After that, you want to submit your team before the timer runs out.

Summoners vs Monsters

You have 2 types of cards in Splinterlands: Summoners and Monsters.

The Summoner is a magic user who harnesses one of the six primal forces. And, of course, they use their power to summon monsters.

The Monster is any creature that is called forth by the Summoner to go into battle. Monsters do the heavy lifting here, because they do the actual fighting in the game.

3 - Enter the Battle

And now, you're ready to watch the battle unfold.

Take notice of how position, stats, and abilities affect the outcome. This will be your time to understand what works or doesn't.

You'll find victory (or defeat) on the battlefield.

Start Playing Splinterlands for Free

As a new player, you start with a set of free cards to use. So, even if you don't have money, you can always play.

To find yours, go to Cards > Inventory (image below)

These cards are Common and Rare cards from the Untamed edition of the game. These are Level 1 “phantom” cards and will always be linked to your account.

The free cards will give you a start, so you can start playing the game, fight a few battles, and understand the rules.

However, when you're ready, you might want to start building your collection of "better" cards. Each additional card makes your collection more powerful.

Moreover, remember that the cards that you buy may also be combined to gain levels (+ unlock special abilities) and then converted into Dark Energy Crystals (DEC), traded, sold, or rented to other players.

How to Purchase Cards

Cards can be purchased through the shop or marketplace within Splinterlands. Alternatively, you can use external marketplaces like @peakmonsters or @monstermarket.

I particularly like @peakmonsters; perhaps because it's the first one I started exploring and now I am accustomed to it. I am sure @monstermarket is as good.

This is an image below from peakmonsters.com. As you can see, you get all the stats to help you purchase the right cards.

Learn the Card Basics Before You Buy

This below is just a random card I chose from @peakmonsters website (the guy kinda looks like me :-D)

Let's take a look at what each element means.

• That number 2 (top left) is the Mana Cost. The more powerful a card is, the higher the Mana Cost will be.
• That number 2 in (center) and the number 3 in the heart are Stats. These numbers reflect the physical power, health, speed and toughness of the character.
• The leaf symbol (center) is the Splinter/Rarity. The icon color indicates the Rarity (Common, Rare, Epic, or Legendary).
• The name "Failed Summoner" is just the Name of the character.
• The star symbol and the 1 to the right of the name is the Level. A high level means a more powerful card. Gaining levels can increase Stats or unlock abilities.
• The symbol at the bottom represents the character's Abilities, which are powers or special skills that are used during combat.

Now, this was just to explain how to look at cards.

However, what's the best way to evaluate what cards to buy? That's my next tutorial I'm going to write next week here on Splintertalk.

Stay tuned!

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