❤️It finally pays having MAX❤️

Grum is known throughout his tribe as the strongest warrior. Born in the Sands of Draykh-Nahka, his hard upbringing made him a survivor. There was no weather too extreme, no drought too long, and no enemy too cunning for Grum. He became well-respected within the region for his battle prowess and defended his tribe countless times against the creatures of the wastes. Tales were sung around the fires of Grum's battle with the Great Wyrm of the Sands, the Earth-Shaking Titan, and Velissa the Sorceress. Grum's tribe, known as the Desert Blood, honored tradition, strength, and courage. He grew to become a legend amongst his people.

Oh my God! I'm loving Splinterlands again. After years of pulling my hair out from frustrating Silver and Gold League battles where bots seem to dominate, I'm kicking ass again. It's because this is the first season that lets you use the full potential of your cards. I feel like a MMA UFC fighter who's been in boxing matches and can now use their legs and grappling skills. I've spent years getting my summoners and key cards to MAX-level, but rarely make it to 🔷Diamond league so it feels wonderful crushing people and or bots with them. I'm glad that I didn't waste my time or money leveling them up now because I am winning most of my battles. You were almost punished for having MAX-level cards before these changes because you spent money on something you never got to use and when and if you sold your MAX-level cards, they sold for less overall. Well, those days are gone and it's a good thing for us real players.

This battle had three rules: Everyone gets equal health according to the strongest card, magic reflects, and the slowest goes first. This was also the first time I've been able to use my MAX-level Grum Flameblade and the Scorch Fiend.

I think every fiend is worth owning because they use zero mana and can work as great meat shields which can turn the tides of a battle, but the Fire Splinter Scorch Fiend is the best in my opinion because when it's at MAX-level it reduces the melee of all your enemy's attacks. This is the first battle I've been able to use it, but I have no doubt it will help me win many more battles in the future and just may make the fire team my favorite splinter again.

Choosing Grum Flameblade as my tank was a bit risky because his 15 heart lives would also apply to all of my enemy's cards under the rules, but since it was also a battle where the slowest goes first I knew he would get in the first strike and his massive melee attacks of 5 points and bloodlust ability would keep racking up shields and attack power each kill even if it slowed him down. The Scorch Fiend did not do any attacking because Grum didn't die, but it did reduce my enemy's melee attack which made a huge difference.

In the end, only my rear taunt card was lost while Grum and my ranged attackers ate through their front faster than they could my rear. Having mostly MAX-level cards surely helped me win as well, but taking the time and money to MAX the right cards is a strategy on its own and I'm glad I can finally capitalize on it.

Since bots don't read blog posts I imagine you are loving the new ranked battle changes as well. It might be a little disheartening for new players to get smashed by OGs with MAX-level cards, but it's better than the extractor bots that have been ruining the fun these past couple of years. I no longer feel that playing Splinterlands is a grind and genuinely love playing the game again. I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night just to play a few matches. What about you? Are you winning more now too?

Check out my battle:
https://splinterlands.com?p=battle&id=sl_c4eff02e51b40102d014239f44865a07&ref=jeremiahcustis

This week's SPLINTERLANDS BATTLE MAGE SECRETS Challenge:
https://peakd.com/hive-13323/@splinterlands/battle-mage-secrets-weekly-challenge-s9l069

Original artwork at NFTShowroom:
https://nftshowroom.com/jeremiahcustis/gallery

Amazing art by the Splinterlands community:
https://peakd.com/hive-13323/@splinterlands/splinterlands-art-contest-week-282-theme-sps-dao