BATTLE MAGE SECRETS : BROKEN ARROWS

Broken Arrows will limit ranged cards from being deployed into the battle. Players will have limited choice of card to deal damage from the rear rows. Therefor melee with Sneak or Opportunity and magic cards will be more likely to be deployed. Melee cards deal higher damage compared to magic cards, but it will be difficult to focus the attack toward the front row. In contrary magic cards are much more similar to ranged cards (even better due to its able to bypass armor) but didn't have a high damage while costing extra mana. The ruleset will also open higher possibility to trap opponents using Thorns, Retaliate, or Magic Reflect.

I don't think there's certain strategy better use under this ruleset. Using Thorns and Magic Reflect to create a counter trap seemed the best tactics. Deployign summoners with Amplify and those counter abilities can give slight advantage.

So here we have the battle experience with Broken Arrows as the ruleset. Click BATTLE LINK to see how the battle run.

The battle has a maximum 99 mana cap, with Counterspell, Taking Sides, and Broken Arrows as the rulesets; while all Splinters are made available except for Life Splinter.

This battle really locked out players from available alternative. Bringing magic cards will certainly led to disadvantage due to Counterspell. Melee cards are the best choice, but potential for a trap against Retaliate or Thorns.

I decided to go with Fire Splinter led by Tarsa as summoner. With almost unlimited mana, I decided to go all out Infernal Firestorm and Grum Flameblade. Forgotten One reserved in the 3rd row. Then I deploy Tenyii Striker and Torch Vizier as a main firepower. Last but no least is Ferox Defender to block ambush attack while maintaining Protect ability.

As expected my opponent decided to go with Thorns by taking Djinn Chwala. The summoner is nothing less as Helios Matriarch will allow 1 (one) gladiators to be used. Carnage Titan is a deadly damage dealer having Reach and Double Strike. Following in 3rd row is Quora Towershead, a powerful Tanker and Striker. I think key of success here comes from Thane Newsong, which Inspire benefit both Djinn Chwala and Carnage Titan. Queen Mycelia follow in the 5th row, important for its Protect. The last row is the ultimate death threat. Agor Longtail has never been and easy card to brought down. With this my formation is fall short in mana, a total of 52 mana versus 59 mana.

I already lose my ground by the start of the round. My attack was scattered to various target with only minimal damage. In addition I had Ferox Defender and Forgotten One in reserve. This caused the battle to run longer than expected and open opportunity for my opponent to fully utilize their strike.

Infernal Firestorm sustian all the damage, fortunately it managed to survive with 4 health remaining. But still the incoming damage is devasatating, especailly Carnage Titan which deliver 3 damage times 2. Meanwhile my formation managed to deliver to Djinn Chwala and Agor Longtail, but still left their armor still intact. The Counterspell return several damage to Quora, Queen Mycelia, and Agor but too minimal to consider.

Losing initiatives due to speed buff from Helios Matriarch totally put an extra pressure to my formation. Things turn into worse when Quora Towershead claimed the Bloodlust buff from Infernal. And then Carnage Titan put another great blow into Grum, crushing a total 6 armor. By the end of the round its a 5 against 6, with Grum Flameblade left with 4 health remaining.

Quora Towershead and Agor Longtail launched and early strike to put an end into Grum Flameblade. Carnage Titan continue with a double strike to crack down Grum Flameblade armor. This followed by Djinn Chwala striking a 4 melee damage. Torch Vizier and Tenyii Striker keep their pressure into Agor Longtail, but find difficulty handling Agor Longtail speed and Flying traits.

Again Quora Towershead make an excellent performance by scoring another kill into Forgotten One. Tenyii Striker sustain major blow and finally found demise under Djinn Chwala. Fortunately Torch Vizier ended Agor Longtail long dominance. And then Torach Vizier make another kill from Magic Reflect counter to Queen Mycelia.

Hope is almost lost as my Torch Vizier brought down in single blow by Quora Towershead. Ferox Defender make a final resort by strike Djinn Chwala. But facing Carnage Titan and Quora Towershead in their fresh condition, there's no hope anymore for my formation.

CONCLUSION