TRAITS MAPPING : WATER SPLINTER RANGED CARD

Let's get back on track with the Traits Mapping for ranged card with today post focused on Water Splinter. Again don't forget to read my latest update for guidance to read the Traits Mapping (the post is here).

From the previous post on Fire Splinter, we can start to believe that ranged card are true to its nature as Striker type card with damage-mana ratio in average higher than those magic card collection. In addition, the overall abilities are populated dominantly by Striker abilities. This could be justified since ranged have more limited choice of roles. Take magic card that are flexible either for front or back row. And then melee card whereas only attack at front row, they also play important roles as Tanker. But ranged card is the only one which helpless at the front row. Meanwhile as the round moving and fallen card adding up, the remaining have to move to the front row. The end game will be a pin down for ranged card! Let's not waste time anymore and continue with our insight.

Number of Card by Rarity and Mana

Rarity	1 Mana	2 Mana	3 Mana	4 Mana	5 Mana	6 Mana	7 Mana	8 Mana	9 Mana
Normal				2	1				1
Rare		1	1	1	1			1
Epic		1				1	1	1
Legendary	1								1

The collection are distributed quite wide ranging from 1 mana to 10 mana. The center are coming from 4 mana and 5 mana which consist of only Normal and Rare type card. Epic card are distributed on both end of mana level, the most one between 6 mana to 8 mana. Therefor, there's less selection and more cost to deploy ranged card for high mana cap battle. Legendary card are quite unique since there's only 2 (two) of them, and they each on the lowest and highest mana cost.

Traits Mapping

Water Splinter ranged collection looks very contrast compared to the Fire Splinter one. The notable one would be the higher health-mana ratio, which surprisingly 7 out of 15 cards have 1.0 tick ratio and above. Although mostly they are card with less than 3 mana cost, we could also see Medhampir (No.1) and Kulu Swimhunter (No.10) which are 4 mana card; and also Wave Brood (No.12) which have a huge 12 health. This profile make Water Splinter ranged card solid enough to withstand any Sneak or Snipe attack. The damage-mana ratio looks quite decent, with mostly gathered around 0.25 to 0.50 tick. Speed looks less promising, with majority are red nodes.

At max level, we could see several shift in the status. Now there's just 3 card which health-mana ratio are below 1.0 tick. Two Gun Pete (No.8) looks exceptional as the only one to reach the end of SOUTH-EAST quadrant; although since its a 1 mana card. But still its quite rare for 1 mana card to have up to 3 health. but its because the card cost only 1 mana. Angelic Mandarin (No.11), a card with 3 mana which able to enter the SOUTH-EAST quadrant might look a better choice for medium mana battle.

Damage-mana ratio are jumping quite high. There're 4 card having damage-mana ratio of 1.0 and beyond. Igor Darkspear (No.13) has been known as the golden card of Water Splinter, excelling both on health and damage. For the most effective damage at medium battle, Kulu Swimhunter (No.10) shown a deadly firing power. Not only it has 4 damage, but it also reach a 5 speed.

At max level, speed gain much improvement than the previous Level 1. But still it's low compared to other collection which have more number of blue nodes.

Abilities Mapping

Similiar to the previous Fire Splinter Ranged Card, this collection is also dominated majorly by Striker Abilities. The Striker Abilities consist mostly of status effect ability (for example Shatter, Affliction, Poison, Stun, etc.). Stun ability is the most one with 3 card owning it in total, then followed up by Cripple, Blast, Snare, Close Range, etc. with 2 card owning it in total. One rare ability would be the Double Strike which possessed by Axemaster (No.4). There're a lot of card which hold complete Striker abilities, take for example Axemaster, Sniping Narwhal, and Azmare Harpoonist are one of them.

Tanker abilities and Support abilities are less available. Wave Brood (No.12) are the only one to have full Tanker roles which not only supported by its huge health but also with its selection of abilities. Meanwhile for Support roles, only Giant Squid (No.7) and Angelic Mandarin (No.11) which fully fulfill this roles. Giant Squid have a number of armor which could effectively be used to fend off attack on the back-row. Angelic Mandarin have the rare Triage ability, so this card should be well preserved in the back-row. The 4 speed seemed to support Angelic Mandarin to trigger the ability quite early in the start of each round.

Personal Thought

This final section, I give my personal thought for several card mentioned below.

'1. Medhampir

Medhampir started with decent status for a 4 mana card. Life Leech ability is a gift for Medhampir since its rarely available on any Splinter; but become less worthy because while other cards with Life Leech card have magic attack, Medhampir have only ranged attack. But the amount of progression give opportunity for this card to reach 3 damage and 4 speed which could equal other cards.

'2. Axemaster

Some of us might agree that Axemaster is a deadly card. It's common fact with card possessing Double Strike ability. Pelacor Arbalest might be the only card which comparable side-to-die with Axemaster in term of mana level. But while Pelacor Arbalest are too fragile from any attack, Axemaster are far more tough with 5 health at Level 1 and 4 speed which could waste some incoming attack.

'3. Giant Squid

Giant Squid are one of several ranged cards which possessed armor. Armor are important to deflect several Sneak attack when the card are positioned the last row. Giant Squid have balanced roles between Striker and Support, since it doesn't have particularly powerful damage and the attack itself is more as follow up to main attack from other cards. Therefore having 2 (two) Supporting abilities are a good addition for this card.

'4. Wave Brood

It's very rare to see a ranged card which status lean toward Tanker roles. But existence of Taunt ability turn Wave Brood into a main contender. Second row will be the best position for Wave Brood, where it can absorb incoming damage, while launching its ranged attack. The good news, the card already started with huge health, and later gained new abilities which leveraged its position more. Void give additional protection, while Return Fire are terrifying, since most attack targeting Wave Brood is between ranged or magic. Unfortunately the lack of speed make this card a really an easy target to hit.

'5. Igor Darkspear

Igor Darkspear is one of the best status among 2 mana card. The card started at Level 1 with only 1 damage, but the best value from its solid 4 health and 3 speed. The progression are not a mere growth as this card gained 2 damage growth accompanied with Stun ability. By the end of the progression level, this card transformed not only hard as rock but also sharp as a shear.