This is the best way to get started in Splinterlands in 2026

Getting started in Splinterlands right now is much easier than when I first started a few years ago, since back then entry was practically pay-to-play—that is, you could play and try out the game, but you had no chance of earning real rewards unless you bought the "Spellbook" for $10; Although it costs the same now, the reality is that the barrier to entry has dropped significantly, and that’s exactly what I want to talk about in this post.

In fact, I’m one of those players who’s starting from scratch, as if I’d never played this game before, so today I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process new players need to follow to get started completely FREE; you don’t have to spend a dime if you don’t want to, so the idea behind this post is to show you the path to follow so that new players don’t get lost and can start off on the right foot. So I hope all of this helps you and provides some value, since I had to research all of this myself and want to share it with all of you. I know I’ve been away for several weeks, but I’ll try to post more often.

This is the "first" thing you need to do (Campaign Mode)

The first thing you need to do when starting the game for free—besides signing up first, of course—is to go to the "Play" tab, which is the very first one, and then select "Campaign." Once there, you’ll find “Book 1,” which is the tutorial, where you’ll learn the basics of gameplay—that is, you’ll learn many aspects of how to play correctly as you complete the prologues and their chapters.

For example, some of the things they will learn include:

• Card Types
• Positioning
• Elements or Splinters to Play
• The Archons and the abilities they grant the team
• Basic Game Strategies

Once you've completed all the levels, you'll be ready for the next level in the game, although if you're just starting out, some of them might be a bit tricky. The truth is that you’ll be able to get through them without much trouble, even if you’ve never played this type of game before, since it’s actually very easy to understand. And while it does get more challenging as you progress, practice makes perfect, so mastering the gameplay in Splinterlands is just a matter of practice. That said, here’s a tip: you’ll need to be creative, but in the final section, I’ll give you some advice on these kinds of details.

What's next? FRONTIER Format

Once you've completed the entire "Campaign Mode," head back to the "Play" tab and this time select the "Ranked" option, which is the first one. From there, select "FRONTIER," though you should usually be taken directly to this game mode. It’s very easy to play, though you must complete the campaign mode to get a basic deck from the “Foundations” edition. In fact, as you complete the chapters, you’ll notice that the rewards you receive always include cards from this edition, so the further you progress, the more cards you’ll earn—and the more you’ll have to play with.

As I said, this is 100% FREE, but since it’s already in game mode and has been out for a while, and the team has been releasing more cards that, of course, “Campaign Mode” doesn’t give you. So my recommendation at this point is to spend at least $3 to $6—though it could be much less than that—to buy the missing cards from this set to fully complete your current deck and maybe level up some of the cards you’re missing to compete at the highest level. Believe me, you’ll really need them.

Why am I emphasizing this?

• All players in FRONTIER use the same deck as you, so strategy and positioning are crucial to winning. It’s the easiest mode for new players, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to win—in fact, it can get more challenging as you move up through the leagues.

• The point of completing the deck is to ensure that everyone can compete on a level playing field, because many players will likely already have all the cards at their highest level, and since most players start with nothing, some might get frustrated by losing too many games and end up quitting the game.

Recommendations

There’s no magic formula that will let you win every battle, and there’s no hidden trick—the only way to win is to master the rules of the game and everything that can influence a victory. That’s why what I’ll recommend here is what you should focus on to win most of your battles.

• Learn the rules and/or modifiers: This is the most important thing, because depending on the rules that come up, you'll need to come up with a strategy accordingly.

• Learn the card abilities: I’d say this is the second most important thing, and it’s closely related to the first, since many of the rules stem from the abilities. So you need to make an effort to learn both—that’s the only way you’ll improve at the game.

• Creativity: To win many of the battles, you need to be creative—and by that I mean strategically placing your cards and coordinating the abilities you use in accordance with the rules that apply at any given moment.

End

I hope all of this has helped you get started in the game from scratch—and completely free of charge. The barrier to entry is much lower now, so I highly recommend following all the steps I outlined in this post to get off to a good start.

My username is @ofemar23. See you in my next post.