Share Your Battle Challenge: STONE GOLEM

THEME FOR THIS BATTLE: STONE GOLEM

The Stone Golem - My Impressions BEFORE the Battle

The Stone Golem seems like one of those cards you cannot wait to use when you first start playing. It looks cool, if you played D&D growing up you already thought golems kicked butt, and it seems like it has decent health with that SHIELD ability, so it might stand up to annoying starter beasts like Lava Monster punch for punch.

Then you try to play it and it dies in the first round against a few magic critters, or you suddenly notice it cannot actually do any damage against the Lava Monster. It just stands there getting pounded. You say, hmmmmm, it is not even the best golem in the Earth Splinter, right? So you say adios.

I am a medium-new player, and I am not sure when the last time I used Stone Golem was. Maybe for an Odd-mana cards only battle with no Magic and no Fire Splinters allowed? My biggest question going into this battle challenge was: Am I willing to lose ranking just for this challenge?

The answer is OF COURSE!

The Stone Golem Stats

Edition: ALPHA/BETA Rarity: RARE Element: EARTH Attack: MELEE Abilities: SHIELD//STUN AT LEVEL 5

The Battle

The Battle would have to be in Silver III, which is the best I can do with my deck and skills. I promised to go ahead and use this Golem no matter what. I got decent battle conditions:

• No armor
• Divine Shield

But I looked distinctly overmatched, with my opponent sporting any number of scary critters, including one I hate to face, the Ancient Lich. I decided to make beating the Lich my main objective, so I tried to put in as many Opportunity cards as I could. That really was only two, though, the Screeching Vulture I bought and the started deck also-ran Parasitic Growth. I also put in two Sneak cards and the magic deflector, though I really should have thought a bit harder about order and put my magic attacker last and my magic deflector second to last. I hoped the Golem would hold up for 2 rounds, maybe. Would that have made a difference? Well....

Here is what I was looking at when we chose our teams.
Two rounds of Golem tanking looked pretty unlikely!

You can watch the battle here: https://splinterlands.com?p=battle&id=sl_e5f4f1d25f0cf507b547b1d205a2cd3a&ref=pregosauce

Did My Strategy Work?

It was a disaster. The Divine Armor seemed to help my opponent more than me, especially when my Failed Summoner's one deflected magic just hit the armor of the dreaded Lich. I struggle to counter that Lich. I would normally have put a magic-defended monster in tank role, then a magic deflector, but in no cases would I normally imagine putting up the Stone Golem. At 5 Mana cost, if I thought the Lich was going to be lurking, I probably would even opt for the Peaceful Giant to just stand there to get hit and give Health to that dang Lich.

How I Would Use Stone Golem in the Future

Honestly, I think the main times in which I would use Stone Golem are when I am in a high Mana battle where Melee monsters can attack from everywhere, or where all creatures have Sneak or Opportunity. Then I would probably put Stone Golem second in case I was against someone who can deal explosion damage on my tank. Beyond that, I think Stone Golem will go back into the Started deck to rest up and await another Battle Challenge.