Splinterlands Battle Mage Secrets Weekly Challenge: Back to Basics

This week's Battle Mage rule set challenge was Back to Basics in which all monsters lose all abilities.

However, summoner abilities will still be applied...!

Back to Basics general strategy....

My general strategy is as follows:

1. Higher health monsters up front
2. Higher damage cards at the back
3. Magic attacks only (although you risk a reflection defence).
4. Speed matters more than you might think, so a focus on speed is also a good idea!

AND SUMMONERS...

Any summoner offering plus one health is useful, reflection shield and reflect could also work as magic is a very common strategy. I also like the Llama for plus two health and LAST STAND.

Back to Basics battle exemplar

The battle below shows back to basics rule set featuring the Llama Mage leveraging both the plus two health and LAST STAND!

Mana and rulesets:

• Mana 37
• Ruleset - Back to Basics only

• Fungus Fiend - 0 mana damage soak
• Spirit Hoarder - low damage at the front
• Tortisan Chief
• Goblin Psychic
• Sporcerer - three very similar cards in a row!
• Kron - for the LAST STAND!

The battle...

• round 1 - Not a great start, I lose my fiend and hoarder, but these are both soak cards
• round 2 - straight off the bat I take out that Unicorn. I lose my chief but take out my opponent's Failed Summoner
• round 3 - We trade blows for no losses. Both sides weakened!
• round 4 - I lose my Goblin, but take out his Slipswan.
• round 5 - I take out his Goblin.
• round 6 - I lose my Sporcerer and KRON goes LAST STAND hitting 5 damage and 18 health.
• rounds 7-8 - it's all over, KRON wipes out my opponent's two remaining monsters!

Final battle analysis

My opponent played a very decent line up, I couldn't really fault that, other than I would have played the Goblin last.

Ultimately for the mana the SLM summoner just gave more... an additional 18 health (once we factor in last stand) for just four more mana than Mylor, you simply cannot compete with that.

Back to Basics final thoughts...

Leverage those Legendary Summoners, if you have them!