Gramel the Hunger: The Fiend That Never Gets Full
Greetings, Splinterlands warriors.
We meet again at the end of January—a time when I usually feel I’ve had my fill of surprises—until Modern mode introduced me to a card that, honestly, made me stare at the screen for a while. Not because of its animation, but because of its impact in the arena. That card is Gramel the Hunger.
Gramel the Hunger is a Legendary Neutral card from Conclave Arcana (Promo) with the Fiend Bloodline. Neutral, legendary, and promo—three words that are usually enough to put anyone on alert. Its mana cost is 11, quite expensive, but at this level we’re clearly not talking about half-measures.
Quick details:
- Edition: Conclave Arcana (Promo)
- Element: Neutral
- Rarity: Legendary
- Max Health: 7
- Max Armor: 1
- Speed: 3
And the thing that really makes eyebrows rise: it has three attack types at once. Melee, ranged, magic. Complete. Voracious. True to its name.
Abilities That Make It Feel “Unfair”
Even at level 1, Gramel already comes with Charge and Scattershot. This means it can attack from any position, and its ranged and magic attacks hit random targets. That alone is enough to throw an opponent’s formation into chaos.
As it levels up, it only gets worse:
- Relentless Strike (Lvl 2): true damage, and it hurts even more against enemies with shield, void, or forcefield.
- Shapeshift (Lvl 3): treated as all bloodlines. Flexible, slippery, hard to predict.
- Camouflage (Lvl 4): cannot be targeted directly unless it’s in the first position.
In short, the higher Gramel’s level, the harder it is to touch—while it just keeps hitting.
There are several reasons this card isn’t just strong, but terrifying. First, its ownership is extremely limited. It’s neutral, usable in almost any match. Triple attack. Can melee from anywhere thanks to Charge. Scattershot that disrupts enemy plans. This is a card that feels “always relevant.”
Personal Experience: Shades of Gray and Helplessness
In that match, the ruleset was Shades of Gray, with a 60 mana cap. Alarm bells immediately went off in my head. Big mana means big monsters.
I ran Archon Marlai Singariel, bringing my full magic lineup: Ulundin Overseer, Moxian Rebel, Great Bear Druid, Chaos Adjutant, Quillstorm Mage, and Mindless Thrall. On paper, it’s a solid team.
But theory often loses to reality.
My opponent brought Gramel the Hunger and Arcane Skinwalker—two game-changing monsters. Gramel attacked three times in a single round. It felt like my opponent had two extra monsters that weren’t even listed in the lineup.
I held on as best I could, but honestly, it felt like dry wood being consumed by fire. The defense collapsed, and the loss became mine. Not dramatic—just… inevitable.
What surprised me most about Gramel the Hunger was its tempo. It doesn’t rush, but every round feels oppressive. There is no safe position. No unit is ever truly protected.
Key lessons:
- Neutral legendaries are not support pieces—they’re strategic centers.
- Triple attack + Charge = constant threat.
- In high-mana games, Gramel is a card to anticipate, not ignore.
If you’re curious and want to watch the full battle, you can check it out here:
Final Impressions & Quick Strategy
Gramel the Hunger isn’t a card you see often, but when it appears, it leaves a lasting impression. It’s a collector’s card, a whale’s card—but also a card that, used at the right moment, can single-handedly change the course of a match.
My quick strategy tips:
- Use it in high mana caps
- Excellent in Shades of Gray
- Pair it with buffs like Inspire (e.g., Captain Frankie) for maximum effect
- Don’t underestimate it—even at level 1
In short, Gramel the Hunger teaches one simple lesson:
in Splinterlands, sometimes a loss isn’t due to bad strategy—
but because you’re facing a legend that happens to be very, very hungry.
Talk about Splinterlands,
If you haven't tried out this fantastic game called Splinterlands yet, I invite you to Join.
It's free, but you'll need to invest in a beginning deck or buy gaming cards to gain real assets like cards and tokens.
If you already joined the splinterlands, and are looking for a place to grow. We need YOU. We are a chill, social guild looking for a few more active members! If you think you might be a fit, join us in our Discord
