⚔️ The Arena Vanguard Is Coming to Splinterlands

Today, July 21, a new limited-run card set enters the arena.

We are excited to introduce The Arena Vanguard, a community-driven release inspired by the streamers, creators, and legendary community members who continue to bring energy, ideas, and personality to Splinterlands.

The Arena Vanguard features eight unique cards:

• Seven Rare Units
• One Legendary Dragon Archon

Rather than arriving through a traditional pack release, these cards will be distributed throughout the Splinterlands ecosystem through streamer giveaways, community initiatives, Lux’s Favor Wheel Spin, and the Spark Shop.

The cards may be limited, but players will have several ways to chase them. 🔥

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🌟 Built Around the Community

The Arena Vanguard places the people behind the cards at the center of the release.

Each character draws inspiration from members of the Splinterlands community, transforming their names, personalities, and contributions into permanent pieces of Praetorian history.

Participating streamers and content creators will help introduce the set through broadcasts, card giveaways, community events, and original content. Players will be able to follow their channels, learn more about the characters they inspired, and take part in opportunities to collect the cards.

🎥 Featured Arena Vanguard Streamers and Content Creators

• iBlast Arcade — Follow on Twitch
• OFG Plays — Follow on Twitch
• Ehmaywuntee — Follow on Twitch
• Mickvir — Follow on Twitch
• Buns Bags and Caps — Follow on Twitch
• KING ARMINIUS — Follow on X or on Youtube

Additional creators and community activations may be announced as the rollout continues.

Interested in participating as a streamer? Join the Arena Vanguard Discord and ask for iBlast.

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🛡️ Meet The Arena Vanguard

The Arena Vanguard brings together warriors, wanderers, guardians, and dragons whose stories span the wildest reaches of Praetoria.

Their paths may be different, but each has earned a place in the arena. ⚔️

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🔥 Jolius Blast

Splinter: Fire
Rarity: Rare
Race: Djinn
Mana: 13

Inspired by iBlast

Long before the Trinity War, Jolius Blast studied the hidden frequencies flowing through flame, stone, magic, and soul. His search led him to the fractured Resonant Blade, an ancient weapon forged when the Splinters still sought harmony.

When dimensional rifts pulled the blade between realms, Jolius followed. The energies fused Djinn and sword together, awakening a weapon capable of cutting through armor, magic, and reality itself.

Now known as the Infernal Resonance, Jolius channels harmonic fire through devastating melee strikes as he seeks to repair the fractures left behind by the war.

He does not seek conquest.

He seeks equilibrium.

“Fire does not destroy the world. Imbalance does.”

Abilities:

• Level 1: Void — 50% less damage, rounded up, from magic attacks, or 0 damage from magic attacks of 1 power.
• Level 2: Enrage — +50% melee power and speed, rounded up, if not at full health.
• Level 4: Retaliate — 50% chance to counterattack successful melee attacks, even if defeated.

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🌊 Ratbound Corsair

Splinter: Water
Rarity: Rare
Race: Tideborn
Mana: 9

Inspired by Mickvir

Mickvir was a starving orphan when corsairs discovered him beside a shattered merchant vessel. Forced into a brutal life at sea, he found his only companions among the rats living within the ship’s cargo hold.

As Mickvir grew into a deadly marksman and trident-wielding corsair, the rats continued to follow him with unnatural loyalty.

Then he vanished beneath the black waters near Mortis.

Months later, Mickvir returned transformed, his lower body twisted into that of a sea serpent and abyssal magic burning within his eyes. No one knows what found him beneath those cursed waters or what price he paid to survive.

When the Ratbound Corsair arrives, the rats gather first.

Then the tides begin to rise.

Abilities:

• Level 1: Close Range — Can use ranged attacks from the first position.
• Level 4: Blast — Deals an additional 50% damage, rounded up, to units adjacent to the target.

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🌿 Khan Feywest

Splinter: Earth
Rarity: Rare
Race: Fey
Mana: 11

Inspired by EhmayWuntee

Khan Feywest is a remarkable Fey creature of striking contrast. His upper body is that of a brilliant and witty chimpanzee that transitions into the powerful hindquarters of a magical unicorn.

Khan does not fight with his fists, he is a master of pure sorcery. Perched on his powerful hind legs and wielding an ancient crystal staff, he summons volatile blasts of shimmering Fey energy that devastate his foes from afar. These arcane projectiles crackle with an iridescent hue and leave a trail of stardust in their wake.

It is well known that he shares a sacred lineage with the legendary Kron the Undrying. This eternal kinfolk bond grants Khan similar resilience on the battlefield to help withstand countless enemies who dare test him. When overwhelmed by enemy forces, his pearlescent coat glows with a protective aura, absorbing devasting blows. For any adversary foolish enough to challenge him, they soon realize they are not just fighting a sorcerer, they are trying to tear down a living bastion of the Fey bloodline.

Abilities:

• Level 1: Snipe — Magic and ranged attacks target the first non-melee enemy unit behind the first position.
• Level 2: Divine Shield — Ignores all damage once, after which the Divine Shield is destroyed.
• Level 4: Slow — -1 speed to all enemy units.

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⚔️ King Erminaz Twincleaver

Splinter: Life
Rarity: Rare
Race: Orc
Mana: 10

Inspired by King-Arminius

King Erminaz Twincleaver was cast out by his own clan after surviving a disastrous campaign that destroyed most of his warband.

His enemies expected exile to kill him.

Instead, it forged him.

Erminaz survived the wild frontiers and gathered broken warriors and outcasts beneath his banner. From shattered weapons collected across forgotten battlefields, he forged twin greatblades that moved with terrifying speed.

When he returned to Orc territory, he did not come seeking revenge.

He came seeking rulership.

One by one, the chieftains who cast him out fell beneath the relentless rhythm of his blades.

Erminaz did not inherit his legend.

He built it.

“The only mercy I offer lies between the first strike and the second.”

Abilities:

• Level 1: Sneak — Targets the enemy unit in the last position.
• Level 2: Dodge — +25% chance to evade physical attacks.
• Level 4: Double Strike — Attacks twice each turn.

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💀 Gorm the Vengeful

Splinter: Death
Rarity: Rare
Race: Human
Mana: 10

Inspired by OFG - Our Faded Glory

Remy “Chaos” Gorm was raised in Xaing Pho, where his father taught him to survive the corrupted forests of Praetoria’s Central Fire region.

Then the Chaos Empire destroyed everything he knew.

After watching his village burn and his father fall, Gorm wandered Praetoria consumed by hatred. Near the Kingdom of Grimbardun, rune-carvers forged that fury into Thurisaz, a massive execution axe powered by rage itself.

When Gorm enters battle, violet runes ignite across his armor and the berserker within him is unleashed.

The Dire Bear skulls mounted on his shoulders are trophies from his exile. Few warriors survive an encounter with one.

Gorm wears two.

Even Chaos now fears what it created.

Abilities:

• Level 1: Opportunity — Targets the enemy unit with the least health.
• Level 2: Magic Reflect — Returns 50% of damage to attacker (rounded up) when hit by a magic attack.
• Level 4: Affliction — 50% chance to apply Afflicted after a successful attack. Afflicted units cannot be healed.

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👁️ Buns the Unseen

Splinter: Neutral
Rarity: Rare
Race: Human
Mana: 11

Inspired by Buns Bags and Caps

Buns the Unseen travels roads hidden from ordinary eyes.

He appears wherever the boundaries between realms begin to thin, carrying maps to places no scholar can find and wearing relic-forged armor covered in ancient emerald runes.

Though he serves no great army, veterans tell of lost battles that turned moments after his arrival. Sorcerers speak of magic fading in his presence, while enemies describe unseen forces turning their attacks aside.

A guardian spirit follows behind him, felt more often than seen.

Some believe Buns searches for forgotten power. Others believe he protects secrets never meant to be uncovered.

He does not wander without purpose.

He follows a path only he can see.

Abilities:

• Level 1: Reach — Can use melee attacks from the second position.
• Level 2: Void Armor — Magic damage hits armor before health.
• Level 4: Silence — -1 magic power to all enemy units.

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🐉 Vaelok

Splinter: Dragon
Rarity: Rare
Race: Drakoshan
Mana: 11

Inspired by legendary community member ANK, Vaelok was hatched beside Aurendrak beneath the molten skies of Draykh-Nahl.

While his brother devoted himself to preserving history, Vaelok embraced the certainty that all things must decay.

Through forbidden tarnish-runes and corrosive acid magic, he created Tarnish-Bleed, a sorcery capable of stripping relics of their enchantments, memories, and legends.

Vaelok seeks neither treasure nor rulership. He seeks the unraveling of legacy itself, proving that no kingdom, artifact, or dragon can escape time.

To Aurendrak, history is civilization’s greatest treasure.

To Vaelok, it is a fragile illusion destined to disappear.

Abilities:

• Level 1: Flying — +25% chance to evade physical attacks. No effect if the attacker also has Flying. Immune to Earthquake.
• Level 2: Demoralize — -1 melee power to all enemy units.
• Level 4: Life Leech — Increases health and max health by 50% of damage dealt (rounded up).

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✨ Aurendrak Goldwarden

Splinter: Dragon
Rarity: Legendary
Type: Archon
Race: Drakoshan
Mana: 8

Inspired by legendary community member GoldMatters

Aurendrak Goldwarden is the defining centerpiece of The Arena Vanguard.

Born with radiant golden scales, Aurendrak spent his youth exploring the royal vaults of Draykh-Nahl, fascinated not by their wealth, but by the histories preserved within them.

Over centuries, he mastered Gold Infusion, binding dragonfire, enchanted gold, and ancient runes into living battle cards. In combat, these golden cards surround him like a celestial storm, shielding him and bringing the power of forgotten legends back to life.

Aurendrak reigns not as a conqueror, but as the eternal Goldwarden:

Guardian of rarity.
Keeper of stories.
Protector of the Splinterlands’ golden legacy.

Tactics: Grants the ability to apply Flank to one unit in the first position or Void to any unit.

• Flank — At the beginning of the battle, if a unit is in the first position with Flank, the unit in the second position gains Reach. (Reach — Can use melee attacks from the second position.)
• Void — 50% less damage (rounded up) from magic attacks or 0 damage from magic attacks of 1 power.

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🎁 How to Collect The Arena Vanguard

The Arena Vanguard cards will be distributed through several community-facing and in-game channels rather than through one traditional release.

Depending on the card, players may be able to obtain them through:

• Streamer giveaways
• Content creator promotions
• Community influencer distribution
• LUX’S FAVOR Wheel Spin
• The Spark Shop
• Tournaments and special Arena Vanguard events

Below is the current planned distribution structure.

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🤝 Community and Streamer Distribution

📦 Streamer Card Packages

The current distribution model is designed to support up to 50 participating streamers.

Each participating streamer package is planned to include:

• 10 copies of each of the seven Rare Arena Vanguard Units
• 70 total cards

Across 50 streamers, that would distribute:

• 500 copies of each Rare Unit
• 3,500 total cards

The Legendary Dragon Archon, Aurendrak, will follow its own limited distribution path and is not included in the standard 70-card streamer package.

Should fewer than 50 streamers participate, the remaining cards may be redistributed among participating creators or used through additional community initiatives.

This model is specific to The Arena Vanguard and may change for future community releases.

🌍 Creator and Community Distribution

The community members connected to the individual cards will have flexibility over how their personal allocations are distributed under the agreed terms.

They may choose to distribute cards directly, collaborate with streamers, support community events, or delegate distribution assistance to the Arena Vanguard team.

A centralized allocation will also support approved streamer giveaways and other community-facing promotions.

🃏 Community and Influencer Allocation

For each of the six Rare Units outside the Dragon Wheel allocation, the current planned structure includes:

• 2,500 Regular Foil copies
• 500 copies reserved for VIP streamers
• 2,000 copies distributed by the designated community influencer

Each community member will be able to use their allocation through content, giveaways, tournaments, streams, events, and other community initiatives.

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🎮 In-Game Distribution

🐲 Dragon Card Distribution

The Dragon portion of The Arena Vanguard includes:

• Vaelok, a Rare Dragon Unit
• Aurendrak, a Legendary Dragon Archon

🎡 Wheel Rewards

• 2,500 Regular Foil copies of Vaelok

• 500 Regular Foil copies of Aurendrak

• Card Jackpot Odds: 3%

These cards will be placed into a Wheel reward slot and remain available until their allocated supplies are exhausted.

🌍 Community Distribution

An additional 2,500 Regular Foil copies of Vaelok are planned for community distribution.

From this allocation:

• 500 copies will be reserved for VIP streamer giveaways
• 2,000 copies will be distributed through the designated community influencer

⚡ Spark Shop

The current plan is to make available:

• 250 Regular Foil copies of each card
• 30,000 Sparks per card

These cards will remain available until sold out or removed from the shop.

Spark Shop implementation is still in development and remains subject to final approval.

✨ Premium Foil Distribution

All Gold Foil, Black Foil, Gold Foil Arcane, and Black Foil Arcane cards will be pre-minted according to the final mint populations for each rarity and foil type.

The community member connected to each card will receive a special Black Foil copy:

• Rare cards: Black Foil mint #50 of 50
• Legendary card: Black Foil mint #10 of 10

All remaining premium foils will be sent to the sl-giveaways account and distributed through:

• Tournaments
• Community events
• Livestreams
• Creator activations
• Promotional giveaways

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🔥 More Than a Card Set

The Arena Vanguard is more than a collection of new cards.

It gives community members a permanent place within the world of Splinterlands.

It gives streamers and creators meaningful ways to reward their audiences.

It gives players several paths to chase limited-run cards.

Most importantly, it brings the community directly into the release itself. 🌟

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🚪 The Arena Is Opening

The Arena Vanguard is coming to Splinterlands.

More information will be shared as the rollout continues, including final availability, giveaway schedules, community activations, and launch timing.

Follow the featured creators, tune into their content, and prepare to meet The Arena Vanguard.

The Chase is Real ⚔️🔥

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Disclaimer

The Arena Vanguard cards are Foundation Edition cards and will appear as part of the “Extra” collection. The cards are being released as outlined, but specific distribution methods, quantities, and implementation details may change as needed.