Hello!

Howdy, all you players!

I am back with one more exciting discussion on one of the best games on the blockchain. Do I need to call out the game? Okay, so it is Splinterlands that we are talking about. The game simply never fails to impress me. Just when you thought you had seen it all, a new unseen comes by. 😊

I have said this before that the game is quite an elaborate discovery waiting to happen. There are so many strategies probable that we may grow old, but the game won’t fail to throw a new possibility. Hmm, that’s the kind of game I enjoy.

Today I thought I would speak about the Melee attack rule, which I think players misread or don’t take full advantage of it. This I know for sure because I face so many players failing to take advantage of the rule.

So, what is the melee can attack from any position rule, and how is it different from regular gameplay?

Well, usually, the melee can attack only in the first position or in few cases from the second position. There are few rare melee monsters which can attack from any position too. Hence, in normal gameplay, players do not choose melee monsters for any other location than first.

But in the melee can attack from any position rule you can choose many or all melee attackers for your team. Why? Because no matter where your melee attacker is positioned, it can still attack the opponent's monsters.

Now, that, in my opinion, is an excellent rule!

Let’s get to know the rule and witness a game, but first, what is Splinterlands? I will explain that part for newbies who would want to explore the fun.

Here we go!

What Game is Splinterlands?

Well, it is one of the earliest blockchain-based collectible games. Though I started playing the game quite late, on hindsight, I should have had got going early. Anyway, no need to despair, there is so many opportunities no matter when you start.

Splinterlands is a digital card game which allows you to collect, trade, battle, rent and even earn on the cards. It is one of the most generous games that I have seen where cards, potions, Dark Energy Crystals (DEC. Cryptocurrency) are given out every day to thousands of players for just playing and winning daily quests. And there are tournaments or guilds that you can join.

I hope that gives an overview of the game. I just love the game, and those interested can go to Splinterlands’ site and join. If you want a link to join, I will leave one at the end of the article which you can use.

Scroll down, quick. 😊

Coming Back to the Melee Can Attack From Any Position Rule

Now, I see players just wasting away this rule. When melee can attack from anywhere, why would you place your best melee attacker in the first position? Why not you ask?

Well, because in the first position your best melee attacker also has to bear the brunt of the opposition’s attacks. That would be cool usually but not when you could have safeguarded your best melee attacker by placing any position starting from second. Just imagine Goblin Mech with an attack value of 4 attacking from the third position. How cool is that? Besides, it may not even face a direct attack. Then, why not?

I hope you see my point. There is one more point which I wanted to emphasize. I think most know it, but not many realize it while playing this rule.

Here I am writing it in capitals. Take a look:

I mean, literally, in comparison to most of the monsters in the magic and ranged-attack types, melee is the most potent. Many players, in fact, hope if they could use melee monsters in more than one position. Typically, you can’t, but under this rule, you can.

So, remember this part. Melee has one of the best attack values and so also health value. Use them in all positions under this rule, and you won’t regret it.

Show Me The Game

Like Captain America would say – Nuff said - now show me the game. The proof of the pudding is to see the rule in play and how effectively, I was able to use the rule. Otherwise, it was just a decent lecture starting with what should be done and ending with not showing what should be done. 😊

But we won’t do that.

Let’s look at a game where this rule is in play.

Here’s the Game!

So, here’s a game that I played under the rule in discussion, and I chose the Life Splinter to make the most of it. For one, Life Splinter provides additional armour which works perfectly well for the game. And then, of course, we have the super heavy-hitting melee monster.

I did not have the choice of many splinters during this game and hence had to settle for Life. But I ensured that I made the most of it.

So, how did the game go?

Here’s how.

Screen 1: The Melee Gangs Face-Off

And this is how my monsters and the opponent’s monsters appear.

Let me start with mine.

POSITION 1: ELVEN DEFENDER

The choice is obvious. I wanted a monster with good attack value (2), good health (8) and which has an armour (3. Actually, this is a bonus). So, my first position is secure, and it keeps the other melee monsters from second position safe from most attack. And yet, all my melee monsters from position two can quickly attack the opponents.

POSITION 2: COCATRICE

To be honest, this was a filler to equal the mana cap. That said, the Cocatrice is a great monster to have on your side at such a low mana cost. So, I am not too unhappy with that choice.

POSITION 3: GOBLIN MECH

Now, here is our real hero being defended on each side by strong monsters. You see that a monster with an attack value of 4 will be attacking from the third position. The best part is that it would not be counter-attacked much. Isn’t that a cool positioning? You bet.

POSITION 4: WAR CHAANG

This is another cool monster to have in your lineup. Although, I am still trying to figure out if it will act like a ranged-attack monster or melee from that position. But then it has an excellent health value of 8 to survive attacks on itself. Again a good monster to have in the team.

POSITION 5: MANTOID

This is the only ranged attack monster in my lineup. There is no other magic or ranged attacker. Why? Because, I did not have much more melee with good attack value and health value, and hence I selected the Mantoid.

Mind you, the Mantoid also has a great attack value of 2, but not as high on health as most of our melee monsters.

POSITION 6: SHIELDBEARER

Now, whenever I use Life Splinter, I do select the Shieldbearer, as it attracts all the attacks from the opponents. That leaves my monster in the first position only to handle the opponent’s first position.

However, when the melee from any position rule is on, we not only get the Shieldbearer to attract most of the attacks from the last position, but it can also attack back with a value of 2. That is a real advantage, in my opinion.

ENEMY LINEUP

You would instantly notice my opponent does everything that I said is wrong. Take a look at all those ranged monsters. Most of them have an attack value of 1. So, it may not be the best choice. And all of them have low health; again, we could have chosen better.

The only right choice is the Unicorn Mustang in the last position. Barring that, everything else could have been better. Now, it could be possible that the opponent does not have melee attack cards; in that case, we will have to give him or her a softer appraisal. 😊

Also, notice that I have packed my lineup with common monsters to get as many melee monsters as possible. Again, for their better attack value or higher health value.

The Battle Begins

The battle begins with my Shieldbearer taking all the attacks from the opponents. Just take a look at how much the card has sustained.

Here is where the second mistake of the opponent is visible. One of their best melee monsters, the Nectar Queen was placed in the first position, and thus, got severely attacked. While my Shieldbearer is down to the health value of 1, the nectar queen is gone.

And within another couple of attacks rounds, this is what we witnessed.

That’s further proof that ranged attacks would be lost soon because of their low health value. So, when you get the chance, fill your lineup with only melee. That’s if it is possible.

The End is Near

Well, the inevitable happened. The opponent lost. If you understood and played the rule well, it is unavoidable that you will end up on the winning side.

Here is how it looked at the fag end of the game.

And the great Mustang could not save it for the opponent. On the contrary, the only loss that I suffered was the Shieldbearer. Even my Cocatrice was safe, on a lighter note. 😊

And That’s What You Do

Let’s summarize the points that you got to remember.

1. During Melee rule, ensure that you select most melee monsters with high attack value and high health
2. Ensure that the biggest and baddest melee monster is in any other position than the first. That way, it can attack and yet not be attacked back
3. Try to pack as many melee attackers as possible, as most would be more potent than a ranged or a magic monster

So, that’s what you do. And while you are at it, enjoy the game.

Take care, and we will be crossing paths soon! 😊

Want to Join Splinterlands?

You can click below and follow the link. All the best!

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Image Courtesy: Splinterlands