![Building Deck.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/Eou21AE5PsY4fknBoMDN7NRvEiBHfvWix2ThmSBxDxKBPeEj9hQtPw4EPq7BurZi6Zx.jpg) Hey everyone, now Escalation has launched it's quite obvious some cards are in the category of 'need to have' to stay competitive, especially with a lot of high mana battles currently in ranked play. The 13 and 14 mana new cards are very powerful even at level one and although I only have a couple of Dollars to spend at the moment I am making a start at building my Escalation deck so I might as well do this 'live' while making this post because it can be valuable for newer players to see what I am looking at and where I am buying, so... let's go! So, as always I use [MonsterMarket](https://monstermarket.io/) to scout the market, I like the layout and it's easy to see what's available. While it's a good marketplace and a much better option than buying yours cards in game because you get the market fee partially refunded, this is not where I buy though - more on that later.... ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/48GhSEkPThAnyatG9tuYAMo6KLm42rSQJdsuVFWSj8AzcWZamLU2GUwNrf94sVKqDh.png) So, when ticking the 'Escalation' box on the left, I can easily see the cheapest cards. To start with I am interested in the high mana common cards, the Godsnot Sorceress is first in the list so let's start with that one. 🙂 ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/Eo8KZ457icu4KwDq5wPNFgvVyKbhYt4heJyo1yQ35oargJUPBcUc51Bb3YT3pbfHb7p.png) When I look at the stats, the difference between a level 1 and a level 3 card isn't that big, it gives +1 HP and +1 armor for 14x the price, since I only have a limited budget (about $8...) I have to be picky, so for now I just want a level 1. I'll write this one down. Because I already bought three packs I need to look at what cards I already own so I'm not buying doubles, on another tab I have [PeakMonsters](https://peakmonsters.com/@nozem/cards) open to I can easily compare, when you want to see your own cards, just replace my in game name (nozem) with your own in the URL. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23t773RVKHn2EotL5Dwjf7sYP6LAtKtYaiGsznhLqCRmqJ4sg6GgEyNqb9wYt37viuVTL.png) Next on the list is Magnificent Mollusk, the Death archer. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tbHF1qaSo9ST2UXfM7JQ5C2eVLNEKkpWU9F3neXUGgrzVDQbruajszFX1dkDPxceJ68.png) Looking at the stats, when I have more funds I want to have the Demoralize at some point but with only a couple of $ to spend, for now I think it's important to upgrade the speed, since it's an archer. With 1 extra speed it's chance to miss is smaller, so a level 2 (5 cards) is good for now - added to my list! Forlont Geomant is next, the Earth magic caster. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tRtVmW355ZVjSGpEwrZVjD3pDFfScduV2E8qfgF7UzeWNsKvy4k62WMDmpZVNQe333z.png) Units like this will be generally put in the back so upgrading it beyond level 1 isn't that important so again, a level 1 is good for now. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tbGsnoqHF1wHVhJRSvoXUmxJrqC8iuki985sz7vhZioY6bK25mVMDQtBCNgbEceGeQq.png) The Blue Worm Travesty is the first one that IS interesting to level up, I like that *Slow* ability. At some point I want to extra damage at level 5 as well but for now a level 3 will do. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tbMYDnro64XKiXrrMvZjwiSi4TW6paE9561HAVFMVsE9uiFSPCBfDSGqMUekErKa3QD.png) I always check the difference between Regular and Gold Foil as well because sometimes you can get the Gold Foil for only a couple of cents more. Gold Foils gives you a 10% boost in rewards when you win PER CARD. A Regular Foil will cost me just over 60 cents. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tRrW6eUS2GGEhFMrpnNCuEGP47RSvaNTHYAvvRc8KLx64YkDFnaexLYRx4oVmc5ptCG.png) Well this is a perfectly good example! for only 10 cents extra, I can get the Gold Foil! A Gold Foil copy is instantly level 3 for a common card. I have quickly bought this card since it was 4 cents cheaper as the next one so it doesn't get snatched by someone else while making this post. The next Giant on the list is Ballista Deadshot and because this is in the category 'Glass Cannons' I do think it's good to upgrade with a +1 HP because it's less likely to be targeted by an enemy *Opportunity* monster. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tkhmNbjhC9SSSspJmjUxcLV96uYob9nJcW76J3BtspnK2EsB88knuNrHCsbDQnoGido.png) That *Dispel* combines with *Scattershot* is also pretty nice, since it removes buffs the enemy team has. For example when this hits a unit that receives +1 magic from the Archon, that extra damage is removed. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/EoCbMms5MkgRNdy7coD4jFX47Gb3qedh9oNMwxkGuHmo8a7rHpbK2UpdmXDHXN16hAa.png) For a Regular Foil level 3, it will cost me just over 74 cents but again let's check the Gold Foil. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tRrRpwbhSDanqvXvzAvtvMDgDHB7sg2mfq9fWGS7jZudoMkdfFBbbX8yRLv7TTMC9CC.png) Exactly this happened when Rebellion launched, Gold Foils sometimes were the same price, or cheaper than the Regular Foils, pretty crazy so always check this! Again I bought this card immediately, but I will show you the buying process of the other cards later in this post. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tGVGJ1cGEdpF3kqLNx4rPRwxMmQ9R88m7ErP9XANLwQfKXZgfhzhDZE4mK2cFbxWqhm.png) This is a pretty expensive common card with 11 cents per copy, yet I do want the level 3. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tvArkqAZdnJKoEPnEJW7V5W5vB2ipqq6sbVhDMb9uxpx2ZV4yFcZRWLyiyQiXvfm4CV.png) It will cost me just over $1.70 in Regular Foil. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tRrW6iuLoHwWkp7VbUdipkBEY8f5cQhwiYs8MpTKYxKFZ37i9nYk2JyVRMBtQdNdVRd.png) The Gold Foil is about 43 cents more, for a Neutral card that can be played almost in every battle this isn't bad I think. So I've bought it already. So, with all the Giants now dealt with... I still have 5.5k DEC left but it doesn't have to be spent today, browsing through all other cards, the only one I find interesting for now is the Epic Dragon card Obsidian Dreadcore, it's over a dollar per card so I am just buying 1 copy for now. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23xKrU61t9UMiyCE1iCF3ou7ea56zykUtdgFcgRsU44Yto3YqMRJkAFmozjsQczrfogDN.png) Let's make the shopping list! I buy my cards on [Elmo Marketplace](https://elmo-burns.com/market) because they give a slightly higher fee rebate than monstermarket does, plus they burn SPS with any profits they make so that's good for the long term value for SPS. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23wM4wAtkmGXq4kQxH9FTjo5QKcz2yjiSQddjr6Jbsdphzz9eCo9Y1rUW22xMA9aBVVU7.png) When filling my cart, the site displayed the Gold Foil and Regular Foil version for Magnificent Mollusk together so it was easy to compare and because I had some funds left, I changed my mind and went for the Gold Foil anyway since it was only 56 cents. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/nozem01/23tGa1PVrp7eLyTvmMxDuwPf4pLvh74EMQ6sBqBjKxmus8MHYmf4DMywFr9r7dGLkmsmu.png) Because I have alt accounts that are played by bots I bought multiple copies for the cheap Giants so I can send them to my alts. So, just over 7k DEC spent and I made a start in building my Escalation deck. In my previous post I talked about it's better to wait a couple of weeks so more packs are opened and the card prices will probably drop some more so that's why for now I'm only buying the need to have cards. Later I will see what's on my wish list when it's more affordable if that ever happens. 🙂 ![splinterlands banner.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmagiEh4dRsLX9ZHCSzcach2kTjRd6FGc8HgRaGZRcosAf/splinterlands%20banner.png) Thank you for reading!!! If you haven't made an account already, please consider using my [referral link](https://splinterlands.com?ref=nozem01) to sign up, let me know if you have done so and I can help you with any questions you have and personally guide you. Have a great day! ![splinterlands banner1.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmSqdyFkiNYaGrPfycJqPhfWZv8FixAPR8MpruQkMFrRo4/splinterlands%20banner1.png)

Ether = Narkotika?!