![2026_SPL_51.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23w2HhgZaaTnUbGmicBK4UDhXUixv8tTfeMiMDJfgKyVBRyUKLStRiCHYGkxbCdk5tVSp.png)

Hello there! @saydie here, playing Splinterlands everyday!

![Thanalorian Blade.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tRxGByxQo4S1MuoupVfaz5nUv31gyoHzocGPfNJdmAnP6NQusrdGo4S7Ho5K9ihDshU.png)

I rarely do that many battle posts these days. While I do enjoy the battles that I play, particularly the ones where I win the battle, it can look quite repetitive to others who were not playing the game. And if I wanted to, I could flood battle posts every day, but that may look very spammy. There were some exceptions, though, like my strategy when playing a new ruleset, when using a new ability, or when I think that a battle is a really good one, to me at the very least, employing counters to some meta line-ups. And such will be what this post is about: overcoming an opponent with an unexpected strategy by countering one of the new Sneak meta.

![CA.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tvY7mZ5F1UqsiqG2X3RRGzAX3ozTT6Hq4tcztUxyzehmwovZ6ty8JR6rmEoqVCkYBQp.png)

### Countering the New Sneak Meta ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23u5ZPRdo4FtRPLKRsz8cD5zCozqnVmHQr9PbRS3saz9QZdrR69P5s3hS9JLM3ozjJodh.png)

One of the newest meta lineups in modern revolves around the Fire Archon **Hanv** that gives the *Double Strike* and *Swiftness* ability as its tactics ability. You think that it makes it quite underwhelming, given that it was only given to one card, but imagine giving it to **Grove Doomblade** with a maximum of 7 damage that can attack backline units with *Sneak* ability and adding a unit with *Pinpoint* ability, such as **Ballista Deadshot** to make sure that sneak attacks have *True Strike*, it can be a recipe for disaster for anyone who was facing off against that team. However, I was able to counter them by using this lineup. ||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/rebellion/Akane_lv4.png|https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/rebellion/Rage_lv4.png|https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/promo/Kelan%20Gaines_lv8.png|https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/soulboundrb/Thunderhoof%20Nomad_lv8.png|https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/soulboundrb/Night%20Reaper_lv6.png|https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/soulboundrb/Thanalorian%20Blade_lv6.png|https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/promo/Grimbardun%20Smith_lv8.png| It was the same old units from the Rebellion Core, Reward, and Promo set, but with an odd placements. It's very unusual that I do not place **Grimbardun Smith** next to **Rage**, so it can be Weapon's Trained and get some magic damage, but what's more odd is that I do place it in the very last position of my team, even though it mainly serves as a tank. However, it is all made to absorb all the damage from **Groove Doomblade**, and placing **Thanalorian Blade** next to it allows for the effect of *Lookout* to work, which resulted in the unit that received *Sneak* attack to get 1 less damage, as well as to reduce the damage from *Ambush* by 50%.

![CA.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tvY7mZ5F1UqsiqG2X3RRGzAX3ozTT6Hq4tcztUxyzehmwovZ6ty8JR6rmEoqVCkYBQp.png)

### Battle Showcase

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tGcNQdr233qVgzeEqBKPfMscrD6rEhw35VgNhnfktLBs1HBBivoU4T2kkVNLUcGN4Bn.png) As you can see, we had the Standard ruleset in this battle, so neither team really gained any advantage or disadvantage from it. I placed my *Ambush* to **Kelan Gaines** and **Rage**, since they can inflict the most damage directly to their target's health as they have magic attacks. Effectively, during the Ambush round, **Kelan Gaines** inflicted 6 damage to **Ashveil Tactician** and **Rage** defeated **Oridum Graybrow** though it got revived due to its *Resurgence* ability. Both received damages as their target, both have *Magic Reflect*, but I think that it was well worth receiving that damage. And notice how **Grove Doomblade** only inflicted 3 damage to **Grimbardun Smith** even though it has a total of 10 damage. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tGbqxavgrkEAsiqnCqAGwkwPybfRzpP3gTpxuc8oUihetSsmFAgAkFzprJcp9vtPjzc.png) And once round 1 has concluded, there is no more **Oridum Graybrow**, **Ashveil Tactician**, and **Groove Doomblade** in the opponent team, while my team is still fully intact. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tRxoXMa6K1NtGjd7PrE4pJBJHcAued9LXypZz2YojZp5xSPQf2qdBoAE334i1WktzYH.png) Then, during round 3, the battle has finally ended with **Firebrand Ranger** being defeated by **Kelan Gaines**. The battle has turned out very short, and the result favors me, but that is only made possible by placing **Grimbardun Smith** at the back and **Thanalorian Blade** next to it. ![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tbMFpEBHxkh5dmvDyjVFMN7C8hhKiTa2rEAFBSxof1Ma4gVwqnVvCRTRegiSyoj8tA7.png)

![CA.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tvY7mZ5F1UqsiqG2X3RRGzAX3ozTT6Hq4tcztUxyzehmwovZ6ty8JR6rmEoqVCkYBQp.png)

### Closing

And that was it for this battle. Well, even with meta cards and line-ups, it is still possible to counter them as long as you know that they were coming, so do not always just rely on playing your strongest cards, and try to read your opponent's possible lineup to build a team that could defeat them. However, always remember that your opponent is also trying to read you, so at the end, it's still about who will be able to read their opponent better, that will win the battle (Unless there was RNG). Thank you, and see you on the next post!

![CA.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tvY7mZ5F1UqsiqG2X3RRGzAX3ozTT6Hq4tcztUxyzehmwovZ6ty8JR6rmEoqVCkYBQp.png) #### Splinterlands Free Assets

![Thessok Hunter.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23u62xDNK1KbabEwKzUP7tPvCipDYLfB8GdNxzXJ1hcPwShx7ChSaq1eU2hLn3QWTugTv.png)

![CA.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tvY7mZ5F1UqsiqG2X3RRGzAX3ozTT6Hq4tcztUxyzehmwovZ6ty8JR6rmEoqVCkYBQp.png)

### Previous Post

| | | | | --- | --- | --- | | [![2026_SPL_48.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23w2h2hEWkR1sqQ685bhByDtZe3jv1k1xg6SEmfTjLkqM9KqBoEojfnnW5ijFhYBrG7kv.png)](https://peakd.com/hive-13323/@saydie/escalation-life-units)| [![2026_SPL_49.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23wByBkWmCMCTJAsmSX1Z2Fnr5EoqpQtWB8yCndLhFzxSoPP4P6ZuYPzuYAyjmsF6fUNb.png)](https://peakd.com/hive-13323/@saydie/escalation-death-units)| [![2026_SPL_50.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tm7UAkAtZjAjZeGqRX1rsDvUs7uN4qzHSfqzMgNe9saw4VwKc1who4FqiEjg1jzdNQV.png)](https://peakd.com/hive-13323/@saydie/escalation-dragon-units)| All the image that I edited here belongs to Splinterlands. If you find the game through my post and register through my **[Referral Link](https://splinterlands.com/register?ref=saydie)**, just comment on any of my posts and I will provide you with some cards and SPS delegations to help you get started to the game. Thank you for reading my post. If you're interested in playing **Splinterlands**, you can join by clicking the images below and following me on Twitter and 3Speak for timely **Splinterlands** updates. | [Game](https://splinterlands.com/register?ref=saydie) | [Twitter](https://twitter.com/crimepoet1) | [3Speak](https://3speak.tv/user/saydie) | | --- | --- | --- | | ![Splinterlands.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/241ZxgnqoRg4nDED1vyrPA7SwCkZNNezfTVAx2kzjjLujgiRn44n5ArGYyHwXi8o5rPVB.png) | ![Twitter_crimepoet1.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23tbtped2MBcEGv7AZhgXq64PFeF7XFzZzQjebEAuLWvxAFgo7C9CXGgQThPhGACXaiu2.png) | ![3Speak_saydie.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23xpTU69iJByXiFiD3bKUFYuVLhjt9j9iQZLt3XMsy6yLDu4Woh3Td2CcEjCPUW41PUiJ.png) | ![Conclave-Arcana_Footer_2.gif](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/saydie/23swi5hxhLGZQqQGhsfmFwCubWAaUNoaMrmvqQ65HgNQ7AzEWycpw9t7WTkQ3A6SDSBzB.gif)

Hello there! **@saydie** here, playing **Splinterlands** everyday!

Hello there! @saydie here, playing Splinterlands everyday!

Got you covered