Whenever I play a strategy video game, I instinctively adopt a defensive stance, safeguarding my units from enemy onslaughts. I'm fond of tactics like sniping, bombardment, and setting traps for marching armies. I enjoy disrupting supply lines and orchestrating guerrilla-style ambushes. So, it's fair to say that the Fire and Regret modification in Splinterlands isn't quite my cup of tea. Or my chalice of blood to respect the ambiance of this realm. Moreover, with the addition of the Fog of War hovering over the battlefield, I had to adapt my usual strategy to suit this battle.
With ranged units off the table, a battle mage can anticipate opposing a pack of melee monsters, potentially accompanied by one to three magic strikers, depending on the mana cap. Opting for Kelya Frendul as the leader of your pack appears as one of the best choices due to the +1 speed and armor buffs. Additionally, the Water Splinter offers an optimal tank for such circumstances.
However, rather than placing the tank in the forefront, I reserved the first position for a martyr. Veneri Marksrat must be already used to taking on this role, as I often sacrifice it in this manner.
The tank of my choice, arguably the best under these circumstances, was Djinn Oshannus. Buffed by the summoner, this creature can evade many melee attacks, and its Void ability makes the djinn magic-resistant.
Then I needed a cheap healer to back Oshannus, and Merdaali Guardian was born to fit this shoe.
At first glance, drafting Alfredo might seem unwise. However, this Gladiator offers impressive stats for its low mana cost. Unlike other ranged monsters, Alfredo could also repair his armor during battle thanks to Bloodlust.
My opponent relied on the same summoner but assembled an entirely melee-centric pack with Deeplurker as an unconventional tank. This monster's strength lies in opportunism. Placing Flying Squid as a secondary striker was not the best move either. If I were to draft these two monsters, I would likely reverse their order. The final monster in my opponent's lineup suggests a disregard for the Fog of War, instead preparing to face several sneaky adversaries – Cruel Sethropod is a weak defensive monster and couldn't attack in the early rounds.
The battle unfolded predictably; my martyr was eliminated, buffing the stalwart monster in my pack and rendering it virtually invincible due to the circumstances and healing support. Even Alfredo survived, buffing himself several times over the battle. The result? A resounding victory for my army.
