══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Card Highlights #18: Dark Ha'on

────────────◈◉◈────────────
I was never a soldier. I was too valuable for that. Information is power, and I specialized in finding it.
by Sophonax from "His Dark Materials" by Phili Pullman
────────────◈◉◈────────────

I'm really loving this no limit level for each league. It gives me more flexibility to test cards to their maximum capacity. The only problem is that it is quite expensive to do so renting max level units and summoners so I have to still play lower level cards and just try and test the max levels once in a while.

This doesn't stop me from discovering new cards and strategies to better my game. In this case, we're going to take note of a Death unit that's often ignored. Is Dark Ha'on really weak or is just undervalued? Let's check it out.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Lore

Scholars of Khymeria have studied the shapeshifting, mystical beasts known as Ha'on extenseively since their appearance ten years ago. At an early age, each Ha'on chooses a single power form, into which they can transform. Their time is then divided into their original humanoid form and the power form, which takes a considerable amount of energy to maintain for long periods of time.

The Human forms of Ha'on are recognizable by their frightening single-colored eyes, a trait with which they are endowed when they realize their full shapeshifting potential. The Dark Ha'on is one of the strongest Ha'on, taking the power form of a large flying cat.

---

^{For full lore of this card, visit this website:
https://next.splinterlands.com/card-detail/144/regular/4/?tab=lore}

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Buy and Rental Costs

The legendaries are at a very low price now. You can get a copy for less than $7 each. A level 3 costs $33 while a max level costs $63. This is if you don't want to calculate if per piece is cheaper (which, sometimes, it is.).

---

A max level Dark Ha'on rental costs around 27 DEC per day. You don't need this though. To me, it's more efficient to rent a level 3 for 12.50 DEC per day since you really only need the defensive aspects of Dark Ha'on. While Magic Reflect is good, it doesn't really provide a strong damage or protection to the unit.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Card Stats

Dark Ha'on is strong from stats to abilities. The only issue I have with him is that his abilities are in pure defense. He also doesn't have big damage like The Kraken. You need to consider these when making a team since if you don't, your enemies will surely overpower your team with strong offense.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Card Effects

Taunt

All enemy Units target this Unit (if they are able to)

Probably the strongest ability in the game. It counters a lot of other abilities.

---

Flying

Has an increased chance of evading Melee or Ranged attacks from Units who do not have the Flying ability

Flying is Dark Ha'on's defensive ability against melee and range attacks. Instead of having Shield, he skillfully dodges these attacks instead and the magic attacks that he cannot dodge, another ability would take care of it.

---

Scavenger

Gains 1 max health each time any Unit dies

To me, this is the ability that made him strong. Dark Ha'on already has high health and to have more due to Scavenger is impressive.

---

Void	Reduced damage from Magic attacks

Good counter against magic based team. Even better since he has Taunt that redirects the magic attacks to him.

---

Magic Reflect

When hit with Magic damage, does reduced Magic damage back to the attacker

Another ability that is good against magic attacks. The bad part is that since there's Void, the damage will be reduced and your enemies would also take less return damage.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths
Dark Ha'on's strengths are his stats and abilities. A tank that has high health is really good especially if it has Taunt. He also has multiple defensive abilities that takes care of all attack types like Flying for melee and range attacks, and Void and Magic Reflect for magic attacks making him a really strong unit to be your front.

---

Weaknesses
Death element lacks Tank Heal. This makes it a bit hard to sustain Dark Ha'on as a tank. To solve this problem of sustain, you may need to look at higher leveled neutrals and summoners.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

When To Use

Earthquake

Non-flying Units take 2 Melee damage at the end of each round.

Since Dark Ha'on can fly, he won't be affected by any damage brought by Earthquake rule set. In addition to this, you can also add bait units like Venari Marksrat to activate their Martyr or simply add a lot of low mana units to act as food for the Scavenger increasing Dark Ha'on's health.

---

Dark Ha'on doesn't rely on armor but high health. While Blood and Sunder still affects you, it's not going to affect your Dark Ha'on a lot.

---

Born Again

All Units have the Rebirth ability.

While having Rebirth does not really help you since if Dark Ha'on dies, it will breach your defenses, this would still help a lot due to your Scavenger.<br><br> With Rebirths, each time the enemies and your units dies, it adds a stack on Scavenger increasing its health.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

When Not To Use

Briar Patch

All units receive the Thorns ability at the start of the battle. Enemy units that use melee attacks receive damage back.

Dark Ha'on has melee attacks and will get damage everytime he hits an enemy.

---

Up to Eleven

All units have the Amplify ability.

Having Amplify on your enemies will increase the damage if they use units with Thorns. Since Dark Ha'on doesn't have high damage, this will damage you more resulting in your tank getting destroyed easier.

---

Ferocity

All units have the Fury ability.

This rule set is the enemy of every unit with Taunt. You get double damage for each attacks to units with Taunt giving any unit with Taunt a huge disadvantage.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Battle Sample

^{https://splinterlands.com?p=battle&id=sl_03e734e61b619ed94d82cd2a7158e221&ref=kpgamingch}

The combination of Dark Ha'on's anti magic abilities and Death Elemental's Silence made this game a lot easier. Not only it countered Obsidian's abilitiy, it also made 3 of the enemies practically useless this game.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Final Thoughts

Having Taunt unit in every team is strong. They are even stronger when they have defensive abilities to add. As long as this unit live, you can make sure that your team will have an easier life.

There are only a few units that can one-man break the whole enemy team. Unfortunately, Dark Ha'on isn't one of them. This means that he would need a proper team to support him from defense to damage. Getting this support is important if you want to get consecutive wins.

Not every rule set needs to be abused. While they are very strong if you can take advantage of it, some can be ignored as long as you can make up a better team without focusing on it.

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

If you have suggested combos or questions, feel free to comment it down below.

If you are planning to play and is inspired by my post, please consider using my referral link: https://splinterlands.com?ref=kpgamingch

I do not own any of the photos in this post. All credits goes to:

• Splinterlands
• Peakmonsters
• Canva
• Giphy