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Card Highlights #32: Ava the Undaunted

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The ranger's bow is mightier than the swords of all the armies of old.
by Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan.
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While I was grinding for some soulbound cards, I encountered this one which surprised me because I've never seen anyone use this in any games. I thought this Earth Element range unit is a new card. To my surprise, it wasn't. I made a blog for this card not only to introduce her to others but also so that I would have a reason to test her and find out all her strength, weakness and everything in between.

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Lore

Ava Vicario was in her fifties, her children grown and her husband gone, when she traveled to Praetoria, seeking adventure and a new start to her life. She settled in the hamlet of Hogsfeet, which was nothing like the sprawling capital she came from, but it was close to nature and had a tight-knit community, and she loved it.
She learned skills she had never needed in the big city: how to forage, how to farm, and how to make do with only what nature provided. Praetoria was a wild and mostly unsettled land, so she also learned to defend herself. She had a natural talent for the crossbow and quickly became known as the best markswoman in town.

^{For full lore of this card, visit this website:
https://next.splinterlands.com/card-detail/510/regular/10?tab=lore}

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Buy and Rental Costs

This card is soulbound.

It is unable to be transferred, rented/delegated, burned, bought or sold until the cards go out of print. It is tied to the account that has earned it through gameplay/chests. Gladiator cards are also Soulbound.

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Card Stats

Ava the Undaunted is decent at best. She's not too strong yet not too weak. Her abilities makes sense but she's quite difficult to use, in my opinion.

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Card Effects

^{Weapons Training}

Adjacent Units gain half this Unit's attack if they have no attacks themselves

One of the best abilities in the game. The more Weapons Training unit you have, the more you can unlock the potential of your deck.

^Shatter

Target's armor is destroyed when hit by an attack from Units with Shatter

This is an okay ability. I don't prefer it because of the weird interaction where units with Shatter will hit first reducing the enemy's armor before applying the Shatter effect making that attack basically useless since you would remove all the armor anyways.

^{Close Range}

Can perform ranged attacks from the first position

This one is a bit tricky. It's okay, I guess but it would be better if you can also transfer the Close Range ability to your units affected by Weapons Training. Unfortunately, only the attack is transferred, not abilities.

^Oppress

Does double damage when attacking an enemy that has no attacks

This is a good addition to kind of counter other Weapons Training. It's the not the best since her damage is decent at best but it's still a good add on.

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths
Since Ava the Undaunted already has 3 range damage at level 1, Weapons Training gives instant 3 range attack as well each like Zyriel. Combine her with other Weapons Training with different attack like Rage to maximize your damage for low mana.

Weaknesses
Since Ava the Unadunted is a range unit, she gives range attack for Weapons Training as well. Range are the weakest type of attack since they doesn't pass through armor and cannot attack when in front. This means you need a really good tank or else your range units will just stand there when they get to the front.

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When To Use

^{Fog of War}

Units lose the Sneak and Snipe abilities.

Since there is no Sneak, Snipe or Opportunity allowed in this rule set, you can have a safer placement for your range units.

^{Target Practice}

All Ranged and Magic attack Units have the Snipe ability.

Units that receive range attack from Weapons Training can use Snipe during their attacks. Keep in mind that your units receiving Weapons Training and other range units like Ava the Undaunted is also target for enemy's Snipe attacks.

^{Weak Magic}

Magic attacks hit Armor before reducing Health.

Range units attack armor whether there is Weak Magic rule set or not. Ava the Undaunted's Shatter is good in this rule set to remove any excess armor from her targets.

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When Not To Use

^{Going the Distance}

Only units with ranged attacks may be used.

You can use Ava the Undaunted but since units who would receive her Weapons Training does not have any range attacks, they cannot be used.

^{Back to Basics}

Units lose all abilities.

Using a high mana range unit with no abilities is very bad. You would prefer magic attacks so you can still have the advantage during clutch situations and they can both attack from both front and back.

Both Ava the Undaunted and the units receiving the Weapons Training ability has range attacks. Everytime they attack in this rule set, they would take half of their attacks back.

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Battle Sample

^{https://splinterlands.com/?p=battle&id=sl_a7865f566d4ae29d0bd0e78f46d78f6a}

Since I cannot use mages in this battle due to Lost Magic rule set but my range units can attack in the front because of Close Range rule set, I used and abused Ava the Undaunted's Weapons Training instead. I also added a high health unit Ulundin Overseer for more protection.

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Final Thoughts

So I got stuck playing without my favorite mages in this battle because of the Lost Magic rule set until Ava the Undaunted saved my behind. The Close Range rule set was a big help to make my range functions as tank. That's when I whipped out Ava's Weapons Training and made the most of it! And, to add some extra protection, I brought in Ulundin Overseer, that sturdy unit with high health.

Ava the Undaunted already has 3 range damage at the start and her Weapons Training ability gives her another instant 3 range attack, just like Death Element's Zyriel. That's crazy!

I really wonder why no one uses Ava the Undaunted. While she wasn't that strong, on rule sets like Fog of War or Close Range, I think she's one of the best choices to maximize your damage. Now, I just need to find someone with Rust to abuse this more.

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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: