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“Usually, there is nothing more pleasing that returning to a place where you have endured hardship.”
by Tahir Shah
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Coming back to Splinterlands after a year of not playing it feels completely different. The game looks familiar, but at the same time, it also looked different. When I left, things felt more complicated for new players. Cards were harder to get, and jumping back in often felt like it required spending first. This time, it feels different.
What surprised me the most is the Frontier Mode and the idea behind Foundation cards. I did not come back expecting to grind ranked right away or compete with long-time players. I just wanted to see what changed. Since I am not busy anymore and have a year or so after graduating, I want to try and play again the game I once was a part of. Surprisingly, it does still feel fun.
Frontier Mode feels like Splinterlands remembering how overwhelming the game can be, especially at the start or after time away. It is a separate space where you can battle without worrying about rentals, card prices, or keeping up with the meta. You play using Foundation cards, which you earn by playing instead of buying.
The first thing I noticed is that the mode does not rush you. There is an energy system only for Frontier Mode, so playing there does not affect anything else. I can jump in, play a few matches, step away, and come back later without feeling behind. That alone removes a lot of pressure.
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Foundation cards are simple, and that is a good thing. They have fixed stats, so there is no need to think about leveling or upgrades early on. After being gone for a year, this helped me focus on remembering rule sets, positioning, and basic strategy again.
Instead of managing numbers and upgrades, I could just play. That made the return feel less stressful and more about learning again.
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Campaign Mode surprised me in a positive way. It works like a guided return path rather than a basic tutorial. It explains mechanics while rewarding you at the same time. By playing through it, I was not just reading instructions. I was actively earning cards and rebuilding confidence.
This approach feels better than jumping straight into ranked battles and losing while trying to remember how everything works.
One thing I appreciate is that Foundation cards seem to be different than the usual Starter Cards. They are tradeable and combinable. Even if I am not thinking about selling anything right now, it still opens the chance that I can do so in the future if I am to go away once more.
After stepping away for a year, I was happy I was able to sell what I used before because I cannot use them now. This allowed me to not just let the cards stranded without using it and able to get back some from the time I spent playing the game until I return again.
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Daily quests in Frontier Mode also help ease the return. Instead of endless grinding, there is a clear goal. Win a few games, finish quests, earn rewards, then log off.
That loop works well when you are easing back into the game instead of trying to catch up all at once.
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What really stands out is how Frontier Mode removes pressure. I am not worried about ratings, leagues, or facing players with massive collections. I can test ideas, make mistakes, and still enjoy the process.
That freedom makes learning fun again, which is something I forgot I missed.
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Frontier Mode is a good first step. I think it's good for beginners and returning players. The free tradeable cards are also appreciated a lot. It reminds me why I enjoyed Splinterlands in the first place. You can play and earn at the same time which makes it unique and different from other games.
After a year away and having more time for myself before my next journey, I just felt like this is right time to return. I hope I can stay longer this time and I hope Splinterlands can also last longer. In the future, I want to show this to my kids. I'd like to show them some of the memories and play alongside them the games we used to play when we were younger.
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: