Another Milestone Unlocked: Maxed Gladiator Commons!

Progress in Splinterlands often comes in waves—sometimes fast, sometimes painfully slow—but every milestone feels rewarding in its own way. This week, I hit one that’s been years in the making: completing a fully maxed set of Gladiator common cards!

The Long Grind

If you’ve ever participated in Guild Brawls, you know just how challenging the Gladiator series can be to complete. Unlike regular card sets, these cards can’t be bought or traded; they’re earned exclusively through Merits, and only one Gladius Case can be opened per week (two if you’re lucky enough to win them through event bonuses). That makes progress slow by design—and that’s before you even consider how many copies are needed to max a common card.

Each one requires hundreds of individual cards to combine, which makes this particular accomplishment one of patience, persistence, and a lot of brawl participation.

Small Cards, Big Impact

Despite being commons, some of these Gladiators are absolute staples in brawl metas. The Bloodlust ability, which lets these warriors grow stronger after every takedown, remains one of the most impactful abilities in the game. Properly leveled Gladiators can single-handedly swing a battle—especially in formats where their inclusion can turn an average lineup into a dominating force.

Still Chasing the Finish Line

While I can finally check the Common Gladiators off my list, the journey isn’t quite over yet. I’m still missing a handful of Legendary cards to complete the full Gladiator collection. These are, of course, the rarest and most difficult to pull—relying entirely on luck and timing.

With the printing of this set nearing its end and the evolving meta making way for future updates, the race is on. I’m hoping to complete the full collection before it’s too late and this set becomes a piece of Splinterlands history.

Reflections on the Grind

This milestone feels particularly meaningful because it reflects the long-term nature of the game. Unlike other collections that can be built with purchases or trades, Gladiators are earned. Every card represents effort from weekly brawls, guild coordination, and persistence through seasons.

The grind is real—but so are the rewards.

For now, I’ll enjoy this moment and the satisfaction that comes from watching my Gladiators reach their full potential. The Legendary chase continues, but completing this phase of the journey feels like a big step forward in my ongoing quest to build one of the strongest collections in the arena.