Alright, time for another #Splinterlands card spotlight!
Today I'm looking at a card that isn't really about doing crazy amounts of damage.
Instead, this one is more about support, protection, and keeping your team clean from annoying debuffs.
The card I'm talking about today is, Sanctus Vicar.
This is a Rare Water/Fire unit, and at Level 8, which is its max level, it has 3 abilities that make it a pretty interesting support card.
At max level, its stats are:
Mana: 6
Ranged Attack: 3
Health: 6
Speed: 3
Armor: 2
And the abilities are:
Cleanse Rearguard –> Cleanses the last allied backline unit with a magic debuff.
Cleanse –> Removes all magic debuffs from the allied unit in the first position.
Deflect –> Takes 0 damage from Corrosive Ward, Magic Reflect, Thorns, Return Fire, and Blast splash damage.
So yeah, this card is basically bringing a whole cleaning service into battle.
First Look
When I first look at Sanctus Vicar, the first thing that stands out isn't actually its attack.
It's the two different Cleanse abilities.
And honestly, that's what gives this card its identity.
A lot of battles in #Splinterlands can be completely ruined by annoying debuffs.
Your tank gets hit with something that prevents healing.
Your backline gets affected by a magic debuff.
Suddenly your whole strategy isn't working the way you expected.
That's where Sanctus Vicar can become useful.
It isn't necessarily going to carry the match by itself.
But it can help make sure the rest of your team keeps doing what they're supposed to do.
Ability 1: Cleanse Rearguard
Cleanse Rearguard: Cleanses the last allied backline unit with a magic debuff.
This one targets the last allied backline unit if it has a magic debuff.
I actually like this because it gives Sanctus Vicar two different jobs.
It's not only looking after your tank.
It's also watching the other end of your formation.
Your frontline could have problems, but your last-position unit could also be dealing with a nasty debuff.
Normally, you'd have to accept that and keep going.
With Sanctus Vicar?
You have a chance to clean that problem up.
So the card is basically protecting both ends of your lineup.
That's pretty cool.
Ability 2: Cleanse
Cleanse: Removes all magic debuffs from the allied unit in the first position.
This removes all magic debuffs from the allied unit in the first position.
And that can be VERY useful.
Your frontline is usually the unit taking the most punishment.
It's getting attacked constantly, and depending on the ruleset and opponent, it can also end up with different debuffs.
If your tank is affected by a magic debuff, Sanctus Vicar can remove those effects.
That means your tank can potentially stay effective for longer.
And when your frontline survives longer, your whole team gets more time to deal damage.
Simple, but important.
Ability 3: Deflect
Deflect: 0 damage from Corrosive Ward, Magic Reflect, Thorns, Return Fire, and Blast splash damage.
The third ability is Deflect.
And this one gives Sanctus Vicar another layer of protection.
According to the card, Deflect means it takes 0 damage from:
Corrosive Ward
Magic Reflect
Thorns
Return Fire
Blast splash damage
That is quite a list.
And honestly, I really like defensive abilities like this on support cards.
Because support units can be extremely valuable.
If they get taken out too early, you lose all that utility.
Sanctus Vicar having Deflect means there are certain forms of damage that simply aren't going to hurt it.
So while it's sitting there doing its support job, it's also protected from several annoying damage effects.
The 3 Ranged Attack
Now let's talk about the stats.
Sanctus Vicar has 3 ranged attack.
That's not amazing, but I don't think this card is supposed to be a main damage dealer anyway.
It's a support card first.
The fact that it can still contribute 3 ranged damage is a nice bonus.
If it stays alive for several rounds, those attacks can add up.
So I wouldn't choose Sanctus Vicar because I want massive damage.
I'd choose it because of the utility, with the damage being an extra benefit.
Where I Think Sanctus Vicar Fits Best
Personally, I think Sanctus Vicar makes the most sense in battles where I expect magic debuffs to be a problem.
That's where the card's abilities really start making sense.
If the enemy has ways of putting magic debuffs on my frontline or backline, Sanctus Vicar can help remove them.
And if the enemy doesn't?
Well, then I'm probably not getting the full value from those Cleanse abilities.
That's the main thing to remember.
You don't want to use a support card just because it looks good.
You want the abilities to actually matter in the battle.
What I Like About Sanctus Vicar
There are quite a few things I like about this card.
First, it has two different Cleanse abilities.
Second, those abilities cover the front and back of your formation.
Third, Deflect gives it protection against several annoying effects.
And finally, it still has 3 ranged attack, so it isn't completely useless when it comes to damage.
It's one of those cards where you don't necessarily notice its impact immediately.
You might not see a giant number pop up on the screen.
But over several rounds, the support it provides can make a difference.
What I Don't Like
Of course, it isn't perfect.
The biggest problem is probably that its usefulness depends heavily on the opponent.
If the enemy isn't applying magic debuffs, you're losing a big part of what makes the card special.
The 3 speed also isn't anything amazing.
And with only 6 health, I wouldn't want it exposed to strong attackers.
It's a support unit, so protecting it is still important.
Also, 6 mana isn't exactly nothing.
In lower mana battles, spending 6 mana on a support card can be difficult.
Sometimes you simply need more damage.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think Sanctus Vicar is a pretty interesting support card.
It's not flashy.
It's not going to walk into the battle and destroy the entire enemy team.
But that's not really what it's designed for.
Its job is to keep your important units functioning.
Your tank gets a magic debuff?
Cleanse it.
Your backline gets a magic debuff?
Cleanse that too.
Your opponent is using Thorns, Return Fire, Magic Reflect or Blast?
Deflect gives Sanctus Vicar some protection.
And while doing all of that, it can still throw out 3 ranged damage every round.
I think that's a pretty nice package.
The main thing I'd say is that you need to pick the right battle for it.
If the opponent has a lot of debuff potential, Sanctus Vicar suddenly looks much more attractive.
If they don't?
I'd probably use those 6 mana on something else.
That's what I like about card spotlights though.
Sometimes you find a card that isn't amazing in every single battle, but in the right situation?
It can become REALLY useful.
And Sanctus Vicar definitely feels like one of those cards to me.
What Do You Guys Think?
Would you use Sanctus Vicar in your lineup?
Do you think having both Cleanse and Cleanse Rearguard is worth the 6 mana?
Or would you rather use a more offensive card?
Personally, I think I'm going to keep an eye out for battles where those Cleanse abilities can really make a difference.
Because sometimes, you don't need another attacker.
You just need someone to keep your team from falling apart.
More card spotlights coming soon!