Hello, Splinterlands warriors!
Ever since the Exemplar feature officially arrived in Splinterlands, I've been one of the players most excited to try it out. To me, this feature brings a fresh layer of depth to the game because it lets us build a monster that truly matches our own playstyle. It feels like creating your favorite RPG character and then putting it to the test on the battlefield.
What surprised me most was that building an Exemplar isn't as simple as picking abilities that look powerful. I've changed its stats and abilities several times already. Sometimes the results were impressive, while other times they actually made my Exemplar perform worse. After plenty of experimentation, I finally feel like I've found a combination that fits my playstyle, although I'm sure I'll continue tweaking it as new ideas come along.
At the moment, my Exemplar has reached Level 25.
Here's the current build I'm using:
For abilities, I chose:
I still have one ability slot left empty, and honestly, I'm still undecided about what to put there. There are plenty of great options, but I want to find something that truly complements my overall strategy instead of simply adding another strong ability.
My reasoning behind these three abilities is fairly straightforward.
I plan to position my Exemplar in the very backline. With Ambush, it gets the opportunity to attack before the first round officially begins. That means I can already chip away at the enemy's health before they even get the chance to make their first move.
If my Exemplar happens to fall early, Poison Burst can still create additional pressure by poisoning nearby enemies. On the other hand, if it survives until the late game, Deathblow becomes the perfect finishing weapon once my opponent is down to their final monster.
No matter how the battle unfolds, I want my Exemplar to make a meaningful contribution.
My first opportunity to test this build came in a match with the Rise of the Exemplars ruleset. It felt like the perfect environment to evaluate an Exemplar since the ruleset was practically designed for them.
My opponent was no ordinary player.
They brought Chuul Jujinchi at Level 5, backed by a lineup capable of dealing tremendous damage. The moment I saw their team composition, my first thought was, "Well... this is the real test."
The battle began.
The two monsters with Ambush, including my Exemplar, immediately struck before the opening round. Those opening attacks turned out to be incredibly valuable, shaving off enemy health before combat had even properly started. It's easy to focus only on first-round damage, but even a small amount of pre-round damage can completely change how the following rounds play out.
By the second and third rounds, my Exemplar began proving why I invested in a Magic Attack build.
Its 3 Magic Damage delivered consistent pressure. Several enemy monsters fell without their armor providing any protection. At that moment, I felt all the time spent experimenting with different builds had finally paid off.
Then came the moment I'd been waiting for.
When only one enemy monster remained, Deathblow finally activated.
My Exemplar's damage doubled instantly. It was incredibly satisfying to watch a monster I had personally designed finish the battle exactly as I had envisioned from the beginning. Deathblow doesn't activate in every match, but when it does, the impact is undeniable.
In the end, victory was mine.
If you'd like to watch the complete battle replay, you can check it out here:
The more I experiment with this feature, the more I realize that an Exemplar is much more than just another monster.
It reflects each player's personal approach to the game.
Some players focus on overwhelming damage from the very beginning. Others prefer creating an unbreakable tank. Meanwhile, some enjoy disruptive abilities like Poison, Stun, or Cripple. There isn't a universally correct or incorrect approach because every build depends on the strategy you want to develop.
Personally, I prefer an Exemplar that remains valuable throughout every stage of the battle. It opens the fight with Ambush, applies steady pressure during the mid-game through Magic Attack, and finishes matches with Deathblow once the battle reaches its climax.
That empty ability slot keeps me thinking, and honestly, that's part of what makes this feature so enjoyable. My exploration of Exemplar builds is far from over.
This first round of testing has made me even more optimistic about the future of the Exemplar feature in Splinterlands. There are still countless combinations to explore, many more abilities I'd like to test, and I'm convinced that today's build may not be my best build a few months from now.
Don't be afraid to experiment. Exemplar wasn't created so everyone would follow a single meta—it was designed to help each player discover a playstyle that truly reflects who they are. And who knows? The unusual build that seems unconventional today might become the next strategy everyone tries to copy tomorrow.
Talk about Splinterlands,
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