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For this week's Battlemage Secrets, we will be exploring the Close Range ruleset. Close Range allows all ranged monsters to attack in the first position.

This is a pretty straightforward ruleset which, based on my game experience, not many take advantage of or build a strategy around. I also don't fully utilize this ruleset and just carry on with my usual battle formations based on the available splinters and mana limit.

But my featured battle for this week has a very interesting set of rules. First, Lost Legendaries which disables the selection of all Legendary cards. Second, Counterspell which gives all monsters the Magic Reflect ability. This is almost equal to having the Lost Magic ruleset that disables the selection of magic monsters. These types usually have weak defensive stats and having their attack bounce back at them can spell an early demise.

The 46-mana limit is generous but given that there are no legendaries, it is possible that this cap will not be fully utilized. And between the Life, Death, and Earth splinters, my opponent and I will most likely choose range monsters among them. My ideal summoner for this scenario is Ilthaine for the Return Fire ability and the anticipation that my opponent will also go with a full range monster lineup.

Monster Lineup

Based on my available options, I chose Corsair Bosun for the primary tank. He is ideal for his high health, armor and attack. And by the off-chance that the enemy goes full magic, he can still withstand a few blows and reflect them back at the enemy. Venari Marksrat is also there as the usual sacrificial lamb in order to boost Corsair Bosun's stats.

Rune Crafter is my secondary tank. He is ideal for eliminating Taunt monsters as well as having competent defensive capabilities. In a scenerio where Corsair Bosun is taken out early, Rune Crafter can also hold the tank position well.

Now for the backline heavy hitters, we have War Pegasus which have both high offense and defense. It can also destroy the enemy's armor with Shatter. Another key piece to my strategy is Supply Runner which is a replacement for Time Mage since having a magic monster is a disadvantage to this battle. Finally, I have Pelacor Arbalest for dealing heavy attacks.

Shared Battle

You can check the link to this battle here.

My opponent chose General Sloan for the summoner and, as expected, had a lineup primarily consisted of range units. On an initial assessment, I will have an advantage in speed since aside from Supply Runner, I also have the additional buff from Ilthaine. And while Djinn Renova will increase the health of my enemies, it will not be enough to withstand the damage from Return Fire.

Because of the speed advantage, my monsters have stricken first with Chaos Knight receiving the brunt of attacks. Corsair Bosun manages to deliver the killing blow while my opponent's Supply Runner gets to be the first monster damaged by Return Fire.

Now becoming a tank that is capable of reflecting both range and magic, Corsair Bosun returned all enemy attacks back at them. He even displays his toughness by managing to kill Djinn Renova while having one health left.

Still not done with showing off, even on his dying breath, Corsair Bosun delivers one last Return Fire damage to the enemy Pelacor Arbalest leaving it in critical condition. The last of my opponent's units, Prismologist, destroys Rune Crafter but finally succumbs to the combined fire power of my remaining monsters.

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Thank you for reading and see you in the battlefield!