Hello Splinterlands Family!

How are you all? I hope you are all doing well and having a great gaming season. This is my second entry in the Splinterlands Community's weekly "Social Media Challenge". Usually, I like to discuss different battle strategies on my blog. But today I'm coming up with something a little different. As you know, winning the battlefield requires more than just a good strategy; you also need a strong deck or card collection. ![23uQpMKhCBx7zvub9E33iwezSrMe1qoquqk3CYmWJaz32wk2ctFXUBHCZ7dhAZz8neJpc (4).png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmToYUVCAV3yN7CNJKNtCAjzUZXtqBoWNXRFQmHcrJ2eEd/23uQpMKhCBx7zvub9E33iwezSrMe1qoquqk3CYmWJaz32wk2ctFXUBHCZ7dhAZz8neJpc%20(4).png) As a new and somewhat experienced player, I felt that upgrading cards was not an option to climb the league table. So today I'm not sharing any battles, but rather how I upgraded some of my important Fire Element and Water Element cards to max level or higher. And finally, there is a special surprise—opening a Gladius Case purchased from my guild store! Believe me, the excitement that comes with opening a pack cannot be compared to anything else. So, let's start my card upgrade and collection journey today without further ado.

Why is it important to upgrade cards?

Before we get to the main discussion, I would like to briefly explain why I decided to upgrade cards today. Those of us who play regularly know that the competition in the 'Modern' or 'Wild' format has increased a lot. Level 1 or 2 cards are no longer enough to survive in the Silver or Gold League. When a card's level increases, not only does its attack or health increase, but new 'abilities' or powers are unlocked. And this additional power can often win a losing match. Although my fire deck is quite strong, I was not getting the full benefit due to the low level of some cards. So today I focused on that.

1. Barthalamas | Fire Unit | Upgrade: Level 4

https://images.hive.blog/DQmar5JkaNDkGM38nxCdvLs6Xm3U9quYjvUgXhZWbJu59UC/Screenshot_2026_0103_001738.jpg

https://images.hive.blog/DQmQ9tEt2isXSX9DbRx33gVoySfjb1SNTvLQwsUSp5TuWi2/Barthalamas.jpg

![FUkUE5bzkAZT3HzV5tJDiU2ik81PCd4JCyhWnRcDN8XJsVFY3UNB8DCRVuUYj6Zene7JVWe3Xc8a6RgA53fK9UhcNzx1dLZD69Tr7veBY6PoWfmgVcVFktDLb2pgPu9Vj4tRwjyyzaWUYKZXu1gfTFhw5BEsHZpm7LMc.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmTmXaSBpbYqWxLxvtzMggPc7UfEyu6izBZd8W2rQhLpAr/FUkUE5bzkAZT3HzV5tJDiU2ik81PCd4JCyhWnRcDN8XJsVFY3UNB8DCRVuUYj6Zene7JVWe3Xc8a6RgA53fK9UhcNzx1dLZD69Tr7veBY6PoWfmgVcVFktDLb2pgPu9Vj4tRwjyyzaWUYKZXu1gfTFhw5BEsHZpm7LMc.png) The first card on my upgrade list today is Barthalamas. It is a 'Djinn' card. I successfully upgraded it to level 4 by marching or combining my cards. The mana cost of this card is 6. There are many matches in Splinterlands where the mana cap is neither too high nor too low (like 20-25 mana). This card is a great choice for those matches. After reaching level 4, its stats or power seemed quite satisfactory to me. ![Screenshot_2026_0103_001747.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmT2493XaQAxdND6JtQo7uNstnYakqZSoWgWxyYydA3QVU/Screenshot_2026_0103_001747.jpg) **Why is this important?** Fire element cards are usually very aggressive or offensive. But the Barthalamas card will help me in a defensive or supportive role. Its speed and health combination is such that I can easily place it in the middle of my team. This card can last for quite a while, especially when the opponent uses magic attacks. I plan to upgrade it further in the future so that I can fully utilise its hidden abilities. For now, at level 4, it will provide quite a bit of support to my deck.

2. frankarsgard | Fire Unit | Upgrade: Level 5

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https://images.hive.blog/DQmNicfXsztJQgXPZ3RCDvWKnCTBkKHigVbB23oMpdssQFX/Frankarsgard.jpg

3. Agniavan Salamander | Fire Unit | Upgrade: Level 2

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https://images.hive.blog/DQmSU2Ec2EPAZVMyoAfnmrMDZC8qK9fMKsm8HBBFNjXdkmH/Agniavan%20Salamander.jpg

4. mystic scaleweaver | Water unit | Upgrade: Level 2

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https://images.hive.blog/DQmdYGwnXxVahaVPArASe9k7DUShbdU8vaxqRN6PHYWRC8Z/Mystic%20Scaleweaver.jpg

Guild Store Shopping: Buying a Gladius Case

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Pack Opening: What did I get?

https://images.hive.blog/DQmPyi5Zz8TjnmPpv29o5ZAt6RfyeDAWVEZvGJ1wF4ta4c2/Screenshot_2026_0102_224617.jpg

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https://images.hive.blog/DQmTmXaSBpbYqWxLxvtzMggPc7UfEyu6izBZd8W2rQhLpAr/FUkUE5bzkAZT3HzV5tJDiU2ik81PCd4JCyhWnRcDN8XJsVFY3UNB8DCRVuUYj6Zene7JVWe3Xc8a6RgA53fK9UhcNzx1dLZD69Tr7veBY6PoWfmgVcVFktDLb2pgPu9Vj4tRwjyyzaWUYKZXu1gfTFhw5BEsHZpm7LMc.png I was eagerly waiting after purchasing the pack. As soon as I clicked, the cards flipped over,r and I was quite happy with what I got. Let's take a look at what cards I got: * 1. Krash Wanderford (Common) * 2. Katrelba Gobson (Common) * 3. Alva the Crusher (Common) * 4. Bertrol Gobson (Common) * 5. Palidon Rakk (Rare) **Card Analysis:** The biggest gain in this pack is Palidon Rakk. It is a Rare card and an Earth element. This 7 mana card has a lot of health and armour, and with the Bloodlust ability, it can turn the match around on the front line alone. Also, Katrelba Gobson is a card of my personal choice. It has the 'Double Strike' and 'Sneak' abilities. That is, it hits the enemy twice per round. Once it kills someone and triggers Bloodlust, it becomes impossible to stop it. The rest of the common cards are not bad either. I will save these so that I can combine them later and level them up. All in all, I can say that I benefited from what I got by spending 2000 Merits. Today turned into a totally efficient day for my Splinterlands journey. On the one hand, I have reinforced my Fire and Water decks by means of upgrading cards like Barthalamas, Frankarsgard, Agniavan Salamander, and Mystic Scaleweaver. On the other hand, I actually have opened the Gladius % and accrued a few first-rate playing cards in an effort to help me in the next Guild Brawl. Splinterlands is a sport that calls for patience and making plans. You can't emerge as the best in an afternoon; however, if you construct your deck a bit every day, success will come. These improvements of mine today may also seem small, but in the long run, they may make a massive difference. Who among you who are reading this post of mine, do you use these cards? Or is there any card from today's pack on your favourite list? Don't forget to comment. Your feedback inspires me to write and play better. And if you haven't started the Splinterlands game yet, I would say that you are missing out on one of the best experiences in web-3 gaming. My referral link is given below. Ifyou want, you can join today. Everyone, stay well and healthy. See you again in the next challenge with something new!

Thanks and Happy Gaming!

[My referral link here](https://splinterlands.com/register?ref=mirzaiqi)

People advise the fire deck