Coming back to Splinterlands after being away for a while means getting familiar with a lot of changes. One of the things that was new to me was Frontier.
I already knew Splinterlands well and had played at an advanced level before my break. So I wasn't coming back to learn the basics. I was coming back to see what had changed – and to figure out where I wanted to invest my time and resources this time around. And somehow, Frontier really clicked with me. I can't quite explain why, but even as an experienced player, I'm really enjoying the format.There is something about the progression, the limited card pool and building up a deck from scratch that I find surprisingly satisfying. Rather than explaining the mode itself, I want to focus on what I decided to do, how I approached my progression, and what my current goal is.
First things first: I completed the Campaign
The Campaign was the obvious starting point for me. I completed it and used the Foundations cards I received to start building my Frontier deck. At that point, I already knew that simply collecting cards wouldn't get me very far. Upgrading cards is a central part of progression. Combining copies to increase card levels wasn't something I had to discover or figure out. I already knew how important upgrading is for the strength of a deck – and that I would have to invest into it if I wanted to compete at a higher level. That gave me a clear direction from the beginning.
I started playing – and investing my resources
After completing the Campaign, I started playing Frontier regularly. I opened the reward packs I earned, and I even bought additional packs. That was a conscious decision. I wasn't interested in simply accumulating unopened packs or building a collection for the sake of having one. I wanted to turn those resources into a stronger, more competitive deck. The more cards I had available, the more opportunities I had to combine them and push individual cards towards their maximum level.
From collecting to targeted upgrades
This is where my approach has become much more deliberate.
Early on, rewards naturally determine a lot of your progression. You play, receive cards and work with what you get. But I'm now at a different point. Only a few cards are missing from my deck, so random rewards are becoming less important for my immediate goal. Instead, I'm looking at my collection and asking:
- Which cards are still missing?
- Which cards can I upgrade next?
And, most importantly:
Is it worth waiting for a random reward, or should I just buy the cards I need?
More and more often, I'm choosing the second option. So I'm now buying specific cards from the market and combining them to push my deck towards MAX level. For me, that is simply the most efficient way to finish the deck from where I am right now.
Why I'm pushing for MAX
I've reached the point where I'm regularly encountering stronger decks, including fully maxed ones. And honestly? I want a piece of that cake. If I'm going to invest time and resources into Frontier, I don't want to stop with a deck that's "good enough". I want to see what I can actually do with a fully upgraded deck. So my current goal is very straightforward. MAX my Frontier deck and I'm already relatively close. And because there are only a few cards left to complete the deck, targeted purchases make increasingly more sense for me.
But I'm not only looking for the cards I need
There is another part of my Frontier strategy that has become increasingly interesting to me: the special Frontier cards that aren't available in the regular packs. I'm keeping an eye on those as well. Some of these cards are particularly strong within the Frontier format, so getting my hands on them could make a meaningful difference to the deck. That means I currently have two things I'm working towards. Maxxing the core deck and at the same time keeping an eye out for the special Frontier cards.
So far, I haven't managed to get any of them. But I'm definitely not ignoring them. If the right opportunity comes along, I'll take it.
What would I do differently today?
If I were starting my Frontier progression again, I would probably define earlier the target deck before spending too many resources. Coming back as an experienced player, I don't need to experiment with every possible option. I can make decisions based on what I know about deck building and progression. So if I had to do it again, my approach would be:
- Complete the Campaign
- identify the core deck
- prioritize the cards I actually need
- upgrade consistently
- buy missing cards when necessary
- Max the deck as soon as possible.
And alongside that, I'd keep an eye on the special Frontier cards from the very beginning. That's essentially the strategy I'm following now. The difference is that I arrived at it progressively rather than having the entire plan mapped out from day one.
So, what's next?
For now, my plan is pretty simple. Play Frontier every day, collect the rewards, buy the cards I'm still missing and heep combining and upgrading. Once I've reached my maxxed deck, I don't think I'll stop playing Frontier. I'll probably continue playing it daily to collect the available rewards.
But then I want to turn my attention to Survival.
That's another part of Splinterlands that is new territory for me after returning to the game. So once my Frontier deck is maxed, Survival will probably be my next project.
For now, though, I'm enjoying being back.
And somehow, Frontier has become one of the things I'm enjoying most about that return.
Referral
If you're just getting started with Splinterlands – feel free to use my referral link:
https://splinterlands.com/register?ref=zephid83
It helps support my journey and, hopefully, we'll see each other in-game.
Disclaimer
All graphics have been created with AI.