Battle Mage Secrets: Even Stevens - Getting Even With Your Foes

Prelude
Hello everybody, how is it going? It's time for more Battle Mage Secrets. Last week was a week of opportunity where we looked at Equal Opportunity ruleset and sieve out ways to ensure cards are of high health to be avoiding being the easy target. This week the ruleset that will be discussed with be something more generic.

The ruleset of the challenge this week is: Even Stevens

Ruleset Spotlight

Even Stevens
Only units with even mana costs may be used.

This rule does not apply to summoners.

Abilities/Cards that get shutdown with this rule set
For this section, it becomes non applicable as it is as though it is a normal gameplay.

What thrives with this ruleset?
Now, this is a ruleset that essentially half all the cards available because only even mana cards can be used.

Some key even mana cards for modern consideration which I commonly use.

Based on what I have so far played thus far for even matches, all the Splinters are very much viable with a decent mix of good cards to be able to field into roles of tanks, hitters, range and mage. So it really goes down to any accompanying ruleset that finally determines what I will pick.

Life is good for heavy beat down with Pelacor Arbalest and a tough tank in the form of Chaos Knight.
Water is good for high dodge and void from Djinn Oshannus, a fast and thick tank in Diemonshark and the ever opportunistic Deeplurker.
Earth has Queen Mycelia which give the team protection and Goblin Psychi with the big magic attack and tank heal.
Death has 2 tanks at its disposal in Harklaw and Cursed Windeku, together with cards like Revealer and Venari Bonesmith.
Fire is equipped with Antoid Platoon to tank, Ferox Defender for protection and Tinderlock for last stand.

Not forgetting, every Fiend is available to be used for Even Stevens which is a viable add to the lineup to absorb additional damage.

With these in mind, let's start to talk about the battle proper.

The Battle
Link: https://splinterlands.com?p=battle&id=sl_155d5e99ef671e31e6d10000f0a5cd4c&ref=vaynard86

Rules
Even Stevens, Counterspell
Mana Limit: 36

Splinter	Mana Cost	Position	Reason
Tarsa	4	Summoner	Summoner to boost attack and health
Antoid Platoon	4	1st	Good tank with shield ability and decent armour
Magma Troll	4	2nd	Melee with reach to attack from 2nd postion
Ferox Defender	8	3rd	Protection giver
Mantoid	6	4th	Sniping range attacker
Tinderlock	10	5th	Big range hitter with last stand
Scorch Fiend	0	6th	One extra padding to protect Tinderlock from being killed from behind
Total Mana:	36

Opponent Lineup

• Summoner - Conqueror Jacek
• Position 1 - Tusk The Wide
• Position 2 - Scorch Fiend
• Position 3 - Molten Ash Golem
• Position 4 - Scavo Firebolt
• Position 5 - Supply Runner
• Position 6 - Countess Sinash

Prediction before pressing rumble
My opponent opted for a very heavy range backline as compared to me. I hope the armour from Ferox Defender can last us sufficiently.

Battle Synopsis

Round 1, Because of Jacek, the range cards from my opponent went rampant and hit random targets and somehow most landed on Tinderlock. No casualties so far in this round.

Round 2, Many attacks flew and my lineup manage to take out Tusk The Wide and Scorch Fiend in this round, with my Mantoid dangerously low in health.

Round 3, As expected, Mantoid get taken out right at the start by Countess Sinash but my lineup managed to take down Molten Ash Golem. Now my opponent is left with 3 range and Scavo Firebolt is at first position and unable to attack.

Round 4 onwards, The match lasted all the way till round 11 where Antoid Platoon landed the final blow on Countess Sinash which has a way faster speed. Magma Troll and Tinderlock fell victim to Sinash along the way. Victory secured!

Post Battle Summary
A nice battle filled where 2 players pit against each other using very different strategies. The armour from Ferox Defender indeed bought us some precious time to help fend off the various scatter attacks from my opponent.

Did my strategy work? Yes it did. Every card that I placed in the lineup did what they need to do. Antoid did an amazing job of tanking the front line. Magma Troll reached and wear down a few cards from position 2. Ferox Defender had only 1 purpose, give the additional armour to shield the team from the range barrage. Mantoid snipe and wear down opponent backline sufficiently while Tinderlock did heavy damage with its attack.

What's the Battle Mage Secret?
Honestly, to put up a secret, I don't really have a clear cut secret because what I set up to do in this match was to pick sufficiently the cards I needed in each department. Sufficient utility for each of the position is important. Shield for the tank, reach for the position 2 melee attacker, protecting the team with additional armour, sniping off threatening targets, heavy backline artillery with potential last stand if needed and a fiend to wrap it all up. Every card had a reason why it was being picked, it was not just to make up numbers but each had its own utility to make the lineup complete.

So with that, my secret is, pick cards with understanding of what it can bring to the lineup and do not pick a card just because it is even mana. By purely filling even mana for the sake of it will be at a disadvantageous situation against another whom knows what utility the various cards can bring.

One little tip, make sure you utilize your full lineup if you can for Even Stevens unless ruleset doesn't allow you to field a fiend. Fiend are amazing fillers to ensure to take an additional damage for the team to keep the remaining key cards alive.

Wrap Up
I hope you guys enjoyed reading my sharing on the rule set Even Stevens. I would really appreciate it if you liked and/or commented to let me know what are you thoughts.

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Till my next battle sharing, take care, stay safe and happy battling!

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