This week’s battle challenge focuses on the Even Stevens Ruleset.

Ruleset Details

The Even Stevens ruleset in splinterlands restricts the number of monsters a player can deploy to approximately half by allowing monsters with even mana caps. For those with a large collection, this ruleset is not a challenge as they will still have 240 total monsters to choose from, but for those with limited collections, it can be challenging to even be able to submit a half-decent lineup. Here are the stats for those that are interested, breaking them down by rarity, editions, and units.

I do find that I spend more time deliberating strategies due to the absence of familiar cards. It can be challenging to find suitable replacements for accustomed strategies. However, we mustn’t forget that the opponent has the same limitation. One option is to use 30 seconds to 1 minute of the battle prep time to quickly glance at the opponent's battle history to get an idea of what monsters they usually deploy in battle.

Battle - Full Battle Replay

Battle Details

• Mana cap: 59

• Rulesets(s): Rule of the Commons, Broken Arrows, Even Stevens

Lineup Details

• Thaddius Brood (Summoner): -1 magic damage and -1 health to all opposition monsters.

• Elven Defender + Cursed Windeku + Dumacke Orc: melee tanks to protect the backline.

• Venari Bonesmith + Riftwing + Wily Coyotian: support damage i.e. leftover monsters in my collection.

Did your strategy work? What will you try differently next time?

This battle encapsulates the challenging gameplay loop that splinterlands can offer you; sometimes you will benefit from it, and other times you will get frustrated. With a trio of rulesets (Rise of the Commons, Broken Arrows, Even Stevens), which all have limitations that dwindled the list of monsters I had to deploy in battle. Even though it was a high mana-cap battle, I just didn’t have a large enough collection to be able to deal with their onslaught. My opposition was doing 14 total damage vs my 10 total damage, but more importantly, it had much more firepower in the backline which obliterated my line-up.

Do you like the Even Stevens ruleset? Why or why not?

Generally, not an admirer of rulesets that places restrictions on what monsters can be used as I find these tend to benefit players with large collections. But I do like the opportunity to utilize cards that I don’t generally use and therefore learn new strategies and approaches. Therefore, being forced into unfamiliar situations and having to justify unconventional choices open up new perspectives and expand my tactical toolbox.

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