This week's battle challenge focuses on the Mantoid:
A Mantoid is a skinny insect, resembling a praying mantis, about the size of a Goblin’s head. As it approaches its prey, the Mantoid may tilt its head inquisitively from side to side and rub its front legs together. The head tilting is actually an esophageal stretch as the Mantoid prepares to eat something wider than its throat. What looks like leg rubbing is actually the systematic sharpening of a thousand tiny razors, preparing them to cut through flesh like butter.
Card
An Untamed common level monster from the Neutral Splinter at level 6:
Estimated cost: $4
Range attack: 3
Speed: 3
Health: 6
Snipe ability: Target enemy monsters with ranged, magic or no attack that are not in the first position
Snare ability: When attacking enemies with flying ability, removes the flying ability and cannot miss
I have the Mantoid card at level 6, and I think the stats are okay, but the limiting factor is that due to the high mana costs, it's not a card I use often. The higher mana cost does have benefits as it's a card with high health, and I only tend to use this card in specific rulesets like Earthquake. With the Earthquake ruleset, non-flying monsters take 2 damage at the end of each round. Mantoid's Snare ability nullifies the enemy's monster's flying ability. Therefore, it results in the enemy monsters taking 2 damage, and due to its higher health, it can survive a couple of rounds before it succumbs to the Earthquake damage.
Battle - Full Battle Replay
Battle Details
Mana cap: 15
Ruleset(s): Earthquake, Healed Out
Lineup
Lord Arianthus - passive tank to absorb all the damage but also thorns and magic reflect will help to do damage to enemy monsters when hit
Furious Chicken - filler card (poor chicken!)
Mantoid - primary damage card, snare ability to deal with the enemy's' flying monsters
Albatross - filler card as well with flying ability
Did your strategy work? What will you try differently next time?
Yes, it worked to the tee. I knew going into the battle that I only had 2-3 rounds at best with the Mantoid, and as the only primary damage dealer, it was a risk. Luckily for me, the gamble paid off. Coupled with the Lord Arianthus thorns and magic reflect ability, the Mantoid could dispose of the enemy's monsters with ease and still had 2 health remaining.
Do you like the Mantoid? Why or why not?
When I started this post, I stated that the Mantoid under specific rulesets would shine, and the above battle showed that. While I like the card, I find the high mana cost is a limiting factor, and it only has okay stats.
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