![ezgif-2-1e66a518dd55.gif](https://images.hive.blog/DQmTXC2HVtALUNcEjwWB4qNPrZ6ekdGQuhX8viEGVTpC28L/ezgif-2-1e66a518dd55.gif) ## **Welcome to part two of my journey through *Splinterlands*!** ##### In the last post I introduced myself and we got to know all *Starter Cards*, this time we will have a closer look at the *FIRE* set. In my opinion it is the strongest starter deck during the *UNTAMED* iteration. ![starter fire.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmbUDENPiHy9CEAik9Admsq6MZyHocb1jUiJs5RQ7mXRFk/starter%20fire.png) Let's start with the **KOBOLD BRUISER** and explain the card basics in Splinterlands. There are 7 key areas that define every Splinterland card (Number **1-7**) *1.) the mana cost of your card,* **i.e.: 3 Mana** Every battle you have certain mana pool you can use to summon your cards. *2.) the attacking power of your card,* **ie.: 2 melee damage** The higher the better, it reduces the attacked monster´s HP by the number your power has *3.)The acting speed of your card,* **i.e.: 2 haste** The higher the haster the faster you attack *4.) The Health of your card,* **i.e. 3 HP** The higher the better, if your cards gets reduced to 0 HP it dies! *5.) The Level of your card,* **i.e. 1 lvl** I will explain the different levels of a monster in a later blog post, for now just remember this: the higher the level of a card the higher are their stats, BUT you need a higher level summoner to play with higher lvl monsters *6.) The rarity of your card,* **i.e. common** There are 4 different rarities in Splinterlands, (from low to high) Common (grey), Rare (blue), Epic (purple), Legendary (golden) *3.)The abilites of your card,* **i.e.: none** special ability of a card can be anything from a heal to flying to blast damage *7.)The armor of your card,* **i.e.: none** Needs to be reduced to 0, before range and melee monsters (not magic monsters!) can attack the monster´s HP For a more detailed gameplay guide have a look at the official *SPLINTERLANDS* page https://splinterlands.com/?p=gameplay ![kobold bruiser 2.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmP6xRPNo9cE1gQGyCEEi2bLGKcUEXiGtd9dUVumm9MUzn/kobold%20bruiser%202.png) ## *Card is **MEDIOCRE!*** **KOBOLD BRUISER** is a melee monster, which means he can only attack from the 1. Position! **Pros:** - 2 melee attack (best attacking power) - cheap, 3 mana for a 2 attacking power monster **Cons:** - 3 HP, not viable for a melee monster without abilities - 2 haste the card can´t even attack fast The only use for this card is when you get in certain battle modes (i.e. melee can attack from all locations). ***Conclusion:*** You can use it in specific battle modes. But the overall stats are bad! ![serpentine spy.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeGJGi8Nvk4hKdjkcwDVncLayNj8gRATT38kCtmscHVaj/serpentine%20spy.png) ## *Card is **GOOD*** **SERPENTINE SPY** is a melee monster with a special ability so i can attack from all positions. **Pros:** - 2 melee attack (best attacking power) - *Opportunity* ability: Monster can attack from every position and targets the monster with the least HP! - 3 Haste - Cheap, only 3 Mana for a 2 attacking power monster! **Cons:** - 1 HP ***Conclusion:*** Good card in battles where you have 3 mana to spare and you can manage to keep it alive! **ONLY** use it when you have room for it! i.e. enough mana and other standard deck cards allready been taken. ![magma troll.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmfQgFwVjwDZLQbkCft2S14u2ndLeega46S3faEiUyrDKU/magma%20troll.png) ## *Card is **BAD!*** **MAGMA TROLL** is a melee monster with the *Reach* ability (he can also attack from the 2. Position!) **Pros:** - *Reach* ability -- Melee attack (best attack power) **Cons:** - 2 haste and 3 HP (medium low stats) - 1 attack power (will do zero to *shielded* monsters The only use for this card is when you get high enough mana pool games (~40), so you can spare 4 mana for a mediocre 2. position monster. ***Conclusion:*** With the cost of 4 Mana and pretty bad stats the **MAGMA TROLL** is not worth it. You pay to much to get the ability *Reach* which isn´t that good anyway. ![golbin fireballer.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXxaJuhD9dbFpDRWGcyqxH4hkuVMiasgqiTrFnmnA1vVr/golbin%20fireballer.png) ## *Card is **MEDIOCRE!*** **GOBLIN FIREBALLER** is a low cost range monster. **Pros:** - 2 Mana monster (there aren´t that many in the game) **Cons:** - 1 haste + 1 attacking power + 2 HP - Range attack (worst attack power) The only use for this card is when two Mana to spare and you cant choose anything else. ***Conclusion:*** With the cost of 4 Mana and pretty bad stats the **MAGMA TROLL** is not worth it. You pay to much to get the ability *Reach* which isn´t that good anyway. ![fire elemental.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmdrHCAvSWuv9f2fTzmQaq7rYWSqUfNGaVaMMBCtJWGyvm/fire%20elemental.png) ## *Card is **VERY GOOD!*** **FIRE ELEMNTAL** is low HP range monster with one of the best abilities. **Pros:** - 2 range attack power - 4 Haste (fast) - *Blast* ability (makes additional damage to the monsters next to your target) **Cons:** - 2HP - Range attack (worst attack power) ***Conclusion:*** With a 5 Mana cost, 2 Attack and one of the best abilities **FIRE ELEMENTAL** is, with **LIVING LAVA** one of the best fire cards" Only downside is it´s HP. Use it in the backline and try to protect it´s low HP pool. ![living lava.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmZXbVAehXQTv8K1uRmPZ8pGW2AL7S9mu6W4MrgaojGsM2/living%20lava.png) ## *Card is **VERY GOOD!*** **LIVING LAVA** is high cost melee monster and a Tank. **Pros:** - 3 melee attack power - 2 armor and 6 HP - *Shield* ability (best 1. Position ability, cause of halving incoming dmg) **Cons:** - 1 haste - 7 Mana The card i use in almost every fire battle! ***Conclusion:*** **LIVING LAVA** is the best starter card in your deck! It´s your first goto for 1. Position, because of it´s strong tank capabilities. (*Shield* + 2 Armor + medium high HP). While playing your fast fire decks with **PYRE** one of the cards **Cons** (the haste) gets neglected too. ![spark pixies.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmYMw58e6Ai58GxLFe4WzvWwuQ9kFwSFk6Y7mUNLpjkLjB/spark%20pixies.png) ## *Card is **GOOD!*** **SPARK PIXIES** is a really fast range monster. **Pros:** - 2 range attack power - *Flying* ability (makes it tanky and sometimes compensates the low HP) - 5 Haste (really fast attacking monster) **Cons:** - 1 HP (often the first target) - Range attack (worst attack power) ***Conclusion:*** With the cost of 4 Mana and pretty good stats **SPARK PIXIES** is a really strong backline monster. But try to avoid it beeing in the 2. starting position. Use it frequently! ![pyre.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmX7vsjCZPjTrFqGj6YQuKedhLc4Lm8nhXKvYugsHWm1jp/pyre.png) **PYRE** is your summoner, he costs 3 Mana and gives +1 Haste to all of your monsters. Compared to the other fire summoner, **PYRE** one of the bad once. But you can still play him effectivley in the untamed setup, when you make a fast fire deck. ***Deck Conclusion*** Play a fast fire deck!: - use fast range/magic monsters like **FIRE ELEMENTAL** and **SPARK PIXIES** in the back lines - Use the *Slow* ability to enhance your speed even further (i.e. **CREEPING OOZE**) - Use a tank in the frontline (i.e. **LIVING LAVA**) - Use a healthy monster in the second position In the next blog post we will have a look at the *Life* starter cards. Stay safe in the meantime and i catch you next time! ### *BE THE GOLD PRINCE JULIAN YOURS!* ***P.S.** I look forward to any kind of feedback that could help me learn more and develop new strategies for this wonderful game. So don't hesitate to leave comments if you have any suggestions! Thank you, @.Xabi for making the beautiful GIF* ### *Thank you* # ***Yewhos***