First Impressions and Strategy for Dar Gearnut — The New Splinterlands Voucher Exclusive

Another exclusive Splinterlands card has hit the market, and this time it’s Dar ‘Gottem’ Gearnut, a powerful new addition available exclusively through Vouchers. As part of the ongoing initiative approved by the DAO last year, these limited releases drop roughly every three months, each designed to provide new gameplay dynamics while simultaneously helping reduce the ever-growing Voucher supply.

And from the looks of it, this one might actually make a real dent.

A High Cost, High Reward Card

Dar Gearnut immediately caught my attention. While the mana cost is on the higher side, the card’s stats and abilities make it a strong contender across multiple team compositions. It’s one of those cards that might not fit every ruleset, but when it does, it could shift the outcome entirely.

What really sets this card apart, though, is the price barrier. Each copy requires over 1,000 Vouchers, and since it takes 11 copies to max, reaching a full-level Dar Gearnut will be no small feat. That’s a serious commitment for most players, which likely means this card will remain relatively scarce for some time.

My Approach at Launch

Knowing the scarcity and long-term potential of this edition, I decided to go in at launch and use my existing Voucher balance to grab as many copies as possible. That ended up being three—a solid start, though still a long way from a maxed card.

Rather than trying to buy more outright, my next plan is to participate in the Fortune Draws associated with the release. These draws add a fun layer of excitement to the process, offering a chance to earn additional Dar Gearnut cards or even the coveted Gold Foil Arcane variants. After my previous streak of good luck with Fortune Draws, I couldn’t resist giving it another shot.

What’s great about these periodic Voucher-exclusive cards is that they serve multiple purposes:

• They add depth to the game with new mechanics.
• They stimulate the economy by giving Vouchers meaningful utility.
• They reward active community members who’ve been consistently accumulating Vouchers through gameplay and staking.

Dar Gearnut looks to check all those boxes. It’s powerful, expensive, and limited—exactly the kind of card that makes collectors and strategists alike pay attention.

For now, I’ll hold tight with my three copies and see what the Fortune Draws bring. If luck’s on my side, maybe I’ll score a few more—or even another Gold Foil to strengthen my collection. Either way, I’m excited to see how Dar Gearnut performs in battle and how the market reacts to this ambitious Voucher sink.

Fingers crossed—and may the fortunes roll in my favor once again!