With the introduction of Survival Mode in Splinterlands, I was eager to test it out and see how it plays. After a few runs, I’ve come to some key observations and devised a strategy that should help me navigate the challenges of this mode.
Initial Observations
Highly Competitive Matches Even at Low Ratings
Despite starting with a low rating of just 20, I quickly encountered maxed-out decks. This makes it incredibly difficult to progress, as experienced players with fully upgraded cards dominate even the early stages.
Survival Mode Requires a Different Approach
Unlike Ranked Mode, where every battle counts toward your rating and rewards, Survival Mode introduces the risk of permanently losing access to cards once they are used in a losing battle. This means every match needs careful consideration, and wasting strong cards on unwinnable battles can be detrimental.
My Survival Mode Strategy
After assessing the current competitive environment, I have outlined a three-step strategy that balances Ranked play and Survival Mode efficiency.
1. Keeping My Main Deck for Ranked Battles
Throughout most of the season, I will focus on playing my main deck in Ranked Mode. To prevent losing access to my best cards in Survival Mode, I will set my strongest cards as unavailable for this format. This ensures that my Ranked performance remains strong while I selectively participate in Survival Mode with a different set of cards. I would be hoping to move up the rankings without using my strongest cards
2. Adapting to Opponents in Survival Mode
Before entering a battle, I will analyze my opponent’s previous lineups. If they consistently use maxed-out cards, I will sacrifice a low-level summoner and a single weak or excess card instead of deploying a full lineup. The idea is to minimize losses in unwinnable matchups.
However, there is always a chance that my opponent may not submit a team for that battle, in which case I would still win by default without risking valuable cards.
3. Pushing Hard on the Final Day
Since Splinterlands resets all cards for Survival Mode at the end of the season, there is no risk of losing them permanently. On the last day of the season, I will use up all my Ranked Energy and mark my entire collection as available for Survival Mode. This allows me to make a strong push at the very end and maximize my placement while ensuring I haven’t unnecessarily lost access to key cards earlier in the season.
Here is a sample where I am seeing low level cards that my opponent is playing and I am trying to beat him with higher level cards:
As you can see I was able to score a win by risking some higher level cards. I did end up loosing some of them so even this approach can result in loses, but at least I kept my summoner.
This approach works when you see lower cards, you can risk and go against maxed out cards with a lower level deck, but I believe it is not worth the risk after testing it out.
Here are a couple examples where I decided to go for it despite seeing a maxed out set on the other side:
As you can see it didn't work out really well and I lost a bunch of cards that could have been useful...
Here is what I should have done instead:
There I basically used level one cards that I would not need.
Final Thoughts
Survival Mode adds an interesting layer of strategy to Splinterlands, requiring careful planning rather than brute force deck power. By using a mix of selective participation, opponent analysis, and end-of-season optimization, I aim to make the most out of both Ranked and Survival Mode without putting my best cards at unnecessary risk.
If you’ve played Survival Mode, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you encountered similar challenges? What strategies have worked for you? I am still very new to Survival Mode and learning so let’s discuss in the comments!
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