Hello Splinterlands warriors,
Today I want to share a little story—not a long theory, not an overly serious analysis—but an honest “Battle of the Day” experience that, to be honest, left me with a wry smile while scratching my head 😄
This battle brought together two expensive monsters, two cards with the same 13 mana cost that both came into the arena fully committed: Forlorn Geomant and Ballista Deadshot. Neither of them is a weak card. But as always in Splinterlands, it’s not about who costs more—it’s about who fits better in the situation.
Two Characters, Two Personalities
I’ve always liked imagining cards as story characters.
Forlorn Geomant, the Djinn from the Earth Splinter, is the type of fighter who looks calm but is actually terrifying.
He doesn’t show off much, but when he attacks—it goes straight through defenses. A magic attack of 5 is no small number, especially when the opponent relies on thick armor.
His base stats:
- Mana: 13
- Magic: 5
- Speed: 1
- Armor: 2 (quite solid for his class)
- Health: solid (around 6 HP at early level)
What makes him even more “complete” is the potential for abilities like Armored Strike and later Impede as he levels up. In short: he’s not just a hitter, he’s durable too.
On the other side, there’s Ballista Deadshot.
If Geomant is like a patient old master, Ballista is more like a barbarian archer—fast, aggressive, and when it hits… it hurts.
Its stats:
- Mana: 13
- Ranged attack: 5
- Speed: 2
- Armor: 3
- Health: 3
From this alone, it’s clear: a pure damage dealer, but fragile. Very fragile.
It works best in the backline, safe while firing shot after shot. And at higher levels, it can gain abilities that allow it to target specific enemies—something that often disrupts enemy formations.
Same Cost, Different Fate
This battle highlights two monsters with the same “price” but very different outcomes: Forlorn Geomant and Ballista Deadshot. Both cost 13 mana, both deal 5 damage—one magic, one ranged. At a glance, they feel like twins with different destinies.
In this match, I brought Ballista Deadshot—the aggressive ranged attacker from the Fire element. Meanwhile, my opponent fielded Forlorn Geomant, an Earth monster with a calm yet deadly presence—the kind that quietly drags you under before you realize it.
My formation was pretty standard: a tank in front, with Ballista Deadshot safely positioned in the back. The idea was simple—let it fire freely without interruption. Because we all know: if left alive, this card can become a killing machine.
But my opponent had other plans.
Forlorn Geomant stood firm with thick armor, like someone ready to take hit after hit without complaint. And the most annoying part? Its magic attack completely ignored armor. Straight to the core. No nonsense.
In the early rounds, I was still confident. Ballista Deadshot started firing, and the damage felt significant. But slowly I realized—this wasn’t about who attacked first. It was about who could survive longer. Especially since the enemy archon also weakened Ballista Deadshot’s attack.
Forlorn Geomant, with its solid armor and higher HP, felt like it had an extra layer of endurance. Meanwhile, my Ballista Deadshot… well, like a sniper who forgot to wear a vest.
If you’d like to see how this battle unfolded, you can watch it here:
You can see the battle here:
The Turning Point
As the battle progressed, the pressure became real. Ballista Deadshot kept dealing heavy damage, but its low HP started to show. And this is where the difference became crystal clear:
- Forlorn Geomant: durable, stable, consistent damage that ignores armor
- Ballista Deadshot: high damage, but fragile once touched
And sure enough, at a crucial moment, my Ballista Deadshot fell first. It felt like losing the main engine in the middle of a war. After that… well, the outcome was predictable.
My honest take?
Ballista Deadshot is like lightning—fast, powerful, but fleeting.
Forlorn Geomant is like heavy rain—not flashy, but constant… and eventually victorious.
Lesson Learned
The takeaway is simple, but deep:
big damage means nothing if you can’t survive long enough to use it.
If you’re an aggressive player, Ballista Deadshot is fun. But if you want more control and stability, Forlorn Geomant is clearly the safer choice.
As for me, this battle made me rethink my team composition. It’s not enough to have strong attackers—you also need ways to protect them.
If you bring a big cannon, don’t forget the shield—because in the arena, the one who lasts longer usually gets the last laugh.
Talk about Splinterlands,
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