Hello Splinterlands warriors, how have your battles been going this week?
Hopefully there are still more smiles than sad faces đ
This time I want to have a relaxed chat about one skill thatâs often overlooked, but whose impact can change the course of a battle even before the first round begins. Among the many skills in Splinterlands, in my opinion Ambush is one of the most âsly,â the most surprising, and absolutely one of the most dangerous to watch out for.
Because itâs true that:
âThe best surprise is the one where your enemy does nothing but gawk in stunned silence!â
What Is Ambush?
The Ambush skill is no ordinary skill. It doesnât wait for its turn.
Quite literally, Ambush steals time.
Ambush
Units with this ability start combat before the first round of the battle even starts!
During this bonus Round Zero, only Ambush characters may perform any actions.
That means before the first round even begins, there is a Round Zero. In this round, only monsters with Ambush are allowed to act.
Sounds strange? Yes.
Dangerous? Absolutely.
Imagine your opponent hasnât even had time to âwake up,â yet your team is already at work.
And the question is: why is Ambush so terrifying?
In Splinterlands, we usually rely on setup: buffs from the Archon, tank positioning, healers ready in the back. But Ambush cuts through all of those rituals. The more Ambush monsters you deploy, the more you steal the starting advantage from your opponent. And what makes it even more interesting is that Ambush rarely stands alone.
Out of the 7 monsters that have this skill, almost all of them have dangerous synergies with other abilities:
- Some deal massive damage and can instantly eliminate an enemy unit
- Some weaken attacks, like KEI
- Others can cripple the opponent, such as SULTRY BARMAID
Ambush isnât just striking firstâitâs a psychological attack.
Personal Experience: Chaos Jailer and Early-Morning Poison
In line with my playstyle, I usually field just one Ambush monster.
My favorite: Chaos Jailer.
Why? Because during the Ambush round, Chaos Jailer can immediately apply Poison. That means when the first round starts, the enemy is already sick. All thatâs left is to wait.
This strategy often works. It feels like slipping poison into your opponentâs coffee before the duel even begins.
But⌠Ambush Can Turn Into the Enemyâs Weapon
In one particular battle, I got too confident. I thought, âone Ambush is enough.â
Turns out, it wasnât.
My opponent used two Ambush monsters, and even worseâtheir team was faster.
The result?
With the same heroâChaos Jailerâmy attack collapsed right in Round Zero.
Before the first round even started, I was already behind.
You can see that loss here:
It felt like arriving late to the arena, only to find the match already underway.
Surprises and Valuable Lessons
The most surprising thing for me was this:
Ambush isnât about who has itâitâs about whoâs more prepared.
- The number of Ambush units matters
- Speed matters
- Backup matters
An unprotected Ambush unit can die uselessly. But a well-arranged Ambush lineup can lock down the match from the very start.
The key lesson: donât treat Round Zero as a formality. Because thatâs often where the final outcome is already decided.
Reflection: Ambush in the Current Meta
With more and more unique cards and strange combos appearing, Ambush has become a highly decisive opening skill. Itâs perfect for players who like to:
- strike first
- disrupt the opponentâs plans
- play fast and aggressively
But it also demands careful calculation. One small mistake, and the result can be fatal.
For me, Ambush is the art of stealing time.
It doesnât always guarantee a win, but it always forces the opponent to react.
Quick strategy tips:
- Use Ambush to create an early advantage
- Pay attention to speed and the number of Ambush units
- Donât be overly confident with just one card
- Prepare a backup plan in case your Ambush fails
If you have a monster with the Ambush skill in your collection, donât just let it sit there. Try playing it. Feel the adrenaline. Because in Splinterlands, sometimes victory is decided⌠before the first round even begins.
Talk about Splinterlands,
If you haven't tried out this fantastic game called Splinterlands yet, I invite you to Join.
It's free, but you'll need to invest in a beginning deck or buy gaming cards to gain real assets like cards and tokens.
If you already joined the splinterlands, and are looking for a place to grow. We need YOU. We are a chill, social guild looking for a few more active members! If you think you might be a fit, join us in our Discord
