Greetings, Splinterlands warriors.
Last season, I wrapped things up with a result that was… well, not too bad, but not exactly something to brag about either. Still stuck in the same league, still using the same old strategies, and occasionally still losing due to poor positioning—or simply being overconfident. But that’s how it goes: a season always ends, and a new story always begins.
And at the start of this season, I encountered something new. The name even sounds like a medical diagnosis: Anemic.
At first, I thought it was just another standard ruleset. Turns out, it’s not that simple.
Anemic is a ruleset where all monsters, no matter who they are, start the match with a maximum Health of only 4. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bulky tank with massive HP—everything gets equalized.
First Encounter: I Lost, Without Much of a Fight
The first time I faced this ruleset, I’ll be honest—I went in with my old mindset. Still thinking about thick tanks, long sustain, and defensive formations. To make things worse, the ruleset was combined with Global Warming, making the situation even harsher for monsters.
The result?
I lost. Quickly. No heroic story to tell.
Usually, battles go on for several rounds with exciting back-and-forth exchanges. But in Anemic, it feels like sudden death. One hit, one mistake, and a unit is gone. There’s no room for slow thinking.
I even sat there for a moment after the battle ended.
“Wait… that was fast.”
You can watch the battle here:
Starting to Understand: It’s Not About Strength, It’s About Speed
After that loss, I started rethinking everything. In this ruleset, the very definition of “strength” changes completely.
Since all HP is capped at 4:
- Tanky monsters lose their advantage
- And most importantly: whoever is faster, wins
That’s when I realized that Speed is everything.
If you can strike first, chances are your opponent won’t get the chance to strike back.
I also began to see the value of abilities I used to consider “just extras”:
Strengthen → increases HP beyond the 4 limit
Life Leech → slowly builds survivability
Scavenger → grows stronger as units fall
Shield & Void → reduce incoming damage
Multi-attack abilities → because one extra hit can mean one extra kill
In short, it’s no longer about lasting longer—it’s about eliminating your opponent as quickly as possible while maintaining just enough protection.
Reflection: This Ruleset Isn’t Fair, But It’s Honest
When you think about it, Anemic isn’t fair… but it is honest.
It forces you out of your comfort zone. You can’t rely on your favorite cards or old strategies anymore.
And that’s where its real value lies—especially for newer players.
For those with limited collections, this ruleset actually opens up opportunities:
- Expensive cards don’t always dominate
- Smaller monsters can shine
- Strategy matters more than collection size
Closing & Quick Tips
If you ever face the Anemic ruleset, don’t panic.
Think of it not as a limitation, but as an invitation to play differently.
My advice:
focus on speed, use abilities that improve durability, and don’t be afraid to play smaller monsters.
Because in a world where everything is “low on health,” the ones who survive aren’t the biggest—
but the fastest and the most prepared.
See you in the arena. ⚔️
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