Splinterlads Mage Secrets - Armored Up With Ants

The classic weekly battle challenge retired to make way for the Battle Mage Secrets series, making it more entertaining. This new set-up adds a focus on dynamic strategies, as players will be able to choose from a greater selection of more diverse units to bring into battle. May the gods of random be in my favor!

Let's enjoy the Armored-Up ruleset, where all the monsters on the battlefield will become as tanked up as an Ankylosaur. All the monsters will get a two armor buff at the beginning of the game! There are some tactics that could bring an edge during the battle, such as using Void Armor to ensure that magic attacks strike armor first. Another gamble will be the use of Shatter and Piercing to destroy the armor more effectively.

Let's suit up, put the helmets on, and get ready for chainmail and massive shields. The Armored-Up battle-rule makes me go for the most extravagant tactics, and brings some less used monsters in the team. This is probably the second time I used the Flamesmith since it was introduced into the game.

Tarsa: +1 Attack and Health to friendly monsters

Legionnaire Alvar: OP melee with Void Armor

Ant Minters: Melee with Scavenger

Flamesmith: Ranged with Shatter

Djinn Inferni: Caster with Giant Killer

Djinn Apprentice: Caster

One quick glance and I knew this battle will be though! Extra armor, even more extra armor from the summoner, and twice repair armor! The healing support for a Serpent of Eld with Dodge would be a pain as well.

Legionnaire Alvar's armor was done after the first round, but he was still alive and kicking. Not the same could be said about the Serpent of Eld, who was taken down by the djinn squad. Well... Alvar was alive and kicking for half of the second round, until the Deeplurker feasted on the Chaos Legion general.

The Ant Miners took the lead, as the little critters health grew after all that collateral damage. Five health is not massive, but still better than one lonely point like the Flying Squid. The Flamesmith has the chance to shatter more armors if the aquatic monster goes down quickly!

But it didn't! The Flying Squid survived the round, after an armor repair and a well-timed heal from the Guardian. The Ant Miners weren't strong enough, and made way for the third tank of the day!

This time Djinn Inferni managed to cast a firebolt before any healing attempt... and fried squid was added on the menu. However, a single mistake could turn the tides of the battle! This is far from over!

Let it be carnage! The fifth round was a quick one, with victims on both sides. It turned into Flamesmith versus Deeplurker, where the ugly fish was the only one that could attack. However, the Djinn Squad had enough fire power left in their bags.

The Swamp Spitter delivered the deadly blow on the Flamesmith, extinguishing his spark! Djinn Inferni was ready for vengeance, and his powerful firebolt carbonized the Deeplurker. The Djinn Squad had one lonely speckled frog to sort out! See the full battle here!

One little speckled frog, Sat on a speckled log, Eating some most delicious bugs. Yum yum!
He jumped into the pool, Where it was nice and cool, Then there were no green speckled frogs. Glug glug!

Let's give it another try and see if a little change can bring even more efficiency! The Armored-Up ability will boost everyone's armor by two, while Equal Opportunity will transform everyone into executioners! The monsters with lowest health will be attacked first, and the battle for survival will be fierce! This is why I added my all-time favorite into the team... the Ant Miners!

Tarsa: +1 Attack and Health to friendly monsters

Living Lava: Melee with Shield

Goblin Mech: Melee with Piercing

Molten Ogre: Melee with Demoralize

Ant Minters: Melee with Scavenger

Uraeus: Melee with Sneak

Scorch Fiend: Zero Mana Legendary

Was the whole tactic based on the Ant Miners? Yes, as the Scavenger ability will transform the little bug into a mighty tank. The preparation for the battle was mind-blowing seeing Mother Khala and units with big shields.

Did my game-plan anticipated this approach from my enemy? Yes, I predicted heavy shields and I was ready to slam down the enemies with the Goblin Mech. The Scorch Fiend acted as a decoy, while the Goblin Mech hit so hard the Shieldbearer with a piercing attack. The shield broke and the enemy was left without the main tank.

The Truthspeaker was the next victim, and his demise was a hard loss. All the opponents lost two armor points, becoming more vulnerable. The Molten Ogre and Living Lava combo was over-powered, as my tank was hardly taking any damage!

I made the tides of the battle turn in my favor with every stoke of blade and every axe blow! The Luminous Eagle was turned into fried chicken, the Pelacor Arbalest lost his wings and the Leech was squashed by my mighty army!

Just a lone boatman left and all eyes turned on him! It was easier then expected, and I was quite impressed by the Ants with ten health points! The tactic delivered well, and it felt like this battle could lasted form ages without worries about the outcome. See the full battle here!