Positioning is often neglected because it's a very simple concept. Tanks go in the front and the units dealing damage goes to the back. It's a really easy concept to grasp and this is probably the first thing you would remember not only in Splinterlands but also in other similar card games. Actually, even in RPG, this concept is a standard. This very standard, very basic concept is also the reason why players often loses.
Splinterlands has an ability called Sneak which flips this concept inside out. The unit with Sneak attacks unit from the back first and the ones in the front last. When this happens, players stumble and trip and this one simple mistake sometimes gets fatal. This is the main reason why, in this battle, it should've been a draw but ended up in my win.
The Moment That Changed How I Play
The battle that changed everything for me looked simple at first. Both teams used the same units: Asel Alagosdil, Mystic Scaleweaver and Saltwater Mage. On paper, it felt like a mirror match where luck would decide the winner. I was even asking myself if I was wrong before this battle had its result.
In another theory, the enemy is correct. I can imagine Asel Alagosdil dying first which means on my lineup, Saltwater Mage goes next. I would be put on a disadvantage since they have Mystic Scaleweaver next and I would be losing that matchup since my Saltwater Mage has lower health. If this is how the battle went, I would've lost in that battle.
Splinterlands is a very tricky game. What if, instead, the enemy did not use a Sneak unit and instead just normal front to back strategy focusing damage on the front. I would surely lose. These are all possible things and could happen but because of this battle, whether I win or lose, I still prefer to position with that one unexpected thing in mind, "What if the enemy has a unit with Sneak ability?"
How That Lesson Changed My Approach
After that match, I went back to reviewing the basics and stopped treating positioning as a small detail. I began thinking of it as a defensive tool. I really don't like surprises and I want the battles to go as I planned. So, I always prepare for the inevitable and preparing on those "What if" scenarios.
I started asking simple questions before locking my lineup. Which unit can take Sneak damage better? Which unit do I want alive longer? Which unit can afford to die early if needed? These questions slowed me down but they made sure I am always prepared for any surprises.
At higher levels, even small things matter and sometimes, it matters more than big, flashy plays. One extra round of survival can flip a losing match into a win. I even had battles where it was decided because I had 1 health more than the enemy. Good positioning creates those extra advantages without needing stronger cards and can flip not only the draws but sometimes even the losses into wins.
Battle:
https://splinterlands.com/battle/sl_77703f3263044b6f7a53c4fb2c28adb5?ref=slimeyph
In this battle example, all units are the same for both sides. We both have Marlai Singariel as the archon and Asel Alagosdil, Mystic Scaleweaver and Saltwater Mage as our main units. The only difference is I have Mystic Scaleweaver as the last unit and they have Saltwater Mage as their last unit. My reason for the positioning is in case the enemy uses a unit that has Sneak, they would hit the higher health, Mystic Scaleweaver, first instead of my Saltwater Mage. I want Saltwater Mage to be on a safe position when this happens. This minor difference resulted in me winning this very battle.
Like I said, a minor difference in decision making can change the battle outcome. A single change in unit can make this win a loss. At the same time, the position usually decides who win and loses. A single mistake in the position can make one win into a loss or one loss into a win.
Hi, y'all. Slimey here, your jolly and gullible little blue slime. I got reincarnated to this world to better my art and join community challenges to get more practice and improve my skill.
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Images are taken from Splinterlands, Drawn in Krita, Animated in Photoshop and Edited in Canva.