True Speed Splinter Monsters. Ranked!

We continue the Splinter Monsters. Ranked! series with the latest installment ranking Monsters by their True Speed

Speed is integral to the Splinterlands game mechanics as it decides the order of monster attack. The 2nd element of the game it affects is the miss probability. When cards level up, speed can increase and cause the card to attack earlier in rounds, as well as impact miss probability. Abilities are also added as the level increases and can affect miss probability, but not order of attack. True Speed standardizes speed to make it simple to compare the miss probability between a friendly and enemy monster.

What is True Speed?

• True Speed combines:
  • base speed
    • miss probability that comes from difference of speed
  • ability speed
    • added miss probability that comes from Flying, Dodge, Swiftness and Blind

How is "miss probability" calculated?

• Miss probability =
  • +10% per difference of speed
    • Friendly Monster base speed 5
    • Opposing Monster base speed 2
    • +30% miss probability
  • +25% Dodge
  • +25% Flying
  • +15% Blind
  • +10% Swiftness (base speed +1)

True Speed =

base speed + 2.5 (dodge) + 2.5 (flying) + 1.5 (blind) + 1 (swiftness)

It is important to note that there are abilities that counter True Speed such as Snare and other Flying monsters, but True Speed is calculated in a vacuum with no opposing abilities.

True Speed Rankings

• Data pulled from https://kiokizz.github.io/Splinterlands/cardsByLeagueCap.html
  • Legendary Summoner Rarity
  • Diamond+ League cap

1. The Spark Pixies are the Usain Bolt of Splinterlands. They are alone at the top with a true speed of 12! It means that monsters with ranged/melee attack and speed ≤ 2 have 0 chance of hitting. 7 is tied for the highest base speed in the game and when you add on Dodge and Flying...well...good luck hitting that.
2. Cocatrice has a base speed of 6 with Flying and Dodge adding 50% to its miss probability. This low mana monster is capable of staying alive longer than most monsters with similar health, while also wasting opponent turns on misses.
3. Phantom of the Abyss was one of my 1st favorite cards because when paired with Ruler of the Seas (or any other Swiftness monster) the Phantom is super hard to hit with a high magic attack. Use Phantom and Ruler with the Legendary summoner Valnamor to get +1 speed and then sit back and laugh at all the misses that trio creates.
4. Although many cards have a higher base speed, Elemental Phoenix comes thru fast with complementary Dodge & Flying abilities. High magic attack, super fast monster with blast...what more do I need to say? This card played with Spark Pixies and Flame Imp will give any opponent a fit.
5. The low mana, Legendary Fallen Specter rounds out the top 5 with its combination of 6 base speed and Flying and Blind abilities. The 2 abilities allow it to jump 1 of only 2 base speed 7 cards in Vampire, who only has 1 speed ability.

True Speed should prove to be a very helpful metric when choosing optimal speed lineups to battle. One of the most important mechanics of Splinterlands is playing cards that compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses. What's your favorite Splinter for speed?

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