#1 Weekly Challenge

THEME: ANT MINERS

Edition: REWARD
Rarity: COMMON
Element: FIRE
ATTACK: MELEE
ABILITIES: Scavenger at level 1; Shield at level 6

Why should you consider using "ANT MINERS"?

Simple Reason = Low Mana with shield

Strategic Reason

~ For 2 mana, he got 2 skills which can be a big advantage at certain conditions, in this battle it was to bulk him up to become a tank for the team.

ENTER BATTLE :

Also a glimpse of what I am thinking and not thinking when picking my lineup

Here are the Rules for the Battle

Mana : 17 (low mana battle, great for showcasing Ant Miners)
Equal Opportunity* : All monsters have the opportunity ability
Holy Protection** : All monsters have the divine shield ability

*Utilize this skill to activate Ant miners scavenger skill to make him a viable tank even without the equalizer rule.
**Using this to make sure Ant Miners can survive the first round before he can stack up the scavenger skill

Lineup Positions :

Summoner : PYRE

• Increasing speed to strike first and making use of the opportunity skill.

1 = ANT MINERS

• In a low mana battle, using Ant Miners as tank is a very viable option because of the shield and scavenger skill. Since this monster only have 3 hp, the divine shield greatly influence my decision in placing Ant miners at Position 1.

2 = FURIOUS CHICKEN

• With only 1 hp, it will most likely be targeted because of opportunity and together with divine shield, there is a high chance that 2 enemy monsters will waste their attack just to kill the chicken in round 1. And if speed is enough, can also be a way to cancel the enemy monsters divine shield

3 = CREEPING OOZE

• Slow skill have great synergy with pyre reducing enemy teams speed and also a good diversion for the enemy attacks because of its 1 hp. Can also be a viable damage source to cancel divine shield of enemy monsters.

4 = MAGMA TROLL

• Great damage output with just 4 mana. I picked this monster from pure speculation since the earth element is open, there is a chance that my opponent might use high damage monster with heal skill like Kron, and since this monster have affliction skill, Kron's heal will not be much of an issue.

5 = FLAME IMP

• Its Swiftness skill is also a good combination with pyre. Dealing 2 magic damage might be helpful incase some monsters have a chunky armor to break or if enemy monsters have evasion/blind skills. If lucky enough, most monsters will have a hard time dealing with the flying ability with high speed monster making it a viable option to distract enemy damages.

6 = BEETLE QUEEN

• Magic damage with good support for my monsters since I have 4 Melee attacker, and Ant miners might need heal after Round 2 or 3 if enemy tank monster is strong.

COMMENCE BATTLE
ROUND 1

Click image above to watch Replay

No kron but still have the flesh golem in the enemy lineup, using magma troll was a good choice.

ROUND 2

Preparations quickly paid of and my ANT MINERS is stacking up some hp real good. The downside was the enemy lineup also have a monster with scavenger skill.

ROUND 3

2 monsters died on each side, but my advantage was that 1 of the enemy monster which died was a damage dealer and 2 of the monsters which died on my side was just distractions/support.

ROUND 4

A 2 Mana Ant Miners is holding its ground against a 6 mana Flesh Golem, definitely great to see that my setup was effective.

ROUND 5

This was a bit frustrating, I have the speed advantage but the fly ability is just being triggered when Magma troll is attacking.

ROUND 6

Fly got triggered again >.< Good thing I have a monster with magic damage to gradually lessen the hp of the enemy monster

ROUND 7

With a bit of struggle, Magma troll finally landed the final blow on the screeching vulture, but flesh golem gained the upper hand and dealt with ANT MINERS.

ROUND 8

First attack of the Magma troll didn't activate the affliction skill. Luckily Magma troll still have the divine shield and did not die in just one hit.

ROUND 9

Finally activated affliction. Magma Troll also took advantage of the speed difference and evaded the flesh golems attack.

RESULT

Retained my win streak.
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In low mana battles, with enough preparation, ANT MINERS can be a great tank for the team. Taking advantage of the scavenger skill to gain enough hp for mid to late game and together with the shield skill, he can be quite hard to take down.
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***Interested in playing and earning? Click my referral link below and after you have purchase your summoner's spellbook, I'll give you back $0.50 in DEC.
https://splinterlands.com?ref=aweee