When Odds Align: Low Mana Melee Tactics with Blazebeard Merc

Good day, everyone, and Splinterlands community, I have another interesting and engaging Modern Format battle strategy, this time focusing on how I effectively utilize Blazebeard Merc in the Odd Ones Out rule set, particularly in low mana cap battles.

I discovered upon this strategy after observing that several of my opponents often chose the Fire Element, which frequently has units with strong melee damage and support skills like Dominion and Inspire that further increase melee stats.

I experimented with the element with some units to combo, looking into various ways to optimize its potential in particular rule sets after noticing this pattern. As time went on, I came to understand that this strategy is particularly useful in battles with a low mana cap, where every damage point and unit combination can have a big impact on winning.

Now, I will highlight this strategy to develop a carefully planned melee-focused strategy, which enables the team to sustain strong adaptability within the low mana cap while maximizing damage power. I can win regularly against opponents who undervalue the potential of this strong and adaptable card in such limited battle conditions by utilizing Blazebeard Merc's advantages and carefully allocating my lineup to create greater damage advantages.

If you’re wondering why I only use a level 2 Blazebeard Merc, there are a two of reasons. First, renting or purchasing a higher-level version can be quite expensive, and second, level 2 is already good enough for my strategy. It offers solid stats and reliable damage output, making it comparable to Halaran Huntress, which makes it a practical and effective option strategy choice without the need for a bigger investment.

Into the battle: https://splinterlands.com/battle/sl_0ebb1b29fd4e34c25279ec3b9ce6a9da

The battle rulesets for this match were Odd Ones Out, Counterspell, and Aim True, with a 15 mana cap and Fire, Water, and Death as the active elements. Since Fire was one of the available elements, I immediately planned a melee-focused strategy centered around Blazebeard Merc, a 3-mana unit that fits perfectly in the Odd Ones Out ruleset, where only odd-cost cards can be used.

For my lineup, I selected Brewmaster Abraxas as my summoner for just 3 mana, then positioned Halfling Refugee as my primary tank and main melee damage dealer in the first slot. Vicious Giraffe took the second position as a melee support unit with the Shatter ability to help break enemy defenses, while Ujurak Elder provided magic support with Strengthen in the third slot. Lastly, Blazebeard Merc served as my secondary melee damage dealer to round out the team.

While my opponent chose Dolfar Darflak as their summoner and deployed a lineup featuring Halfling Refugee, Grizi, Gobalando Soldier, Fenmoor Haunt, and Broken Earth Thug in their respective positions. The opponent strategy was also a heavily melee sneak/opportunity strategy, and picking the Death element was a solid choice, as it offers several strong units that perform well under the Odd Ones Out rule set.

I expected my Blazebeard Merc to be eliminated early in the battle because the opponent's Gobalando Soldier had both Ambush and Shatter, which could remove my armour and expose Blazebeard to their sneaky follow-up attacks. This, however, actually aided my plan because I wanted Blazebeard to launch at least one strong attack before being eliminated in order to stop my team from being affected by the Incendiary effect. A sacrificial Blazebeard was, in a sense, necessary to carry out my strategy successfully.

By round two, both my Blazebeard Merc and the opponent’s Halfling Refugee were taken out, leaving my Halfling Refugee as the main carrier of my team’s damage. However, there were moments when my Refugee became exhausted due to the Weary ability, making it unable to attack in the following round.

Fortunately, there were rounds where my Refugee remained active, keeping my chances alive.😁

If Blazebeard Merc had survived longer after landing that crucial first-round attack, I could have had an even better shot at winning the match. This strategy can feel like a gamble, especially with the drawbacks of Incendiary and Weary, but luck often works in my favor. It’s also worth noting that while these abilities come with disadvantages, they are often balanced by higher base stats, making the risk worthwhile in certain matchups.

A Big Thanks! For supporting me, being here, and coming this far. I hope this strategy assists you with some of your battles with these rule sets in modern format conclave and rebellion sets.

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Credits:

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