Social Media Challenge - Outsmarting A Stronger Opponent Using Cursed Windeku

Prelude
Good day to all, how are all of you doing? Hope all of you are doing good. I am back again to do another battle sharing with the community on some special and memorable matches that I encounter as I play Splinterlands throughout the week. Today's match is a little cheeky where a trusty old card is hinting me to use it more often.

Some background to share is that this card was like my old buddy when I joined the game during the end of untamed and Chaos Legion was on the verge of release. Back then we didn't have many choices for cards for a new good tank and this card was truly affordable.

And here is that card:

This during launch of Chaos Legion expansion got everyone excited. This period is when we saw a massive change from Haunted Spirit to Cursed Windeku. Thorns is always a very sought after ability at level 1 for tanks. If we can have thorns with a very defect health set. There is a high chance you will be able to outlast your opponents. This card becomes way crazier as it levels especially when it takes gains the heal. Thorns alone is bad enough to handle, when having heal, it just brings the difficult to the next level. So how did I outsmart my opponent? Let's get right on to the battle proper.

Battle Sharing

Reference Battle
Battle Link: https://splinterlands.com/?p=battle&id=sl_8cf9d015af2e3f98d1694cc2a32434e3&ref=vaynard86

Ruleset: Even Stevens
Mana Limit: 18

Selection Analysis
For a 18 mana match and being able to select even mana cards only. Choices become a little limited.

For me in a low mana match, tank selection is very important. Choose well, you will ace your match. Choose bad, the tank will be non-existent and you will be just vulnerable with your mana wasted on the tank. After picking my summoner, I am only left with 14 mana at my disposal. In a situation like this, I've decided to invest 6 mana in Cursed Windeku as I had an ilky feeling that opponent will use melee related cards and thorns will be their best medicine. Following Cursed Windeku will be Revealer to help stun card and buy me additional time to defeat them while I added another defensive card in the name of Ravenhood Warden to further give the lineup more armour as Cursed Windeku will get more survivability. To ensure I got more defensive padding, I added a Corpse Fiend as base to take more hit while keeping Ravenhood alive.

Opponent had a very interesting lineup and way more levelled than I do, fielding a Level 4 Quix which looked really intimidating. With an intent to hit Kei on position 2, opponent placed a big hitter Magi Necrosi at position 1 which can actually avoid thorns from Cursed Windeku for Necrosi. Kei is in 2nd position which is known for the enfeeblement which is capable to reduce attacks of melee attackers. To support Kei, there is Vruz hoping to sneak up on my backline and a similar Corpse Fiend as backline padding.

Little did my opponent knew, I had something up my sleeve to let melee cards self bleed and also fortify my cards to keep them safe. Time to reveal how the match went and how my lineup showcase their prowess. Let's battle!

Round by Round Synopsis

Round 1 - At the start of the match, I felt so disabled. So many debuffs slammed on me with Cursed Windeku even enfeebled and Quix debuff reducing speed and rage damage from my team. Thankfully, Revealer landed a stun on Magi Necrosi. No casualties this round.

Round 2 - Kei slammed on Windeku, didn't kill it but suffer more thorns and now hanging by a thin thread. Kei was subsequently zapped by Revealer to death and Windeku successfully killed off Magi Necrosi. 2 little critter with 1 health health. Let's see them knock against my Windeku.

Round 3 - Because my opponent lineup not affected by Quix negative speed debuff, both cards have higher speed than me and ended up becoming like a queue to death with Vruz striking first and Corpse Fiend next. Outcome - both killed by thorns. And with no cards on my opponent's end, victory is secured and I claim a nice victory through outsmarting my opponent.

Battle Summary
It's been a while since I had such fun with Cursed Windeku. Opponent hoped to use Kei to suppress all the melee I have by slowly chomping me with enfeeble, but little did he know I had a trap laid for him which return the favour everytime a melee attack struck me. Thorns has been a wonderful counter for melee when use correctly, which is why in the past Mylor Crowling is such a dangerous summoner in Wild where it gives the full team thorns.

Wrap Up
Nice attempt by my opponent whom also had a strong plan to take out whatever card that I might place with a front attacking enfeeble and a backline sneak. It is a very formidable strategy that I can learn. But while plans on offence is important. One also has to be wary and prepare for surprises when opponent can use your strategy against you and end up taking away the victory from you for their own.

See you next time!

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Till my next battle sharing, take care, stay safe and happy battling!

If you are keen on playing Splinterlands, feel free to join me via this link: https://splinterlands.com?ref=vaynard86