Hey everyone!
Welcome to another Battle Mage Secrets Challenge, this time featuring the “Shades of Gray” rule, which only allow Neutral Monsters to be summoned.
Shades of Gray
This rule is relatively new, and as said, it only allows the use of Neutral Monsters in the field, so it greatly reduces your options, when it comes to assembling a team, but the basics still remain, in my opinion.
If we look at the Modern Format, you still have great options to assemble a typical lineup of tank + magic card + ranged attacker.
- Tank: Both the Gargoya Lion and the Grimbardun Fighter are two great options, since once offers protection against Magic, and the other against Physical attacks, respectively. Special mention for the Xenith Monk, who has the ability to heal, at level two, something scarce in the Neutral Splinter. You also have the option of the Ulundin Overseer, which I would consider a “Mega-Tank”, since it’s abnormal level of Health.
- Magic: When talking about Magic, I believe we have three great cards here; the first one is the Rare Moxian Rebel, whose attack is not strong, but it’s Weapon’s Training effect, allows you to get two extra attackers, if done right. Then you have the Epic Magi of Chaos, who doesn’t have a special effect, but whose attack is quite strong. At last, you have the Spirit Hoarder, one of my all-time favorites, since it has a healing ability, Triage, which is rare in Neutral cards.
- Ranged: In this aspect, the two Monsters that I like are the Supply Runner and the Gargoya Devil. The first has the Swiftness ability, available at level five and the other one can Fly and attack from the first position. I should also mention the Xenith Archer, a card that you can squeeze in almost any lineup, if there is few Mana available.
- No attack: Non-attacking Monsters are also an option, so you have the option of the Ulundin Overseer, which I would consider a “Mega-Tank”, since it’s abnormal level of Health. As well as the Ulundin, you have the option of the Scavo Hireling, a very useful card in this Shades of Gray rule, since it can Repair your Armor. It’s particularly useful here, because there are few defensive options in this situation.
Battle
Ruleset
Lineup & Analysis
In this battle, which was done during a Brawl, only Gold Foil cards from the Modern sets could be used, up to a Silver cap level. Leaving aside “Shades of Gray”, we also had the “Tis but Scratches” rule, which grants the Cripple ability to every Monster… I paid no attention to it, since my worry was the “Noxious Fumes” rule, which Poisons every Monster in the field. Plenty of Mana to spare and the Fire, Death and Dragon Splinters inactive.
So, my efforts were focused on trying to survive the fight, rather than trying to win it by beating my opponent:
- As a Summoner Kelya Frendul. I picked her with the hopes that her Armor would allow me to endure the fight better.
- As a tank, the Gargoya Lion, more like cannon fodder in this situation, actually.
- Another cannon fodder, the Disintegrator, although this one allows me to de-buffs my opponent’s Melee attack.
- In third position, the Ulundin Overseer. Positioned there to reduce incoming damages, an allow him to get to the final stages of the battle.
- Then, the Xenith Monk at level two who heals two points per round, nullifying the poison effect, a last resort.
- In fifth place, the Supply Runner as an offensive factor.
- At last, another offensive card, the Gobson Bomber. Among all my possibilities, these two Ranged attackers had an acceptable degree of health.
Well… the battle was lost and I consider that it was first, because of Arkemis the bear, who Armored his entire team… and second, the Martyr factor also allowed my opponent to further reinforce already strong cards like Arkemis and his Xenith Monk. Besides from that, I don’t think there was much difference, he was better at surviving the poison.
This is it, thank you for reading!
Thanks for sharing! - @alokkumar121
