Hello dear Splinterlands and Hive community!
![c](https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/splinterlands/23wMW9fP6LcDYatAAonGCC4iyi297mz6XoKUpRXmupjEGHZmBrR9Rxojrt4nCB8sjAmP1.png)
Unfortunately, I didn't keep my rentals till the end of the season to stay in the *Silver League* and ended up dropping to *Bronze* at *300 Rating* making me waste more than a couple of days to climb back to Silver and get access to higher quality chests/SPS rewards/ Battles!

Since today's focus was **Life Element** I should capitalize on this and rent some modern (and wild) Life cards and truthfully I was surprised:
- The Rent was **cheaper** than usual! 
- The cards I've rented did unexpectedly well 

https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kyo-gaming/23tGc5ujq3SkWg5ATPM5Tza19vnMPzhKpx1ZQqBgzWkCnxKpsjuBy6BAqJDEm77WFMXsy.png
# Rented Cards

## Ilthain
<center>
![i](https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/rift/Ilthain_lv2.png)
</center>

Let's be honest here, I've been planning to rent **Tyrus Palladium**, however when scrolling on PeakMonsters rentals, I've found a *level 2* Ilthain for **only 1.46 DEC/day**.
Ilthain rental is usually higher at around 5-6 DEC / day (*level 2*) in the previous seasons.
Moreover, I've always had my eyes on this summoner:
- **+1 Speed**: the current Meta evolves a lot about Speed and Speed Manipulation Cards are highly popular, Althought Life isn't know for having Fast Cards, it was a huge help while picking the monsters cited below
- **Return Fire**: I've lost countless battles to Pelacor Arbalest heavy missile and other archery Monsters, at least for now, I can watch Pelacor suiciding on the first round. In addition, it'll add a big edge on certain rulesets like **Keep your Distance** and the newly released **Going To Distance**

## Chaos Knight

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![c](https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/chaos/Chaos%20Knight_lv3.png)
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At *level 1*, it lacks the damage so a *Level 3* is a must:
We got a 6 Mana Monster with 4 Health, 3 Armor and most importantly **Shield** and **3 Melee Damage**
Not only it can tank lots of hits from enemy Melee and Ranged Attacks (don't forget **Retrun Fire**) while inflicting serious damage to the frontliner
Weekness: Magic damage...
Fun Fact: Because of its low Health, it attract many **Opportunity** attacks that waste their attacks on Armor!

## Stitch Leech

<center>
![l](https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/chaos/Stitch%20Leech_lv3.png)
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I've rented a *level 3* Leech because of the higher Speed and Health compared to *level 1*
For only *3 mana* We've got a 2 Melee damage **Sneak** Monster with 3 Speed (2 + 1 Ilthain Buff) and 4 Health 
This monster is decent in *low mana battles* and can do some damage!

## Celestial Harpy

<center>
![c](https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/chaos/Celestial%20Harpy_lv3.png)
</center>
Get a *level 3* Harpy for the additional attacks, 1 attack will do shit!
For 2 Mana we got **2 Melee** Damage, **Opoortunity**, **Flying** and an okayish speed.
This Monster is mostly used in *low Mana battles* (alongside Stitch Leech) and can be placed at the last position for some lucky sneak attacks evasion with **Flying**

## Dumacke Exile

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![c](https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/rift/Dumacke%20Exile_lv3_gold.png)
</center>
Behind that Chad Look and 6 Mana lies some cool stats: 
- 3 Melee Damage
- High Speed at 5 (4 + Ilthain buff)
- 5 Health 
- 2 Armor
- **Sneak**

Here we got a *Fast Sneak* Monster dealing serious damage AND is perfect for `last Position`: **2 Armor** absorbing some enemy Sneak damage, enough Health to survive a couple of round and High speed that can result in some attaks evasion! 
This card is truly underrated!

## SilverShield Assasin

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![c](https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/reward/Silvershield%20Assassin_lv1.png)
</center>
I'm sure you've come across the *Lorna Shine + Silvershield Knight (Inspire) + Silversheld Assasin*. This combo is pure Madness!
At *level 3* this monster gains its second attack for a total of **4 Melee Damage per round** and luckily I've found a cheap rent for this card too at **0.51 DEC / day**
In term of stats, taking aside **Double Strike**, it's not too far from Dumacke Exile: it got decent health, Armor for protection, decent speed!
If **Inspire** is added to the team, SilverShield Assasin will be superior and deadlier in term of damage

## Overview at my Rentals 
![rentals.PNG](https://images.hive.blog/DQmau3fCL4UooCFvR5zN1o6zsE3RfAVkDP9fBfH5mqPKRyv/rentals.PNG)
2 DEC a day? Take my Money! 

https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kyo-gaming/23tGc5ujq3SkWg5ATPM5Tza19vnMPzhKpx1ZQqBgzWkCnxKpsjuBy6BAqJDEm77WFMXsy.png

# Battle

We got a 28 Mana **CounterSpell** Ruleset which I can comfortably put Chaos Knight since it'll be less likely enemy will play Magic. Moreover, I've got **Return Fire** Ready for the upcoming Archery Damage!

<center> [Battle Link](https://splinterlands.com/?p=battle&id=sl_01207d4ba58924d18d43734174fd081a) </center>

### Round 1
![r1.PNG](https://images.hive.blog/DQmVZcMYotzEn8btC4eKgeA24etCXWrGn3x5WAGM8wrkFMH/r1.PNG)
After a series of Buffs and Debuffs, Enemy got a slight advantage in term of Speed however:
- Enemy got 2 *Magic* Damage + 6 *Ranged* Damage for a Total of `10 damage per round`
- My team got `14 Melee Total Damage` + **Return Fire**

I didn't expect to face Oshannus but it's a logical choice since Void nullify the reflection Damage, while I'm glad they did bring lots of Archery Damage!
![return fire.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmSaTkJx3KhcP1f5moNr5cUjDtf17WP74fqnST1DeT3Ut5/return%20fire.png)
Even Camouflage is NOT Safe!

### Round 2
![r2.PNG](https://images.hive.blog/DQmRJXnvjw19EPNZ3s9w5oDXaQCeyq2zDX73DnzViitNgxX/r2.PNG)
The battle is shifting to my favor as Igor Darkspear and Xenith Archer got eliminated by **Return Fire** and My **Sneak** Attackers! Sadly Chaos Knight got eliminated by Oshannus, let's see how the battle unfolds

### Round 3
![r3.PNG](https://images.hive.blog/DQmc7NmxEreBcDCArLxgyxePM9eUEaeXGRM1Tj6RLrPUVLz/r3.PNG)
Sea Stalker Damage is nuts but luckily its getting some back thanks to **Return Fire**. Since Sea Stalker has camouflage, all attacks are directed to Oshannus !

### Round 4
![r4.PNG](https://images.hive.blog/DQmTxERS5vdNh4jBLXZ5Gtc13sKPdmzpUBudqXBF2zmchBb/r4.PNG)
Huge miss! remember what I said about Harpy! Fly came in handy! The Battle is now pretty much over with my victory
![untitled.gif](https://media.tenor.com/UKuJEKC_2UIAAAAC/victory-winner.gif)

https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kyo-gaming/23tGc5ujq3SkWg5ATPM5Tza19vnMPzhKpx1ZQqBgzWkCnxKpsjuBy6BAqJDEm77WFMXsy.png

### Battle Dicussion
- Having all attacks focused on the Backline was the key to win this battle: Oshannus is too tanky and constantly gets Heals from Merdaali 
- High Speed: Less chances to miss => a couple of misses could turn the tides to Enemy Team's favor 
- That miss thanks to Flying
- **Shield** Nullifyed most of the attacks while buying a lot of time for my sneak monsters to attack, if it wasn't for **Shield**, Sea Stalker could've created a lot more Chaos to my team  

https://images.hive.blog/0x0/https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/kyo-gaming/23tGc5ujq3SkWg5ATPM5Tza19vnMPzhKpx1ZQqBgzWkCnxKpsjuBy6BAqJDEm77WFMXsy.png

Thanks a lot for reading till now and Good luck Have Fun on your Splinterlands Battles!

Dividers are from @kyo-gaming

Make sure to take part in the Weekly battle Challenge [here](https://peakd.com/@splinterlands/posts)

Wanna take part in these exciting Splinterlands battles: Join me [here](https://splinterlands.com/?ref=cantfoldaces)

Posted using [Splintertalk](https://www.splintertalk.io/@cantfoldaces/exploring-new-strategies-sneak-life-team-composition)