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# BATTLE MAGE SECRETS Weekly Challenge! Briar Patch
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![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPJG5tFFBn6DaTh3LXDdfqJPLDuwVkAoUvKeFFRvJigpw/thumbnail.jpeg)

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<p>The ruleset of this week is <strong>Briar Patch</strong>, where all monsters receive the Thorns ability at the start of the game. Melee monsters from the enemy team receive half of their damage back, rounded up.</p>
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## The Rule Set
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<img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQmdTshTwY1KLTxiCNn6J97cPXkNntm3Zxgij8bjDvXaMrg/img_combat_rule_briar_patch_150.png" alt="Briar Patch" witdh="100"></td><td><strong>Briar Patch:</strong>  All Monsters have the Thorns ability.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQmTm7tZXrhdoMywDw1CzW1U26atY7GV14kU5WvTLWtkxVL/img_combat_rule_broken_arrows_150.png" alt="Broken Arrows" witdh="100"></td><td><strong>Broken Arrows:</strong>  Ranged attack Monsters may not be used in battles.</td></tr>
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## Strategy
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<p>Considering that in this game melee cards would have disadvantages and ranged cards could not be used, I assumed that my opponent would use cards with a magic attack. That's why I used the Gargoya Lion as a tank, as it can reduce magic damage by half.</p>
<p>If my enemy thought the same way as me and used a tank with Void, I preferred to use melee cards to not have my damage reduced. And to protect the melee cards from damage caused by Thorns, I used Venari Wavesmith to protect them from at least one Thorns when attacking.</p>
<p>My main attack was focused on the backline, utilizing Uraeus and Pelacor Bandit, while Gargoya Lion and Tider Biter defended the frontline.</p>
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## Position
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<p>The chosen positioning was: Gargoya Lion in the first position as a tank, Tide Biter in the second position so that he can take advantage of his Reach ability and don't take damage due to its Reflection Shield ability, Uraeus in the third position, Pelacor Bandit in fourth and Venari Wavesmith in last so that Sneak cards can survive longer.</p>
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## Lineup

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<tr><th><center>Card</center></th><th><center>Description</center></th></tr>
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<tr><td><center><strong>Kretch Tallevor</strong>
<img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQmdZgpA3PRjQY5DTEppWMQfVidh6PRdQi7WHuyYmZ8xV8D/kretch_tallevor_lv5.png" alt="Drake of Arnak">
</center></td><td>Kretch Tallevor is an epic summoner who has no ability and a low mana cost.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><center><strong>Gargoya Lion</strong>
<img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQmTsKoBBu4sQH9v8T1oLw9FCZ9qmfZrC3F6bS31PyW5PXd/gargoya_lion_lv8.png" alt="Gargoya Lion">
</center></td><td>Gargoya Lion is a great tank when magic is needed to be countered. And have the increased possibility to dodge some attacks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><center><strong>Tide Biter</strong>
<img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQmT21t83c5F3X5M6t4XL4zm5H4SFByB2VJSWenwz7dGkC9/tide_biter_lv5.png" alt="Tide Biter">
</center></td><td>With the Reach and Reflection Shield abilities, the Tide Biter is a good choice to attack the enemy tank and not take damage from Thorns.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><center><strong>Uraeus</strong>
<img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQmXRG3WsR7VjK66A2hUu7kYvrMdxYQMzBMHwduLfss6kBw/uraeus_lv5.png" alt="Uraeus">
</center></td><td>Uraeus is an epic card with the ability to attack the enemy's backline (Sneak), in addition to poisoning them (Poison).</td></tr>
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<tr><td><center><strong>Pelacor Bandit</strong>
<img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQmbfc3xTNhpUEk1NMdntHnyZWVj58qMngjfb79qC61gqty/pelacor_bandit_lv8.png" alt="Pelacor Bandit">
</center></td><td>Pelacor Bandit is a great card, with a high possibility of dodging enemy attacks, with a low mana cost and great attack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><center><strong>Venari Wavesmith</strong>
<img src="https://images.ecency.com/DQma2XrueZKpFoBVCwDLPzpd514BF5GJuZ2jPqEAwHVAGPP/venari_wavesmith_lv6.png" alt="Demented Shark">
</center></td><td>Venari Wavesmith is a rare card that provides protection for other cards, making it difficult for them to be defeated. </td></tr>
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## Battle

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AeJ8ICnq_TQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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<p>You can see the battle <a href="https://splinterlands.com?p=battle&id=sl_65d5d5a10013413b5f5143c01c794497&ref=lucasqz">here</a>.</p>
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## Conclusion
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<p>As I assumed, the enemy used magic cards as the main source of damage. With this, I was able to reduce the damage received on the frontline. And with their weakest cards being in the backline, my Sneak cards quickly eliminated the backline.</p>
<p>Even though all enemy cards are level 1, my strategy would still be winning if they were all at the maximum level of the league, according to the simulation done with the <a href="https://splintertools.io/custom?league=3&team1=240,5,349,8,459,5,351,5,337,8,338,6&team2=178,6,394,3,339,3,462,3,175,5,519,6&rulesets=BRIAR_PATCH|BROKEN_ARROWS&modern=false">Splintertools<a/>.</p>
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