![new splinterlands thumbnail.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmTVyprgje4oCRqaG5bcUzbMg8XSbUoe46YKbv8iwtZvTE/new%20splinterlands%20thumbnail.png)

This week's battle challenge focuses on any monster from the Dragon Splinter, which I have chosen the Black Dragon:

![](https://i.imgur.com/KaM4TWQ.png)

 
# Card Details
![Image 14.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeC1s3YaSmxmdGG88ERT7Don9NeNB9h3RaPs6RrYkpzwa/Image%2014.png)

A reward edition legendary rarity monster from the Dragon Splinter at level 3:

- Estimated cost: ~$460
- Mana cost: 6
- Magic damage: 2
- Speed: 2
- Health: 4
- Flying: Has an increased chance of evading Melee or Ranged attacks from Monsters who do not have the Flying ability.
- Life Leech: Monster's health increases each time it damages an enemy Monster's health in proportion to the damage dealt.
- Slow: Reduces the Speed of all enemy Monsters.
- Strengthen: All friendly Monsters have increased Health.

When the untamed edition cards were released, a new set of reward edition cards were also released. The Black Dragon was part of that set of reward edition cards. The Black Dragon is akin to a Warlock and Mage in traditional RPG games. Warlocks and Mages tend to support the Barbarians and  Fighters by applying buffs to allies and debuffs to enemies while being too squishy to be in the heat of battle due to low health and having just enough damage to provide support damage in battle. The Black Dragon's abilities are geared to improve its survivability by leaching health when it attacks, increasing the health of all friendly monsters, evading damage through flying, and slowing the attack speed of all enemy monsters. The Black Dragon does cost a hefty six mana. It does an average of 2 magic damage. It, therefore, will need to be protected by a couple of tanks and pray that the opposition doesn't have the opportunity or sneak ability monsters in their lineup.

 

# Battle - [Full Battle Replay](https://splinterlands.com/?p=battle&id=sm_U2u6Pti2kjhWrxDdDRG4&ref=mercurial9)

![](https://i.imgur.com/BWP7evD.jpg)

## Battle Details
- Mana cap: 46
- Rulesets(s): Broken Arrows, Spreading Fury

## Lineup Details
- Daria Dragonscale (Summoner): +1 melee damage to friendly monsters
- Lord of Darkness: primary melee tank
- Dragon Jumper: DPS damage dealer with opportunity ability
- Black Dragon + Spirit Miner + Phantom Soldier + Prismatic Energy: Quadruple magic attack with buffs and debuffs 

## Did your strategy work? What will you try differently next time?
![](https://i.imgur.com/rxlCSpO.jpg)

Any battle where I usurp a legendary summoner is almost always a satisfying victory to replay and look at in detail. It's always going to be tough whenever you are up against a legendary summoner whose primary ability is to debuff the opposition. Still, thankfully I played the magic monsters I played were able to negate some of those debuffs. In some way, the ruleset restriction favored me in this battle. I loaded my backline with high health magic monsters and magic monsters who could apply buffs and debuffs to turn the battle in my favor. I was doing nine magic damage vs. my opposition seven magic damage, which proved pivotal. The Black Dragon Life Leech ability is powerful as it effectively absorbs one health from the opposition monster it attacks. This ability improved its survivability by increasing its health, and even when it landed up in position 1, it was able to take a hit and still survive, all due to its health has increased. Also, it managed to kill, assist one monster and take down another. Overall, it proved very useful in this battle. 

 

# Do you like the Black Dragon? Why or why not?
When you look at the price of the Black Dragon, it will cost $150 for 1 BCX, which is the most expensive magic monster for the Dragon Splinter in the reward, untamed and dice edition of cards. This reflects how sought-a-card it is. As I alluded to above, the Black Dragon is akin to a Warlock/Mage/Magician in traditional RPGs. It excels in applying buffs and debuffs while chipping in battle with support damage as long as it is supported and protected by friendly tanks. Looking at the usage stats, it's not a popular card at all, and I wonder if it has to do with the high price, high mana cost, or low health? In terms of other alternatives, one of the newest reward cards, Venari Bonesmith, is a card I would be pursuing as a cheaper alternative. While it doesn't have the debuff and buff abilities of the Black Dragon, it does have Life Leech and Poison ability (unlocks at level 4), cheaper mana cost. For the price of 1 regular BCX Black Dragon, you would be able to purchase 5-6 single BCX Gold Foil Venari Bonesmiths. Nonetheless, I am still glad that I managed to acquire it for free when it was part of the reward pool of cards, but I am not sure I would recommend players to go out purchasing it if they don't have it in their collection.

![image.png](https://images.hive.blog/DQmSqdyFkiNYaGrPfycJqPhfWZv8FixAPR8MpruQkMFrRo4/image.png)

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