Newbie Guide to Splinterlands: The General Concept

1. Understanding the Game Mechanics

1.1 Basic Concept

Splinterlands is an innovative auto-battler game in the blockchain space. Both you and your opponent select teams, and the results play out automatically. To learn the game, familiarize yourself with various skills in the help section and refer to the getting started guide at https://support.splinterlands.com/hc/en-us.

1.2 Battle Mechanics

• Teams consist of a summoner and monsters/units.
• The summoner determines which colors or "splinters" can be used for units.
• Each position in the lineup has specific traits affecting attack and defense capabilities.
• After team selection, there may be a tactics stage for summoners with this feature.
• Battles are calculated automatically, and you can review results in the battle replay.

1.3 Match Conditions

As you progress in ratings, various match conditions will impact your card selection and have environmental effects on the team during the match. These conditions make team selection engaging and require strategic thinking.

2. Getting Started

2.1 Earning Potential

To earn in Splinterlands, you need one or more of the following:

• Staked SPS (owned or rented)
• Cards (owned, rented, or delegated)

2.2 Battle Rewards

• Earn for each game you win
• Gain Glint and SPS as your rating increases through wins
• Losses result in lower rating points but don't affect past earnings

2.3 Energy System

• You can only play as many games as you have energy
• Energy can be purchased with various assets
• Energy regenerates slowly over time

3. Game Formats and Earnings

3.1 Modern Format

• Focuses on the latest two card editions
• Smaller set of cards to learn
• Currently offers higher earnings due to various factors

3.2 Wild Format

• Allows use of all card editions (current and previous)
• Introduces more cards than Modern format
• Permits automated bots to play assets
• Requires a fee for each season (approximately $2 every two weeks)

3.3 Leaderboards

Both Modern and Wild formats have leaderboards for top-rated users, which mint DEC rewards (subject to change).

4. In-Game Currencies and Rewards

4.1 Glint

• Can be spent at the Glint store: https://next.splinterlands.com/shop/rewards
• Many items are bound to the account
• Reward cards earned in the Glint store have temporary unlock periods

4.2 SPS (Splintershards)

• Earned as staked SPS, increasing earning potential
• Can be unstaked over 4 weeks (1/4 per week) and traded
• Functions as a governance token for voting on DAO matters
• Passively earns interest while staked (until a future date specified in the whitepaper)

4.3 DEC (Dark Energy Crystals)

• In-game currency along with credits
• Can be obtained through Hive-engine, Keychain swaps, or tools like https://hivehub.dev/routes
• Available on BSC and can be bridged to the game

4.4 Credits

• Can be purchased with fiat money

5. Building Your Card Collection

5.1 Renting Cards

• One-click rentals feature has recently been added to the main site and PeakMonsters has also added additional support for the feature.
• Third-party sites like https://peakmonsters.com/ offer bulk card rentals

5.2 Purchasing Cards

• Use in-game markets or third-party platforms to buy assets from other users
• Strategy: Start building your collection with key cards for success

5.3 Card Packs

• Contains 5 blockchain-generated cards based on intended distributions
• Chance to get valuable cards at a lower price
• Supports continued game development
• Available directly from the website or on secondary markets

5.4 Card Variants and Leveling

• Gold Foil variants increase earnings, burn for more tokens, and require fewer copies to level up
• Cards can be leveled up using multiple copies, improving their stats

6. Advanced Features

6.1 Land Expansion

The Land Expansion introduces a new layer of gameplay and earning potential:

• Players can own, develop, and manage virtual land plots
• Land ownership provides resources and additional earning opportunities
• Stay tuned for updates on the full implementation of this feature

6.2 Soul Keep

• Tower Defense game with SPS earnings
• Requires different cards to own and rent for play
• Offers a unique gameplay experience within the Splinterlands ecosystem

6.3 Tournaments

• Regular competitive events for players to test their skills
• Various formats and entry requirements
• Opportunities to win prizes and climb the ranks

6.4 Guilds and Brawls

6.4.1 Guilds

• Join or create a guild to collaborate with other players
• Guilds are essential for participating in brawls and other guild-specific events
• Share strategies and resources to improve collectively
• Contribute to your guild's success and earn rewards together

6.4.2 Brawls

• Guild-specific tournaments that run regularly
• Participation requires guild membership
• Feature unique rules and restrictions for each brawl
• Offer additional rewards and a chance to showcase creative deck-building
• Contribute to your guild's ranking and earn individual rewards
• Typically require specific card combinations or strategies, encouraging diverse gameplay

6.5 Runi

• ETH-based card that can be owned and staked for gameplay
• Provides unique benefits within the Splinterlands ecosystem
• Explore cross-chain opportunities and enhanced earning potential

7. Tips for Success

1. Study the various skills and abilities of cards

   • Use the in-game help section and community resources to understand each card's potential
   • Practice combining different abilities to create powerful synergies

2. Experiment with different team compositions

   • Try unexpected card combinations to surprise your opponents
   • Adapt your strategy based on the current meta and popular team builds

3. Pay attention to match conditions and adapt your strategy

   • Familiarize yourself with all possible match conditions
   • Build flexible decks that can perform well under various circumstances

4. Consider renting cards to test strategies before purchasing

   • Use the rental market to experiment with high-level or rare cards
   • Analyze the cost-effectiveness of renting vs. buying for your playstyle

5. Participate in community discussions and learn from experienced players

   • Join the official Splinterlands Discord server and engage in strategy discussions
   • Follow top players on social media and streaming platforms to learn advanced techniques

6. Stay updated on game developments and economic changes

   • Regularly check the official Splinterlands blog and announcements
   • Participate in governance votes to have a say in the game's future direction

7. Manage your resources wisely

   • Balance your investments between card purchases, rentals, and staking
   • Consider the long-term potential of cards and tokens when making decisions

8. Set goals and track your progress

   • Define clear objectives for your Splinterlands journey (e.g., reaching a certain rank, building a specific deck)
   • Regularly review your performance and adjust your strategy as needed

By following this guide and continuously learning, you'll be well on your way to mastering Splinterlands and thriving in its ecosystem. Remember, the game is constantly evolving, so stay engaged with the community and official announcements to keep up with the latest strategies and opportunities.