Hi all,

Introduction

Another post in this series. Thank you for your support in the previous posts 😊

This series intends to determine if there are other aspects of cards that may contribute to increasing its value. Based on your feedback I can focus on more/other things – so feel free to tell me where you want me to go into further detail.
I include some analysis on where the cards fit in terms of gameplay, strategy, comparison with other cards, and a market analysis of its price. Feel free to suggest what more do you want me to look into in this series, and your support is much appreciated!
In this edition I will be looking at the Sand Worm.

Gameplay Analysis

Sand Worm is a Common Neutral Monster from the Untamed set in Splinterlands. It is a high-damage melee attacker with Sneak, allowing it to target the enemy’s backline. As it levels up, it gains Snare to counter Flying enemies and Piercing to break through armor, making it a devastating force in melee-based strategies.

Mana Cost: 9
Attack Type: Melee
Abilities by Level
Level 1: Sneak (Targets the last Monster on the enemy team, making it a deadly backline assassin)
Level 6: Snare (Removes Flying from enemy Monsters and prevents them from dodging attacks)
Level 10: Piercing (If its attack breaks an enemy’s armor, the remaining damage carries over to health)

Level-Based Insights

Level 1: Sneak makes it a powerful backline eliminator, though its low speed can be a drawback.
Level 6: Snare makes it an anti-Flying specialist, ensuring it lands hits against evasive enemies.
Level 10: Piercing allows it to deal more damage against armored opponents, making it even deadlier.

Comparative Analysis

How does this card compare to other similar ones?

Vs. Uraeus (Neutral - 3 Mana): Uraeus is a cheaper, lower-damage backline killer with Poison, while Sand Worm is a high-cost, high-damage alternative with more survivability.
Vs. Silent Sha-Vi (Death - 5 Mana): Silent Sha-Vi is faster but weaker, while Sand Worm is a slow, heavy-hitting alternative.
Vs. Lava Spider (Fire - 4 Mana): Lava Spider has Sneak with a Ranged attack, but Sand Worm hits much harder and is more durable.

Key Takeaway
Sand Worm is a slow but powerful Sneak attacker that eliminates backline threats with high melee damage. Its Snare ability counters Flying Monsters, and Piercing ensures it remains effective against armor-based teams.

Synergies

Byzantine Kitty (Dragon Summoner): Gives it Speed and True Strike, solving its accuracy issues.
Lorna Shine (Life Summoner): Provides Divine Shield, allowing Sand Worm to survive an extra hit.
Quix the Devious (Dragon Summoner): Reduces enemy Ranged and Speed, helping Sand Worm land its devastating attacks.
Mylor Crowling (Earth Summoner): Thorns damage punishes enemies while Sand Worm attacks from the backline.

Ruleset Performance

✅ Favorable Rulesets:
Super Sneak: All Monsters get Sneak, making Sand Worm’s high attack even deadlier.
Taking Sides: As a Neutral Monster, it fits into any team composition.
Heavy Hitters: Pairs well with other Stun Monsters to deal extra damage.

❌ Challenging Rulesets:
Reverse Speed: Can be good here due to its low speed.
Noxious Fumes: Lacks Immunity or Self-Heal, making it vulnerable to Poison.
Melee Mayhem: Makes it more predictable since enemies can place tanks in multiple slots.

Market Analysis

Price Overview
Regular Foil: around $ 0.6
Gold Foil: around $ 1

Investment Potential
Sand Worm is a top-tier Sneak attacker with massive attack power. Its high damage output, Snare ability, and Piercing make it a valuable long-term investment, particularly in melee-based strategies.

Ratings

Usefulness: 8.5/10 (One of the hardest-hitting Sneak Monsters in the game)
Cost-Effectiveness: 9/10 (Affordable and highly effective in melee-based battles)
Versatility: 8/10 (Works in many rulesets but is slow and vulnerable to fast teams)

Conclusion

Sand Worm is a slow but devastating melee assassin with Sneak, Snare, and Piercing, making it a lethal force against backline enemies. If you’re looking for a high-damage, neutral Monster that can fit into any team composition, Sand Worm is a must-have for Sneak-based lineups.

What do you think about this card? Do you use it in your lineups? Share your experiences in the comments and let me know which card you'd like me to analyze next!
Thank you for your continued support and engagement. 😊