The Conclave Conundrum: Chasing the Meta or Chasing the Cards?
Unlike previous sets where a simple bulk purchase of packs could set you up with a solid range of cards across all rarities, Conclave Arcana flipped the script. The introduction of multiple pack types—Standard, Alchemy, and Legendary—added layers of strategy. I spread my DEC across all three, lured by the promise of Black Foils, Arcane variants, and, of course, the shot at Legendary Gold Foils. While this made the pack opening experience feel more like a game in itself, it came at a cost.
Now that the set is live and cards are playable, I find myself severely underpowered in Ranked battles. Competing in Champion division, my Common, Rare, and Epic cards simply aren’t leveled enough to hang with the new Meta. This creates a tough situation: I still love opening packs—always have—and the chase cards give me a reason to keep doing it. But if I’m being strategic, the smarter move has always been to hit the market and buy the cards I need to max my collection for competitive play.
As if that weren’t enough of a fork in the road, we now have Starter Packs thrown into the mix. These new 1,000 DEC packs guarantee only Commons and Rares, and exclude chase cards entirely. At first glance, they seem like a great way to fill in missing cards at a cheaper rate. But the fact that these are unlimited concerns me. Oversupply could lead to price suppression of those cards, which might hurt long-term value and distort in-game economics. Sure, it’s great for new player onboarding—which is important—but I can’t help but feel like it may be ripe for abuse in the short term.
So where does that leave me?
I’ve decided to lean into what I enjoy most: the thrill of the chase. I’ll continue targeting packs with chase card potential—Black Foils, Arcanes, Legendaries—and let the market stabilize before making a push to finish my set of Commons and Rares. I expect prices to drop as more Starter Packs flood the ecosystem, and I’ll be ready to strike when the time is right.
For now, I’ll accept being a bit under-leveled in Ranked while still playing my part in the evolving Splinterlands economy. After all, this isn’t just a card game—it’s a journey, and like any good journey, it’s full of twists, pivots, and exciting surprises along the way.
And who knows? Maybe the next pack I open will have a Gold Foil Arcane card that makes the whole gamble worth it.
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