On Splinterlands, each monsters are having different mana cost. Those mana is important part of the game, because each game is having different mana cap, which limit the monsters that able to deploy on the battlefield. Sometimes we got high mana cap which allow us to use any monsters freely, but some other times, we could face a low mana cap that having very strict monsters that we can deploy. One mana cost monsters is a great option on the medium low mana cap because they can fill the slot without wasting many mana. You can use them as a decoy or even a hitter.

Each element is having their own 1 mana cost monsters. On modern league, there is several monsters with 1 mana cost that I often use :

First from the death element, there is the carrion shade, with it's flying ablity. His flying ability makes it possible for this monster to evade some physical attack. Very usefull as decoy.

Next from the fire element, there is rdiated scorcher with it's scatter ability. This monster could be usefull for breaking high armored units.

Next the mycelic morphoid with the thorn ability. Usefull to hurt back any melee damager from the enemy side.

Now for the neutral units, there is chaos agent that can help to waste enemies physical damage with the evade ability and magic with the phase ability. At max level, he can even hurt back enemies that missed their attack on him with the backfire !

Last is from the newest reward cards edition. This monster is very very usefull because with just 1 mana cost, he can be a pretty good tanker with the heal ability. He also having quite high physical damage !

Battle Example

Now let's move into the battle example. You can watch the battle on https://splinterlands.com/battle/sl_b06ed0c3bb56da33785e21c707e5bc9b , but I will also share it here.

For the ruleset, there is equal opportunity, reverse speed, and and reflect shield. Opportunity mean enemies will aim the weakest monsters, great condition for my carrion shade to act. There is 36 mana cap, medium and it's still possible for the carrion shade to join the battle. With flying ability and slow speed, he can be usefull on this reverse speed ruleset.

At 1st round, my team manage to elimiate 2 monster, with carrion shade took the first turn. He also manage to evade 3 incoming attack this round! My team are yet getting eliminated cause my enemies all missed their attack to the carrion shade which is the weakest.

At 2nd round, my team manage to eliminate 2 enemies. Meanwhile, the carrion shade took 1 damage but not getting eliminated cause he got 2 health point and only took 1 damage this round.

My team ended up winning the match easily, thank to carrion shade which not only help giving damage but also prevent the team getting damage cause he manage to evade 3 incoming attack as the weakest monsters on the equal opportunity ruleset.

Conclussion

1 mana cost monsters is usefull cause they can easily fit to any matches with their low mana cost. They can be used for giving damage, break armor, or waste enemies attack. Carrion shade as one of the 1 mana cost monsters is having flying ability which makes it have higher chance to evade physical damage. You can even waste many attack from enemies if the evade is triggered.

Final Words