Hello everyone,

stimulant challenge this week with ***Serpent of Eld*** 🐍.

<p><div class="pull-right"><img src="https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://files.steempeak.com/file/steempeak/splinterlands/DgjWMyP0-Serpent20of20Eld.png"></img></div>
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<i>Serpent of Eld</i> is a rare untamed card. Actually, water splinter has several nice tanks so it is quite rare to see the serpent in action. But it is unexpectedly useful in some situations.

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## Card analysis
<p><div class="pull-left"><img src="https://steemitimages.com/200x0/https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/untamed/Serpent%20of%20Eld_lv8.png
"></img></div>
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<b><i>Attack</i></b>   4 Melee, Poison, Return fire.

<b><i>Defense</i></b>   Fast & Dodge, Armor + decent health, No void/shield <br/>
It's clear that this serpent is lethal against melee and ranged, but has a great weakness in magical opponents.
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</p>

## Card usage
Actually, I'm pretty shure that *Serpent of Eld* is relative to *Serpentine soldier*, maybe cousin... They have really similar usage I think: low/medium mana **LOST MAGIC** matches.

In this kind of situation the tactic is simple: avoid as much attacks as possible and resist poisoning and return firing the opponents. The following (non magical) cards are really useful in this way:

<p float="left">
<img src="https://steemitimages.com/100x0/https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/untamed/Giant%20Squid_lv8.png
"></img>
<img src="https://steemitimages.com/100x0/https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/untamed/Albatross_lv10.png
"></img>
<img src="https://steemitimages.com/100x0/https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/beta/Crustacean%20King_lv10.png
"></img>
<img src="https://steemitimages.com/100x0/https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/untamed/Feasting%20Seaweed_lv8.png
"></img>
<img src="https://steemitimages.com/100x0/https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/untamed/Parasitic%20Growth_lv8.png
"></img>
<img src="https://steemitimages.com/100x0/https://d36mxiodymuqjm.cloudfront.net/cards_by_level/untamed/Tortisian%20Fighter_lv8.png
"></img>
</p>

- **Blind** reduces the probability of a hit on our tank 
- **Tank heal** + **Repair** recovers our tank defensive values
- **Protect**  enhance armor to everyone
- **Opportunity** kills the opposite archery return fired

## The Match ⚔️🛡️
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I tried to apply this strategy to the first *Lost Magic* match assigned. Actually, it is quite unusual to have one!
I also couldn't play with my freshly bought tortisian fighter because it was in cooldown.

<p><div class="pull-left"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNhoGARrxposB3iDS8BAqUxgoqcDhx3Uh7EBSFMLUrqkS/image.png"></img></div>
League: Diamond I 💎 <br/>
Armored up + Lost Magic <br/>
Mana cap: 34 <br/>
</p>

34 mana is quite high for the serpentine so I decided to add also a cube in second position and the inspiring sniper to boost the serpent and the opportunity monster. [Here](https://steemmonsters.com?p=battle&id=cc38c8897626f232b3bcdd6ef168069993ca5fec&ref=madgol) the match, and this is the lineup:
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![The startup](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcXP3t9kNMbn54XW6TrZDGk9fU2PbhUFo1F67x9buFms7/image.png)

..Quite frightening that gobin mech!

Let's start! 🎬

*Round 1* - My Squid gets compromised by the assassin, the serpent gets stunned but **Miss!** .. and again **Miss!**
<p><div class="pull-right"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRti9BjFbdidGLT8SBLuCcagHjQfoK498Y79gbuFqQzKK/misses1-res.gif"></img></div>
<br/> <i>Round 2</i> - 
<b>Miss!</b> The squid dies, but also the opposite goblin mech is compromised, and <b>Miss!</b>
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</p>

<p><div class="pull-left"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmebVd63DBQrSUkMcCtjjWpgtjQPwGRj2RU4FJEjdf7cbK/misses2-res.gif"></img></div>
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<br/> <i>Round 3</i> - 
Again double crucial <b>Miss!</b> <b>Miss!</b>! And the goblin mech is gone!
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</p>

<p><div class="pull-right"><img src="https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmQGpCeyBRHiHSb4y5AFvQr7UWuqMeRwiRw5dKTzgKCzmi/speed.gif"></img></div>
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 <i>Round 4 to 7</i> - 
Few monster remained, his slooooow slug tries to kill my serpent, but <b>Miss!</b>, <b>Miss!</b>, <b>Miss!</b> and <b>Miss!</b>!
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</p>

*Round 8* - The serpent gets poisoned and is trudging 

*Round 9* - **The serpent dies, standing ovation for him.** 👏👏🏻👏🏽👏🏿👏🏼👏🏾

*Round 10 to 23* - The cube wins by fatigue! 

What an amazing match that made the serpent's talent spark! Here the dedicated cam:

![Serpent's cam](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmSosjnBpaxRicozzdCop8ytNKN2XqKQDTbHkgkeKdYCrY/webcam.gif)

Some one can say *what a lucky win* but actually it's not luck. The crucial point in my opinion is that with magic out of the game, **speed matters** most of all and combined with *Blind* and *Dodge* makes the difference.

That's all! Cheers!

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