Are the "Gladius" cards still relevant in the current meta?

Best regards Splinterlovers 💚

I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while now, because the “Gladius” set is one of those iconic and ridiculously powerful editions that were created solely and exclusively for the “Guilds” and their wars; later on, they were introduced into “Ranked Battles” with some strict rules, However, since cards have been released that defy the logic of the strategies from back when “Gladius” was the most powerful deck around—and many wanted to be able to play them in all game modes—the reality is that they no longer seem as strong as they used to, and they’re much easier to counter now.

All of this makes me wonder: Could it be that the "Gladius SET" isn't such a big deal anymore, and we need newer cards? This leads me to think that perhaps the battles or wars between guilds could use an update and/or overhaul to make them more fun and competitive, with new cards and more rewards on the horizon that would make this mode at least twice as good as it is now. I’m not sure if that could happen, but it would be interesting to explore in this post whether these cards are no longer as relevant.

So, in today’s post, I’ll be discussing various aspects of the “Gladius” set and everything I mentioned in the introduction. So, if you want to learn more about this and find it interesting, keep reading.

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Analyzing Gladius's SET in the current META: Are they necessary?

The way I see it, the “GLADIUS” cards have lost some of their appeal. As new expansions are released and we get a new set of cards, they come with abilities that are increasingly “broken,” so to speak, even surpassing the incredible “Bloodlust” ability, which remains one of the strongest in the game to date and can undoubtedly turn the tide of a battle in a completely drastic way.

Now, for those of you who don't know how the "Bloodlust" ability works, let me explain:

Bloodlust

This is one of the strongest abilities in the game due to the versatility and offensive power it grants to cards. The way it works is that every time a card with this ability defeats an enemy, it gains a bonus to all its stats (Attack, Speed, Shield, and Health). This means that every time you defeat an enemy, your card’s power grows. If, for example, the battle drags on longer than expected, just imagine how powerful the card can become. It’s insane.

Now, to answer the question in this section, we could say that “YES,” they are still necessary, but to a much lesser extent than before, since—thanks to a feature introduced perhaps three years ago, or maybe a year ago—these cards can now be used in “Ranked Battles,” all thanks to the ability called “Conscript.”

Integration and Feasible Solutions

What still makes this deck viable in the game is that it’s integrated with the main game formats thanks to the battle rule I mentioned earlier. Additionally, there are some special summoners you can use to summon them; however, this would only work in “Wild” and “Survival”—in “Modern,” it wouldn’t do any good, so it wouldn’t be viable at all in Modern.

Which Cards Are Viable?

• Quora Towershead: I’d say this is one of the most powerful cards in this set. Its abilities and how it’s used make it a very versatile card, so I’d say it’s the best in this context, though it’s useful for certain types of battles.

• Katrelba Gobson: This is a very powerful card; the combination of its abilities makes it one to watch out for. It’s highly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways.

• Isgald Vorts: Another card that undoubtedly stands out in this set, Isgald is extremely useful in various battle scenarios. He’s a very powerful card, and his abilities work incredibly well together, so of course he deserves a spot here.

• Captain Katie: It's a really good card, especially if your offense focuses on attacking from a distance, so I'd definitely consider playing it whenever we get the chance.

The Value of Guild Wars + Is It a Mode Worth Revamping?

In Guild Wars, depending on how they’re used and which ones you choose, they’re still quite useful. However, as I mentioned earlier, the reality is that they’re not as effective as they were in previous years. As I said, the game’s mechanics have evolved so much that the cards from the Gladius set can no longer keep up with the meta.

What I still find really interesting is how the “Guild Shop” and “Merits” work—this entire system has functioned perfectly, so it’s something that shouldn’t be changed, since I’m talking about the card set itself and what it means to play them today.

Restructuring the SET or the Mode?

In my honest opinion, I would like to see a revamp, although I don't currently have any specific ideas on what could be implemented; in a future post or the next one, I might discuss this in more detail, Even so, given the way battles work, the reality is that we need new cards in the “Gladius” set—cards that, just as “Bloodlust” was exclusive to that set at the time, offer a new ability that breaks away from traditional battle mechanics.

If this happens, we could see a new boom where players rush to join guilds just to have a chance at getting these cards. Plus, the meta would shift in such a way that playing them in traditional formats would be completely crazy; incredible combinations would emerge, and all of this would help drive demand for the game. At least, that’s my take on it.

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Conclusion

So, what do you think of this idea to revamp guild battles? Although, more than that, it’s about adding new cards to the Gladius set to provide more versatility and a new meta that takes over the battlefields. It would be epic to see something like that.

In any case, if you have any ideas regarding the restructuring of guild battles, please feel free to comment on this post; it will be very helpful for me in creating a post specifically on this topic.