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 Dragon Spirit.

Gameplay Analysis

Dragon Spirit is a Rare Dragon Monster from the Dice set in Splinterlands. This low-mana, defense-oriented card excels in utility and survivability, offering valuable abilities that counter debuffs and provide impactful effects upon death. Its skill set makes it particularly strong in control strategies and synergistic with damage-over-time effects.

Mana Cost: 4
Attack Type: No attack (Support/Utility Monster)
Abilities by Level
Level 1: Flying (Increased chance of evading Melee and Ranged attacks from non-Flying Monsters)
Level 3: Immunity (Becomes immune to negative status effects like Poison, Affliction, or Stun)
Level 5: Redemption (Deals damage to all enemy Monsters when it dies)

Level-Based Insights

Level 1: With Flying, Dragon Spirit naturally dodges physical attacks more effectively, making it useful in Earthquake rulesets and against non-Flying attackers.
Level 3: Immunity makes it highly resilient against debuffs such as Poison, Affliction, and Stun, allowing it to stay active longer in high-pressure scenarios like Noxious Fumes.
Level 5: Redemption turns it into a valuable sacrificial piece, dealing damage to all enemy Monsters upon death, which synergizes well with aggressive or attrition-based strategies.

Comparative Analysis

How does this card compare to other similar ones?

Vs. Djinn Chwala: Chwala focuses on Thorns and durability as a frontline tank, while Dragon Spirit serves as a utility card that punishes enemies upon death and avoids debuffs with Immunity.
Vs. Black Dragon: While Black Dragon focuses on offense with Life Leech, Dragon Spirit plays a purely defensive and disruptive role through evasion and death-triggered damage.
Vs. Desert Dragon: A more offensive card with Trample, whereas Dragon Spirit functions as a utility unit that helps disrupt and soften enemy lineups.

Key Takeaway
Dragon Spirit is a versatile support Monster designed to disrupt enemy strategies and provide defensive value through Immunity and Redemption. It fits best into attrition-focused decks and excels in battles where debuffs and survival are key to victory.

Synergies

Brighton Bloom (Dragon Summoner): Grants Flying to all friendly Monsters, amplifying evasion potential and synergizing with Dragon Spirit’s natural ability.
Owster Rotwell (Death Summoner): Reflects magic damage, adding extra layers of punishment in conjunction with Redemption for powerful retaliation setups.
Contessa L'ament: Reduces Ranged damage across the board, making Dragon Spirit’s natural evasion from Flying even more effective.
Doctor Blight: Can pair well with Redemption, applying poison and debuffs while Dragon Spirit softens the enemy team upon death.

Ruleset Performance

Favorable Rulesets:
Earthquake: Natural Flying allows it to avoid environmental damage while non-Flying opponents suffer.
Noxious Fumes: Immunity keeps it alive longer while other Monsters suffer from poison effects.
Explosive Weaponry: When combined with Redemption, it can cause massive splash damage when defeated.

Challenging Rulesets:
Aim True: Negates the evasion granted by Flying, making it easier for enemies to land hits.
Reverse Speed: Its naturally higher Speed becomes a disadvantage, making it more vulnerable to attacks.
Close Range: Prioritizes ranged damage, which bypasses the benefits of Flying if enemies hit reliably.

Market Analysis

Price Overview
Regular Foil: around $ 0.45
Gold Foil: around $ 30

Investment Potential
Dragon Spirit is a valuable niche card for players who prioritize control strategies or countering debuff-heavy lineups. With Immunity and Redemption, its impact scales well with level, making it a worthwhile investment for competitive players focusing on Dragon Splinter strategies.

Ratings

Usefulness: 8/10 (Excellent defensive support with strong death effects and debuff immunity)
Cost-Effectiveness: 7/10 (Niche utility card, but powerful in the right scenarios)
Versatility: 6/10 (Effective in control strategies but less flexible in fast-paced offensive setups)

Conclusion

Dragon Spirit is a defensive utility Monster focused on disruption and survival. Its Immunity allows it to outlast opponents in debuff-heavy battles, while Redemption punishes enemies when it falls. It’s a must-have for players who enjoy control decks and strategic disruption, especially in specialized Dragon Splinter setups.

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. 😊