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 strategy and a market analysis of the price of the card. 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 Merdaali Guardian.

Gameplay Analysis

The Merdaali Guardian is a support-oriented card with strong utility, focused on healing and sustaining your team.

Mana Cost: 3
Attack Type: None (Support card)
Health: 4 (Level 1) to 6 (Max Level)
Speed: 2 (Level 1) to 3 (Max Level)
Abilities:
Tank Heal (Level 1): Restores a portion of the front-line monster's health each round.
Strengthen (Level 6): Increases the maximum health of all friendly monsters.

The Merdaali Guardian's Tank Heal makes it an excellent choice in lineups that rely on high-health tanks or sustain strategies. Its Strengthen ability at higher levels adds additional durability to your entire team, synergizing well with defensive or attrition-based tactics. Despite lacking offensive capabilities, its utility ensures its value in supporting your other monsters.

Synergies

The Merdaali Guardian thrives when paired with cards and strategies that emphasize sustainability:

High-Health Tanks: Combine with monsters like Wave Brood or Diemonshark to maximize the value of Tank Heal.
Armor Buffers: Cards like Albatross or Wavesmith add armor to your team, complementing the healing provided by the Guardian.
Magic Damage: Pair with magic-heavy lineups to capitalize on extended battles where healing gives your team the upper hand.
Speed Buffs: Adding Swiftness to increase the Guardian's speed ensures it heals before enemies deal damage.

Ruleset Performance

The Merdaali Guardian excels under certain rulesets:

Equalizer: Its low base health is boosted, while its healing ensures your team outlasts the opponent.
Keep Your Distance: With no attack, it fits perfectly in battles disallowing melee or ranged monsters.
Little League: Its low mana cost makes it an excellent support card in restricted mana battles.
Healed Out: Its effectiveness is nullified, so avoid using it in this ruleset.

Market Analysis

Historical Price Movement
Regular Foil: Approximately $0.03 per BCX, making it highly affordable for most players.
Gold Foil: Prices average around $0.60 per BCX, offering good value for collectors or those seeking higher DEC rewards.

Investment Potential
The Merdaali Guardian’s utility in low- to mid-mana battles, combined with its accessibility and low price point, makes it a great choice for new players. Its widespread use in Water splinters ensures steady demand, and its role as a reliable support card solidifies its value in the long term.

Conclusion

The Merdaali Guardian may lack offensive capabilities, but its healing and team-wide buffs ensure it has a consistent presence in Water lineups. Its low mana cost and versatility across multiple rulesets make it a reliable pick for both competitive and casual play.

Have you incorporated Tinderlock into your strategies?
What do you think about this card? 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. 😊