Conqueror Jacek is generating a lot of heat and excitement in the splinterlands community, and it is well deserved! This card is exciting on many levels, and I can't wait to dive into this sketchy modern deck tech on Conqueror Jacek!

Conqueror Jacek

Conqueror Jacek is a 6 mana legendary summoner soon to be released by airdrop after 10m total CL packs are sold, and he has three abilities: Scattershot, Piercing, and +2 Speed. The additional two speed alone is amazing given how fast many of these red cards are, but piercing, which assigns all damage not required to destroy armor to health after the armor is removed, is a very underrated mechanic that will really shine through as this card sees more use.

The most interesting ability on the card though is scattershot, which forces ranged and magic monsters to target an enemy monster at random ignoring taunts. On it's face, this seems especially useful in blast rulesets and when you expect a lot of taunts to draw fire from squishy damage dealers. Below are some of the cards I feel best take advantage of these abilities. You will never run just one team comp, as you will tailor your strategy to the mana available and the rulesets in play each game.

Spark Pixies

Easily one of the most frustrating cards ever printed, and it definitely didn't need +2 speed. XD This is easily one of the best cards in red, and it definitely earns a solid place in the Conqueror Jacek toolbox with Flying, which grants immunity from earthquake damage and has an increased dodge chance agaisnt melee and ranged monsters without flying, and Dodge which grants increased chance of evading damage from melee and ranged monsters. With 6 speed at level 1 and 7 speed at level 8, Spark Pixies is already one dodgy boy without those abilities. Throw in a stun, and he's a real monster of a 4 mana card. Easily one of the first picks in rentals/purcahses for a Jacek deck. This speed demon does well in every ruleset, but seems especially great in lost magic since it's the only damage type that can reliably hit spark pixies. It's also not uncommon to place a spark pixie before a serpentine spy as a potenital guard agaisnt opportunity damage-- often an enemy spy will miss the pixie granting a massive advantage.

Scorch Fiend

Fiends are always a useful card to have on hand since they cost 0 mana, as they can be the difference from landing the killing blow with one turn to spare or agonizing defeat. At max level, each fiend also gains an additional ability, and demoralize is one that can really make a difference combined with a shield monster like Chain Golem or Living Lava. He's especially good at maxed level in the up close and personal rulesets and the lost magic rule sets. Most of the red cards really seem to shine well in lost magic. A must have for any red deck.

Countess Sinesh

At eight mana, you won't be able to pull this card off often, and it hurts losing the opportunity to the scattershot ability. Where this card really shines under Jacek though is the swiftness and blast, as she grants an additional +1 Speed to all friendly monsters. Scattershot also does well with blast damage since you have a higher probability of hitting a target that isn't at the front or the back of the team. When you hit a monster with a monster on each side, the blast monster will hit three monsters instead of two. While she should be reserved for the highest mana battles, I think she's a strong inclusion especially at her cheap reward card price. Especially good in, you guessed it, lost magic where speed really kills.

Grum

Oh, did you think Grum was scary before? Now imagine him with +3-4 speed with Jacek, Supply Runner, and Countess Sinesh. Oh, and remember that piercing damage? He is absolutely isnane under Jacek, especially as a hedge agaisnt magic with void armor and void. The bloodlust will get really scary with Grum as he ramps up almost every turn with 5 piercing damage. This guy will be really scary under Jacek without a doubt. People will get sick of this combo faster than you can say llamakron.

Djinn Inferni

Djinn Inferni may seem like an interesting addition, but I really like the idea of a scattershot stun squad including Goblin Fireballer, Pixie, Lava Launcher, and Inferni. While a bit RNG dependent, each one has other reedemable qualities as well, and I've always felt like 5 magic damage with giant killer was a bit underrated. He might be quite squishy at 7 mana, but in equalizer where everyone has the same health, he seems to have quite the advantage. In equalizer comps, you also expect a more protracted battle, so I feel like the stun firing squad can see some extra value in long high mana equalizer battles. This is a an interesting and cheap card that I would include simply because he's cheap.

Fire Elemental

Fire Elemental has long been one of the best red cards in the game, and with blast, massive speed, and three ranged damage, he definitely feels at home with Jacek. I wouldn't say he's a must have, but I would include him if you can either way. Just an all around great card with very strong synergy with Jacek. Not to mention, that redemption could kill off a few scattershot stragglers.

Blood Maker

Blood Maker was already an insanely strong card, and with 4 damage (and piercing from Jacek) with cripple makes him an absolute legend. With 6 speed, he'll be extremely hard to hit in the lost magic battles, or if you come across someone spamming melee or ranged comps. Blood Maker is an easy auto inlcude into the Jacek Toolbox.

Flamesmith

You might not have expected to see flamesmith on this list, but once he gains the blacksmith ability at level 6, he becomes an insanely good complement to Grum with his Void Armor and high armor value. Pairing him with a Scavo hireling can provide a great deal of extra survivability to Grum, even in No healing rulesets. The shatter is an added bonus, and the 4 damage at max and 2 damage at level 1 isn't something to turn your nose up at either. I think Flamesmith is a strong inclusion for anyone running Grum with Jacek in Silver or higher.

Serpentine Spy

Likely the best red common ever printed, this is a staple of any red deck. 4 damage opportunity and 6 speed. YES PLEASE!!! Auto include without a doubt.

Spirit Hoarder

An absolutely fantastic card with triage and blind. Triage heals the backline monster who lost the most health, which can be an absolute lifesaver. Blind slightly reduces accuracy of all enemy melee and ranged monsters, which combined with all the increased speed and dodge mechanics availble to red makes him a solid choice for when you're expecting a lot of ranged or melee. 2 damage for three mana and a dispel is nothing to get upset about either.

Cornealus

This is definitely not a budget option, and you may struggle to find battles to sneak a ten mana card into, but combined with an amplify from Venari Spellsmith or Venari Heatsmith, and he is an absolute close ranged juggernaut as the only card in the game to have all three amplify boosted abilities and Heal with a massive 12 health. Cornealus is an insane card if you can afford him, but you probably won't play him enough to make it worth your while to rent him.

Supply Runner

Because what this comp needs is more speed, supply runner provides an exta swiftness option for up to +4 speed between Jacek, Countess Sinesh, and Supply Runner. You might not find many times when you can play all three, but sometimes you can't afford that seven mana for countess sinesh, and you still want that swiftness. It's a cheap card that plays very well with Jacek and the very fast red options, so I wouldn't think twice before buying or renting him for a Jacek deck.

Goblin Firemage

Goblin Fire mage is a fun card to include with the dispell and blind. At 4 mana, he's a great option for the Jacek Scattershot dodge comp. The blind isn't bad at all either if you don't have access to neutral for Spirit Hoarder.

Lava Launcher

5 Damage Piercing under Jacek? YES PLEASE!!!! Lava Launcher is a fantastic low cost card perfect for high mana battles or filling your power needs to get to the next league. You probably already own or rent several copies of this card.

Lava Spider

A three drop ranged creature with poison is exactly what the scattershot summoner needs, but sadly Lava Spider doesn't get poison till level 10. If you are playing in diamond league, Lava spider will be an isnane beast and a bane to your opponents. Outside of diamond, he might be worth it for when you just need to slip in another 3 drop ranged monster since he starts with 2 ranged damage at level 1. This card could easily be a game changer for diamond, and it's my favorite card for him so far. Scatterpoison along with Doctor Blight could be quite interesting!

Pyromancer

More blast never hurt anyone except your opponent, so this card is an autoinclude in your Jacek Deck at any league level. Fantastic card overall, while not the fastest, it will not hold him back under Jacek.

Goblin Fireballer

Two mana with decent damage and stun is a perfect option for filling out your mana, and could be quite insane in a Diamond Equalizer Scatterstun comp with Lava Launcher, Fireballer, Pixie, and Djinn Inferni.

Honorable but Very Expensive Mentions:

Chain Golem

Ok, Chain Golem and Doctor Blight are just two of the best cards in the game hands down. They're autoincludes in any deck where you can afford them.

Doctor Blight

Closing Remarks

I hope you've found this guide helpful in preparing you for the new airdrop legendary summoner coming to the splinterlands soon! It's been a while since I've posted, and I'm hopeful I'll be able to get back in to it more. Please let me know if anyone has any special requests for guides specific to a summoner.