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 Cursed Windeku.

Gameplay Analysis

Cursed Windeku is a Rare Death monster from the Chaos Legion set in Splinterlands. With its formidable melee attack and defensive abilities, it serves as a robust frontline tank, particularly effective against melee attackers.

Mana Cost: 6
Attack Type: Melee
Melee Attack: Starts at 2 (Level 1) and increases to 4 at Level 4, reaching 7 at Level 5, 11 at Level 6, 16 at Level 7, and 22 at Level 8
Speed: Consistent at 3 across all levels
Health: Begins at 9 (Level 1) and increases to 10 at Level 2, reaching 11 at Level 4, and maintaining 11 through Level 8
Abilities:
Thorns (Level 1): Returns damage to melee attackers, deterring direct attacks and punishing opponents who engage in close combat.
Heal (Level 5): Restores a portion of its health each round, enhancing its sustainability and allowing it to endure prolonged battles.
Slow (Level 8): Reduces the speed of all enemy monsters, providing a strategic advantage by allowing allied monsters to attack first.

Cursed Windeku's combination of offensive and defensive capabilities makes it a versatile choice for players seeking a resilient tank that can also disrupt enemy strategies.

Level-Based Insights

Levels 1–4: With 2–4 Melee Attack, 3 Speed, and 9–11 Health, Cursed Windeku serves as a solid frontline tank, utilizing its Thorns ability to retaliate against melee attackers.
Levels 5–7: The addition of the Heal ability at Level 5 significantly enhances its durability, allowing it to recover health each round and withstand sustained enemy assaults.
Level 8: Gains the Slow ability, reducing enemy speed and providing a tactical advantage by increasing the likelihood of allied monsters attacking before opponents.

Comparative Analysis

How does Cursed Windeku compare to other Death tanks?

Vs. Harklaw: Harklaw offers higher armor and the Shield ability, reducing damage from melee and ranged attacks, as well as Immunity to negative status effects. In contrast, Cursed Windeku provides self-healing and speed reduction for enemies, offering a different set of strategic advantages.
Vs. Bone Golem: Bone Golem possesses the Void ability, making it more effective against magic attacks. Cursed Windeku, with its Thorns and Heal abilities, is particularly strong against melee attackers, providing a counter to physical damage dealers.

Key Takeaway
Cursed Windeku is a formidable tank within the Death splinter, offering a balance of offense and defense. Its abilities make it particularly effective against melee attackers, and its self-healing enhances its longevity on the battlefield.

Synergies

Cursed Windeku pairs effectively with:

Undead Priest: The Weaken ability reduces enemy health, complementing Cursed Windeku's offensive capabilities and increasing the effectiveness of its attacks.
Carrion Shade: As a low-mana flying monster, it can serve as a secondary tank or distraction, allowing Cursed Windeku to focus on frontline defense.
Life Sapper: Provides additional magic damage and self-healing through the Life Leech ability, creating a team composition focused on sustainability and gradual overpowering of opponents.

Ruleset Performance

Favorable Rulesets:
Melee Mayhem: Allows melee attacks from any position; Cursed Windeku can be utilized in non-tank positions to deal damage while benefiting from its abilities.
Super Sneak: All melee monsters gain the Sneak ability; Cursed Windeku can serve as a deterrent to enemy Sneak attackers due to its Thorns ability.

Challenging Rulesets:
Reverse Speed: Monsters with lower speed attack first; Cursed Windeku's speed may be a disadvantage here, making it more susceptible to faster enemies.
Noxious Fumes: Poison damage each round can outpace Cursed Windeku's healing, especially if additional healing support is unavailable.

Market Analysis

Price Overview
Regular Foil: Approximately $0.07 per BCX.
Gold Foil: Approximately $1.17 per BCX.

Investment Potential
Cursed Windeku's affordability and effectiveness as a tank make it a valuable addition to any player's collection. Its demand is sustained by its utility in various battle scenarios and rulesets.

Conclusion

Cursed Windeku stands out as a reliable and sturdy tank within the Death splinter, offering a blend of high health, retaliatory damage, and self-healing. Its synergy with various team compositions and effectiveness in multiple rulesets make it a strategic choice for players seeking a dependable frontline defender.

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. 😊