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 Possessed Puppet.

Gameplay Analysis

The Possessed Puppet is a Common Death monster introduced in the Chaos Legion: Rewards set. It stands out as a low-health but high-offense melee attacker with a unique set of abilities that increase its versatility and utility as it levels up.

Mana Cost: 4
Attack Type: Melee
Abilities:
Level 1: Double Strike – Attacks twice each round, doubling its damage potential.
Level 6: Cripple – Reduces the target's maximum health with each hit, adding a debuff component to its strikes.
Level 10: Dispel – Removes all positive status effects from the target after attacking.

The Possessed Puppet's ability progression enables it to shift from a straightforward damage dealer to a disruptive force with both offensive and debuff capabilities.

Level-Based Insights

Level 1: Starts with Double Strike, dealing consistent damage with its dual attacks, but its 3 Health makes it vulnerable to early elimination.
Level 3: Gains an extra point of Melee attack, increasing its damage potential to 2 per strike (4 total).
Level 6: Adds Cripple, making it more effective against high-health opponents by limiting their survivability.
Level 10: Gains Dispel, enhancing its utility by removing buffs from its target, making it especially effective against heavily-buffed enemies.

Comparative Analysis

How does the Possessed Puppet compare to other Death splinter melee attackers?

Vs. Silent Sha-Vi: While Silent Sha-Vi focuses on backline disruption with Sneak, the Possessed Puppet provides consistent high damage through Double Strike and additional utility with Cripple and Dispel at higher levels.
Vs. Undead Badger: Possessed Puppet offers higher damage output and debuffing abilities, making it more impactful in prolonged battles.

Key Takeaway
The Possessed Puppet is an aggressive melee attacker with powerful abilities that allow it to deal sustained damage while also countering specific threats through its debuffs.

Synergies

Possessed Puppet pairs effectively with:

Thaddius Brood: Helps mitigate Magic damage, one of the Possessed Puppet's main vulnerabilities.
Cursed Windeku: As a frontline tank, it can absorb attacks while Possessed Puppet contributes heavy damage from the backline.
Dark Ha'on: Its Taunt ability can shield the Possessed Puppet, ensuring it survives longer to deal its damage.

Ruleset Performance

Favorable Rulesets:
Melee Mayhem: Allows Possessed Puppet to attack from any position, making its Double Strike ability even more impactful.
Equal Opportunity: The Possessed Puppet’s high Melee attack makes it a strong candidate for targeting low-health enemies.

Challenging Rulesets:
Reverse Speed: Possessed Puppet's moderate Speed may disadvantage it in this ruleset.
Explosive Weaponry: Its low health makes it highly susceptible to Blast damage.

Market Analysis

Price Overview
Regular Foil: Approximately $0.05 per BCX.
Gold Foil: Approximately $1.40 per BCX.

Investment Potential
Possessed Puppet's price has shown stability, reflecting its situational utility as a niche high-damage, low-health option in the Death splinter. The card's value lies in its unique ability combination and consistent damage output. While not a must-have for every Death splinter lineup, it offers specialized utility that can prove decisive in certain matchups.

Conclusion

The Possessed Puppet is a high-risk, high-reward melee attacker in the Death splinter, excelling in delivering sustained damage through Double Strike while providing utility with Cripple and Dispel at higher levels. Though its low health requires careful positioning, its offensive potential makes it a strong choice for aggressive and disruptive strategies.

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. 😊