The opportunity to earn income digitally through NFT-based games ignites a passion for gaming worldwide. Lucrative chances offered by these crypto-fueled games have intrigued enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike. Millions are jumping on the play-to-earn (P2E) bandwagon to cash in on the opportunity for financial gains.
Among the top-rated NFT games, Splinterlands holds a sweet spot since it is one of the oldest and the most popular games in the crypto sphere. Known initially as Steem Monsters, Splinterlands is a Trading Card Game (TCG) built on the HIVE blockchain and adopts play-to-earn (P2E) mechanics which opens up alleyways for enthusiasts to earn real-world money.
Today’s round-up includes a detailed overview of Splinterlands that emphasizes how players can play Splinterlands to earn lucrative awards and redeem them to their real-world pocket. Since Trading Card Games (TCGs) are one of the most iconic genres of gaming, wrapping your head around Splinterlands wouldn’t be a tough task for veteran players.
What is Splinterlands?
Splinterlands is a Trading Card Game (TCG) that is powered by the HIVE blockchain. Players control a deck of cards and use these unique cards to wreak havoc on their enemies. Each card within the ecosystem of Splinterlands is under the complete ownership of the users. All these player-owned cards are actually non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and these can be traded on the marketplace to earn monetary gains.
Splinterlands is one of the oldest NFT-based games and it also boasts an incredibly large player base with thousands logging in each day to get a piece of the action. Although the player with the best strategy is sure to win, everyone who has stepped into the ecosystem of Splinterlands seems to enjoy the game’s offerings.
Moreover, in each match, a player has to assemble the best 6 cards from their deck to make a formidable combination to take down their foes. Once the strategy is decided, the AI takes over and a fast-paced match begins that lasts for a couple of minutes. Unlike most TCGs which utilize turn-based mechanics, Splinterlands offers innovative gameplay by using AI technology for automated battles.
Similarly, Splintershards (SLPs) and Dark Energy Crystals (DEC) are the native tokens of Splinterlands and these can be earned by engaging with the gameplay. SLP tokens are the governance token within the Splinterlands ecosystem while DECs are the utility tokens used for trading and many other utility purposes.
Moving on, to maximize the earning potential, players are first required to purchase the Spellbook costing about $10 before earning opportunities can be utilized.
How Does Splinterlands Work - Splinterlands Guide
Splinterlands is a free-to-play NFT-based game and players can start right away and make the most formidable combination of cards. However, to start earning and unlock other important perks of Splinterlands, players will have to purchase the spellbook to get their foot in the door.
First up, players who play Splinterlands are required to acquire a card pack that includes all the cards required during the gameplay. Each of these cards has specific MANA points which represent the housing space of a single troop. For instance, in a match, if a player has to form a combination of heroes under a specific MANA limit, they’ll have to use clever strategies and do the numbers before assembling the deck and deploying their cards.
During the gameplay, higher-level cards tend to do well against opponents but have a higher MANA cost. Rare cards such as legendary cards can be purchased or rented from the native marketplace and having them in your arsenal gives you an edge over the enemies. Moreover, after each win, players will be rewarded with DECs which players can redeem in their real-world wallets.
Each win against your opponent also increases the power and rating stats which promotes the player to a higher league.
A higher league within the Splinterlands ecosystem offers higher DEC rewards and legendary chests to the players, increasing the earning potential of a player.
most formidable combination of cards. However, to start earning and unlock other important perks of Splinterlands, players will have to purchase the spellbook to get their foot in the door.
First up, players who play Splinterlands are required to acquire a card pack that includes all the cards required during the gameplay. Each of these cards has specific MANA points which represent the housing space of a single troop. For instance, in a match, if a player has to form a combination of heroes under a specific MANA limit, they’ll have to use clever strategies and do the numbers before assembling the deck and deploying their cards.
During the gameplay, higher-level cards tend to do well against opponents but have a higher MANA cost. Rare cards such as legendary cards can be purchased or rented from the native marketplace and having them in your arsenal gives you an edge over the enemies. Moreover, after each win, players will be rewarded with DECs which players can redeem in their real-world wallets.
Each win against your opponent also increases the power and rating stats which promotes the player to a higher league.
A higher league within the Splinterlands ecosystem offers higher DEC rewards and legendary chests to the players, increasing the earning potential of a player.
Splinterlands Tokenomics
Splinterlands uses a dual-tokenomics system with Splintershards (SPS) as the governance token and DECs as the utility token within the ecosystem of the universe. Over the years, both of these currencies have matured with a higher rate of these currencies in circulation, making them well-performing cryptocurrencies within P2E spheres.
What is the SPS token?
Splintershards (SPS) is an ERC-20 token and is the native governance currency of Splinterlands. SPS holders will have the authority to vote on various important aspects of the game through Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). The currency will play a crucial part in the decentralization of the application and it would truly transfer the control of authority to the players of the game.
In the first two years of Splinterlands, a significant amount of SPS tokens are airdropped to the players. Moreover, later on, developers will be selling a small amount of SPS tokens in private sales while allocating a significant amount towards rewarding players through tournaments, airdrops, and other incentives.
Earning SPS tokens
Players of Splinterlands can earn SPS by receiving the air drops by performing exceptionally well in front of the most formidable opponents. By winning Dark Energy Crystals (DECs), players increase their chances of getting a higher amount of SPS tokens through airdrops. Later on, these SPS tokens can be withdrawn to your real-world pocket through external crypto wallets.
In the future, players would be able to purchase SPS tokens from the native marketplace and also by further engaging with the weekly quests and objectives. In the roadmap laid out by the developers, 13.33% of the total distribution of the SPS token is allocated towards airdrop while 30% of the tokens are allocated for the play-to-earn (P2E) mode of gaming.
What is Dark Energy Crystal (DEC)?
Dark Energy Crystal (DEC) is the utility token in the Splinterlands universe and it is used for various utility purposes. Players can spend DECs on leveling up their guilds, purchasing unique potions, getting their hands on specialized skins, and many more.
The main purpose of Dark Energy Crystals (DECs) within the ecosystem of Splinterlands is to reward players since this cryptocurrency can be traded for real-world money.
Dark Energy Crystals are also used on the native marketplace of Splinterlands to trade rare cards as well as in upgrading pre-owned cards as well. Moreover, earning a lucrative amount of DECs is vital if someone really wants to leverage the opportunity to generate income on the side.
Earning Dark Energy Crystals (DEC)
Players can earn DECs by winning ranked matches against opponents. With each win, a player is awarded a certain amount of DEC. The winning amount of DEC depends on the rating of the player and the league they’re in. Players which are placed in higher leagues and have significant power ratings can earn a substantial amount of DEC with each win.
On the contrary, beginners placed in the lower leagues will earn a small amount of DEC. Moreover, by engaging and completing the daily quests, players can also earn DECs but, the most lucrative method of earning the crystals is to participate in the monthly tournaments and dominate your enemies with a formidable combination of impeccable card decks.
Splinterlands Gameplay
Splinterlands is a quite basic play-to-earn (P2E) game with simplified mechanics that are easy to understand and get a hold of. A player’s chances are dependent on their ability to create a combination of cards that will dismantle their enemies. And since the battles are automated, players cannot intervene during the gameplay and change the combination or interact in any way during the match-up.
At the start of each battle, players are tasked to create a combination of cards that are available to them. Once the deck is finalized, the battle will be played and the one with the victorious combination will enjoy the rewards. There’s minimal interaction with the gameplay, making strategy-making the most vital part of the gameplay.
Understanding the card combinations, and skills of the heroes, and devising clever strategies is vital if someone truly wants to dominate their enemies.
Splinterland Cards
Splinterlands offers different types of cards to its players which are used during the battles. Cards are the in-game non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that are truly owned by the players and these can be traded on the native marketplace to turn a profit. The different types of cards available to the players include:
Summoner’s Card
Summoners bring magical abilities and enable players to bring up to 6 more players to the round-up based on the rarity of the card. The unique abilities of the Summoner’s card can have a significant impact on the combination of the team, making it the most precious card on your deck.
Monsters - Magic Attacks
Magic monster cards are the first line of attack and are vital in dealing a great deal of damage to the enemies. A rare monster with desired statistics acquired from a gold foil card can take out some of the most formidable foes of the universe.
Before making the deck, players must keep the MANA cost in mind to take on enemy monsters with magic attacks.
Splinterland Abilities
Splinterlands card abilities refer to the unique characteristics of the card which will be utilized during the combat to influence the outcome of the battle. There’s a plethora of different abilities assigned to cards within the ecosystem and players must test the might of these abilities to see for themselves how having a unique ability could affect the battle.
Some abilities of the card can enhance the attacking ability of the card and having such would increase the attack statistics of a hero. Similarly, some cards might feature a debuff ability which can improve the chances of deflecting an attack, improve sneak ability, or take less damage upon being attacked.
To best understand the abilities of these cards, players have to deploy them in battles and do some experimentation to further understand the depth of each ability and how it could be vital to the combination of the cards.
Splinterland Rewards
Splinterland rewards their places in the shape of DEC and SPS tokens which players can redeem in their pocket. For generating income on the side, Splinterlands offer lucrative opportunities for enthusiasts who perform consistently.
The majority of players who are placed in higher leagues and have a good streak of wins are likely to get the most rewards from the ecosystem. If a player manages to win 3 games in a row, they have a higher chance of earning more DEC per each win.
Similarly, completing daily and weekly challenges also earns players loot chests which could contain many lucrative rewards. Everything from rare cards to DEC can be awarded to players who complete the daily challenges and interact with events and tournaments that take place every other month.
Moreover, by beating your foes and reaching higher leagues, players are eligible for season-end loot chests and DEC airdrop. If a player manages to stay at the top of the league at the end of the season, they will unlock up to 150 loot chests and will also get rewarded with a lucrative amount of DECs.
Getting started with Splinterlands
Splinterland is a browser-based game and can be played through a Web3-supported browser such as Google Chrome. Players are required to sign up on the official website of Splinterlands and create an account and connect their crypto-wallet to Splinterlands. If you’re new to the crypto-spheres, you’ll first need to create a crypto wallet.
Connecting Wallet with Splinterlands
In Splinterlands, players are required to connect their crypto-wallet with their account to make the transactions possible. Splinterlands offers its users the ability to connect HIVE, WAX, and many other external wallets to the game and it’s up to the user to choose the most ideal option for them. HIVE is the ideal choice for the crypto-wallet since it is universally accepted by all the major DEX around the globe.
To connect the HIVE wallet to Splinterlands, follow these steps:
- Create a HIVE wallet.
- Create an account on Splinterlands using your email credentials.
- Click on your profile name located at the top-right corner of the window and a drop-down menu will appear.
- Click on ‘Link External Wallet’.
- Enter the HIVE username and click on ‘Save'
The HIVE wallet will be connected to the Splinterlands ecosystem and afterward, interested parties should purchase the $10 Spellbook to unlock all the perks of the game.
Acquiring Cards
Players will need powerful cards in their arsenal to beat their opponents and for that, they can either purchase the cards from the native marketplace of Splinterlands or they can rent them as well. The cards purchased by the players will remain the property of the players and these NFTs can be sold later on for monetary gains.
Game Modes
Once a player has gained enough cards to complete their deck, they will be ready to take on enemies in the Ranked mode. Aside from that, there are a few other game modes as well that players can utilize to get the most out of the game and experience the learning curve that Splinterlands has to offer.
Firstly, beginners should opt for “How to Play '' mode to get a lay of the land and experience a battle simulation where they can deploy their best troops to dismantle the enemies. Similarly, the challenge mode allows players to invite a fellow and play against them. If someone has a friend who is also stepping foot into the P2E spheres then squaring off against them in a friendly match could give you an edge.
Lastly, once fully equipped, players can play “Ranked” matches and use different combinations of cards while keeping the MANA cost in mind to devise clever strategies and dismantle the enemies to enjoy the lucrative rewards.
How to Earn Money Playing Splinterlands
The continued success of Splinterlands makes it one of the most lucrative P2E games on the market. Crypto enthusiasts with a knack for games can certainly leverage Splinterlands to earn income on the side. There are multiple methods of earning money playing Splinterlands.
Flipping Cards
Players can browse the native marketplace of Splinterlands and purchase unique cards and flip them off at a higher price down the line. Since the game is quite popular in the gaming sphere, there’s an appreciation in the values of the cards, and early investors can reap the profits in a short span of time.
Similarly, unique cards can also be unlocked through loot chests and other NFT items can also be sold on the marketplace to turn a profit. Players don’t necessarily have to be dependent on in-game performance alone to make profits, instead investing in cards can be equally rewarding.
Play-to-Earn
Splinterlands’ play-to-earn mechanics offers lucrative opportunities for skilled players to generate revenue. Players can beat their opponents and get placed in higher leagues where they have an excellent opportunity to make money. With each win, the DEC reward would be enough to make some income on the side.
Conclusion
The TCG crypto games genre is a bit complex and not everyone’s favorite but, Splinterlands and its lucrative offerings have made it a success among avid gamers. The fairly simple yet challenging gameplay of Splinterlands has intrigued enthusiasts from around the world and aside from the monetary gains, players are choosing Splinterlands, play to earn entity, for its flawless gameplay.
Over the years, players who play Splinterlands crypto game have managed to earn rewards in the shape of many in-game assets which include fungible and non-fungible tokens.
While there are certainly some areas where the thrill to play Splinterlands could be improved, the game manages to hold its end of the bargain. Later on, developers have planned to add land NFTs into the ecosystem as well and it would certainly further boost the already popular ecosystem. If someone wants to play Splinterlands crypto game, now is the best time.
FAQs
What is MANA cost?
MC refers to the housing space of each troop. Each battle has limited MANA points and players have to adjust their cards accordingly. For Instance, some monster cards cost 4 MANA points and when you have a MANa limit, you will need to take the most powerful monster cards to deplete the enemy monster's health.
