Introduction 📜

It’s another week, and @thepeoplesguild is back with the next exciting phase of the Dominion Challenge! Following last week’s brainstorming of unique, element-specific abilities for the new Domineers, it’s time to bring those ideas to life in card form.

In Part 2 of the challenge, the community is called to design three custom Dominion cards that add depth and diversity to the fictional DOMINION set, with each card representing a different Splinter. To complete this challenge, we’re tasked with creating two Common cards and one Legendary card, integrating the abilities we designed in Part 1 to give these cards powerful, strategic roles in guild brawls. ⚔️

Challenge your creativity and show us how your Domineers will influence gameplay in Splinterlands! 🎨 Download the official card frames below, and don’t forget to add stats, mana cost, and a unique backstory for each card. We’re excited to see your unique contributions and the strategic twists your designs bring to the field. Let the Dominion Challenge continue! 🌟

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Disclaimer: All images and animations are of my own making using Canva.com. 🎨✨

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#TPGCHALLENGE

For this week’s challenge, I’ve created three cards featuring three of the abilities from last week’s post. I chose Earth with its ability Bark Armor, Water with Healing Wave, and Fire with Infernal Explosion. I’ll break down each card’s stats, abilities, lore, and how they would perform in the current meta and guild brawls.

The Dominion set is here to replace the old Gladius card set, so it’s safe to assume that, at least in Modern, you’ll only be able to play either a Domineer or a Gladius card. ⚔️🔥🌊🌱

🌿 Thornroot Sentinel

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Set: Dominion
Splinter: Earth 🌱
Rarity: Common
Mana Cost: 7

Card Stats

• Attack: 2 (Magic) ✨
• Health: 7 ❤️
• Speed: 3 💨
• Armor: 3 🛡️

Abilities

• Heal: Restores a portion of the Monster's health each round.
• Triage: Heals the friendly back-line Monster that has taken the most damage.
• Earth: Bark Armor: After this Domineer defeats an enemy, all allied Monsters gain +1 Armor.

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Lore 📜

Emerging from the heart of the ancient forests of Anumün, the Thornroot Sentinel stands as a vigilant protector, embodying the essence of nature's strength and resilience. Formed from intertwined roots and branches, he symbolizes the enduring bond between the earth and its guardians. Once a silent observer of the woodland realm, he was awakened in response to the growing turmoil within the Splinterlands, summoned to shield the vulnerable and restore balance.

His thorny exterior serves not only as armor but as a reminder of nature’s fierce defense. As he stands firm in battle, he channels the power of the earth, healing allies and enhancing their defenses. With every enemy vanquished, the Thornroot Sentinel draws on the strength of the fallen, reinforcing his companions with newfound protection. A steadfast bulwark against the chaos of war, he exemplifies the protective spirit of the earth, ensuring that hope thrives even in the darkest of times.

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Thornroot Sentinel in the Meta ⚔️

The Thornroot Sentinel is a fully support-oriented unit that will heal both your team’s frontline and backline. With low damage but decent health and armor for its cost, this card isn’t designed to dish out tons of damage but rather to sustain your team. It excels in Poison and Blast rulesets, particularly in mid-mana matches.

The Bark Armor ability is a potentially powerful tool, but it requires the Sentinel to land a killing blow—a challenging task given its moderate attack. However, as a Common card, this unit is versatile, fitting into most rulesets where magic attacks are allowed. Even against Reflect abilities, Thornroot Sentinel won’t take much damage due to Triage. A viable strategy could involve buffing this unit to ensure it lands a killing blow. With each +1 armor gain for each defeated enemy, this card could prove pivotal in securing victory. 🌳🛡️

🔥 Infernal Cavalier

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Set: Dominion
Splinter: Fire 🔥
Rarity: Common
Mana Cost: 6

Card Stats

• Attack: 4 (Melee) 🗡️
• Health: 8 ❤️
• Speed: 4 💨
• Armor: 0 🛡️

Abilities

• Impede: Each successful attack reduces the defender's Speed by 1.
• Charge: Can use melee attacks from any position.
• Infernal Explosion: When this Domineer defeats an enemy, every enemy unit takes 1 physical damage. This effect will trigger again if another enemy unit is killed by this ability.

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Backstory/ Lore 📜

Once a fearless champion of the Molten Mountains, the Infernal Cavalier succumbed to the allure of forbidden fire magic, trading his soul for a power no mortal could contain. Now, bound to his flaming steed, he roams the Splinterlands as a cursed figure, summoned only when the Fire Splinter’s fury is unleashed. In guild brawls, his mere presence unsettles enemies, for the flames that consume him can never be quenched.

Some say his hollow eyes still hold echoes of his former life, but his twisted smile suggests he’s forgotten his past—or abandoned it willingly. A shadow in the firelight, the Infernal Cavalier’s path through the battlefield leaves only ash and terror in his wake, a reminder of the perils of power in the Splinterlands.

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Infernal Cavalier in the Current Brawl Meta ⚔️

The Infernal Cavalier brings an intriguing set of abilities that synergize well together. At only 6 mana, this card is versatile enough for most matchups. With Charge, it can be used in the backline to try to land a kill and activate Infernal Explosion. This ability can trigger multiple times in a single attack, leading to devastating effects if the enemy has a low health pool.

While waiting for an opportunity to land a killing blow, the Impede ability allows Infernal Cavalier to reduce the Speed of the enemy’s tank, weakening it over time. Given its common rarity, this card works effectively with Jacek and can even benefit from Lorkus’s ability to grant Trample. If Infernal Cavalier can land consecutive Trample hits, it can trigger Infernal Explosion repeatedly, potentially leading to a decisive victory. 💥🔥

🌊 Thalassian Sovereign

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Set: Dominion
Splinter: Water 🌊
Rarity: Legendary
Mana Cost: 12

Card Stats

• Attack: 5 (Magic) ✨
• Health: 11 ❤️
• Speed: 4 💨
• Armor: 3 🛡️

Abilities

• True Strike: This monster's attacks cannot miss.
• Healing Wave: When this Domineer defeats an enemy, the entire allied team gets healed.

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Backstory/Lore 📜

Ruler of the ocean depths, the Thalassian Sovereign commands the tides with an elegance that belies his fierce power. Adorned in shimmering armor crafted from pearls and oceanic treasures, he embodies the very essence of the sea. His light blue skin reflects the calm waters, while his trident, a symbol of his dominion, channels the magic of the deep. Accompanied by a mystical familiar—a mist-like creature that flows and glimmers like the sea breeze—he traverses the battlefield with grace and authority.

The Thalassian Sovereign is not merely a lord of the seas but a guardian of balance, using his magic to mend the wounds of his allies while punishing those who threaten the ocean’s peace. In the heat of battle, his Healing Wave invigorates his companions, ensuring they stand ready against any foe. With each victory, he reminds the Splinterlands that the power of the ocean is as boundless as it is fierce, inspiring hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

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Thalassian Sovereign in the Current Brawl Meta ⚔️

Thalassian Sovereign is a high-impact, high-mana damage dealer. Costing 12 mana, it’s most effective in high-mana matchups (40+ mana), where it can capitalize on its powerful stats and abilities. Currently, Oshannus is often used as a frontliner due to its high speed and Forcefield ability, but the Sovereign’s True Strike ensures that it can hit even the fastest enemies, countering evasion-based defenses.

The 5 magic damage is a critical feature, though Forcefield may reduce its damage impact. To maximize the Sovereign's potential, players may use Silence debuffs or Cryptic to negate Forcefield. Healing Wave triggers every time Thalassian Sovereign lands a kill, healing all allied Monsters—including both frontline and backline. This effect makes the card incredibly valuable in Poison rulesets, where team-wide sustain is crucial, but it can be effective in a wide range of scenarios.

However, as a Legendary card, Thalassian Sovereign isn’t available in all rulesets, limiting its play opportunities. Yet, when used strategically, this card’s unique blend of high damage, true accuracy, and team-wide healing makes it a potent force in high-stakes battles. 🌊💥

Conclusion 🏆

The Dominion set introduces a new wave of strategic possibilities to Splinterlands, with each card showcasing unique strengths that can reshape battle dynamics. From the defensive resilience of Thornroot Sentinel to the explosive, chain-reaction potential of Infernal Cavalier, and the awe-inspiring healing power of Thalassian Sovereign, these Domineers each bring a specialized edge to the field.

Whether you’re aiming to fortify your team, control enemy speed, or sustain allies through tough conditions, these Dominion cards offer diverse tools to adapt and strategize in guild brawls. As the Dominion Challenge progresses, it’s clear that these fictional cards bring compelling layers of lore, design, and meta value to the Splinterlands universe. 🌌

What strategies and synergies will you explore with Dominion cards? Let your creativity flow, and join the Dominion Challenge! 💪🔥🌊🌱

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#TPGCHALLENGE