This week’s battle challenge focuses on the Molten Ash Golem. 

Card Details

A Chaos Legion edition rare level monster from the Fire unit at level 3:

• Estimated cost: $0.853
• Range attack: 2
• Speed: 1
• Health: 10
• Close Range ability - Monsters with the Close Range ability can perform ranged attacks from the first position.

The Molten Ash Golems may be fearsome creatures, but they are also incredibly loyal and dedicated to their creator, the Forgotten One. They will stop at nothing to fulfill their purpose and serve their master, even if it means facing great danger and challenges. Despite their fierce nature, the Molten Ash Golems are not without their quirks. They love to roast marshmallows and sing campfire songs and are surprisingly affectionate. So don't be afraid to hug them; make sure you don't get too close, or you might get roasted! Onto its stats, the high health synergizes with the Close Range ability, but the low range damage at the lower levels impedes its usefulness (without considering rulesets).

Battle - Full Battle Replay

Battle Details

• Mana cap: 17
• Rulesets(s): Stampede, Aim True

Lineup Details

• Tarsa (Summoner): +1 range damage and +1 health to all friendly monsters.
• Antoid Platoon: low mana cost tank with Shield ability and armor to aid its survivability.
• Uraeus: support melee damage from the backline due to Sneak ability.
• Molten Ash Golem: backline range tank.
• Scorch Fiend: zero mana cost sacrificial lamb.

Did your strategy work? What will you try differently next time?

Playing the Molten Ash Golem in a low-mana cap did hamstring my team a bit, and therefore, I had to go with lower mana-cap monsters. However, my opponent's strategy exceeded mine in this battle, and they rightly won. After I had finally dispatched Blinding Reflector, which took longer than expected due to that high armor, regardless, I couldn't do enough damage to the backline duo of Venari Crystalsmith and Pelacor Arbalest. How did Molten Ash Golem fare? Well, my tactics didn't aid it as it's not structured to be the primary damage dealer. Instead, it needs to be in a support role, and when it lands up in position 1, it can procure its Close Range ability. Therefore, once it landed up in position one, it could not deal enough damage to outpace the healing of Venari Crystalsmith.

Do you like the Molten Ash Golem? Why or why not?

The Close Range ability is relatively new; therefore, the list of monsters with this ability is relatively tiny. Is the Molten Ash Golem as good as the popular Axemaster? No, but it has high health and can serve as a good support monster in medium-low to medium-high mana cap battles. Also, it's relatively cheap in comparison, so I will look to stack and level it up across my main and alt accounts.

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