My strategy for New Splinterlands reward cards - Leveling up Gargoya Lion

The new splinterlands reward cards are interesting and I have not seen very many players use them in their lineups. I am in the bronze level so do not see any of the matches in the higher levels.

It appears that with so many new players that are getting the new reward cards, they are exchanging them for DEC instead of holding them. Granted the value for the SPS airdrop is on 5 DEC for the level 1 cards so maybe they do not see the worth of holding on to them.

Like any asset, NFTs have their own inflation rate and there is a limited supply of them. I believe the prices will be going up for the new cards once everyone learns where to place them in their lineups.

Due to this, I will be leveling up all of the new reward cards that I receive and placing any extras that I my have on the rental market. Everyone wants more cards close to the end of the season so are renting almost any cards that give them a greater power level.

I am starting with the Gargoya Lion.

It has good health with 2 shields. However with only 1 melee and the slowest speed, I can see why some players are overlooking this card. However with increased levels both attack and speed increase and two new abilities are added - 1) Flying has an increased chance of evading melee and ranged attacks and 2) Void reduces damage from magic attacks. These are two very useful abilities.

I am combining the five Gargoya Lion cards that I currently hold.

Sales are mixed for the leveled up cards. It may be that not many players have started combining them.

Since this is the middle of the season, I did not expect the rental market to be very robust but there are several leveled up cards currently listed.

After the combination, I now have a level 2 Gargoya Lion which is one speed faster than it was before. Speed matters in most battles where the lineups are closely matched. The DEC value is the same as the five cards I combined so I did not gain or lose any of the SPS airdrop by leveling up the cards. But I bet close to season end, players would rather rent a level 2 card worth 25 DEC than five level 1 cards worth 5 DEC each. Time will only tell.