# Explo teams too popular - balance offer **URL:** \ **Category:** Feature Requests and Game feedback\ **Created:** [September 19, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195 "2026-09-19T17:38:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Majamas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Majamas](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Majamas)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/1 "2026-09-19T17:38:10Z")
I see like explosive compositions are most popular in game now. This will demonstrate the imbalance here, and I propose changing it. The easiest way to counter this would be to introduce a new type of special stone: the mine. A mine deals damage to the army that activated it with its explosions. Mines can be cast on the board as a unit spell or as a trait. Therefore, each kingdom should be given at least one unit capable of producing such mines. Of course, this isn’t a strong counter, as explosion teams often start with a fully charged Leprechaun. However, it’s still a counter if the fight drags on and doesn’t end in the first chain of infinite explosion repetitions. Please consider this. ---
**Author:** ![Zuul-Emo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/67e7ee/32.png) [@Zuul-Emo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Zuul-Emo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/2 "2026-09-19T20:19:21Z")
> [@Majamas](#): > > Of course, this isn’t a strong counter, as explosion teams often start with a fully charged Leprechaun. There’s ways to make a trait that would counter an empowered exploder, easily, using mine gems: Trait 1: Create 2 mines at start of battle Trait 2: Create 1 mine at the start of my turn (assuming you’re taking the first turn) Trait 3: Create 1 mine whenever a troop gets full mana (including empowered troops) Trait 4: Create 1 mine whenever an ally or enemy casts a spell (before the spell takes effect) Trait 5: Create 2 mines whenever my team gain 10 gold (paired with the gold node in the rogue constellation of the astral spire, this would trigger at the start of battle, before either team gets a turn) Trait 6: Create a mine whenever a status effect is applied to an ally (paired with the Serendipity trait in the Knowledge tree of some classes, such as Geomancer, which apply a status effect to an ally at the start of battle, this would trigger before either player takes a turn) Trait 7: Create a mine whenever a status effect is applied to an enemy (paired with the Snap Freeze trait in the Water tree of some classes, such as Frostmage, which apply a status effect to an enemy at the start of battle, this would trigger before either player takes a turn) Trait 8: Create a mine when I match 4 or more gems (assuming you are able to do so within the first turn, using another troop to convert or create gems, if necessary) Trait 9: Create a mine at the center of the explosion whenever a gem is exploded (If you bring leprechaun and cast it, the battlefield would then be full of mines for the enemy team to deal with) Trait 10: Create 2 mines whenever I cast a spell (combined with empowered would allow you to start the battle by casting this troop and also creating mines, as long as you get the first turn) - Or you could just have an empowered troop with a spell that creates mines, as long as you get the first turn. So, there’s a bunch of possible options. Dunno if they’d add a gem like this. Closest thing right now is the Trap Gems, which always target the player in underspire trap rooms. And given the next astral spire board has a capstone node to reduce mana from exploders, they might think that’s enough. But a mine gem would force players to be more tactical. And targeted exploders (like Goblin Rocket) would become more useful than the random exploders, in some cases. I wouldn’t stick mines in every kingdom, but definitely in a bunch of them, and have one kingdom have more of a focus on them. Possibly Adana, if they aren’t going to add more kingdoms anytime soon. But I like the idea. ---
**Author:** ![Supa-N00b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@Supa-N00b](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Supa-N00b)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 4:51am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/3 "2026-09-20T04:51:05Z")
The new capstone release next week nerfs the mana gained from explosions… ---
**Author:** ![Shzzu](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/shzzu/32/100002_2.png) [@Shzzu](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Shzzu)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 7:22am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/4 "2026-09-20T07:22:03Z")
Not exactly, man. The new capstone will nerf foe’s mana gain, while these two noble gentlemen suggest to spoil all the mana gain, for greater justice ---
**Author:** ![Zuul-Emo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/67e7ee/32.png) [@Zuul-Emo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Zuul-Emo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/5 "2026-09-20T14:39:24Z")
You can’t gain mana without an explosion? Sounds like a skill issue. I’m pointing out you’d have to be smarter and play better if these gems were added. The game would stop being such a mindless “get mana for nothing, cast spell and win” simulator and move closer to the tactical strategy game it used to be. I get that some people dislike that. But suggesting it would “spoil all the mana gain” is absurd. We’ve had empowered converters a lot longer than the current batch of exploders, and they made mana just fine, most of the time. But, like I said, I doubt the devs would upset things with gems like this, when they’re focused on nerfing enemy mana gain from exploders. The game is pushing in the opposite direction, towards randomness and lack of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Pigfarm70](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/pigfarm70/32/100989_2.png) [@Pigfarm70](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Pigfarm70)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/6 "2026-09-20T14:58:18Z")
As this is a Broken Spire constellation, I am assuming that the Capstone will only apply if you have a BS troop on your team. Will need to read it when released to see if there are any differences in chance based on the number of BS troops on your team. I am finding many of these Type/Kingdom constellations to be pretty limited in application so far tbh… ---
**Author:** ![Zuul-Emo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/67e7ee/32.png) [@Zuul-Emo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Zuul-Emo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/7 "2026-09-20T15:31:43Z")
Nah, they’ve said before that capstones don’t need you to use those troops, like having troops of the relevant colour. And we don’t need a rogue for the node that gives 20 starting gold, even though that’s on a rogue only tree. We have to wait to be sure, but based on the description Jeto gave of exactly what it’s supposed to say (at time of her posting it), and past examples, it’s likely just going to apply no matter what troops you use (except in GW and arena). ---
**Author:** ![Pigfarm70](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/pigfarm70/32/100989_2.png) [@Pigfarm70](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Pigfarm70)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/8 "2026-09-20T15:53:24Z")
Thanks for the info, appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![Fourdottwoone](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/fourdottwoone/32/66655_2.png) [@Fourdottwoone](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Fourdottwoone)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/9 "2026-09-21T16:55:32Z")
> [@Zuul-Emo](#): > > But a mine gem would force players to be more tactical. What would be the point? If it’s to make battles a take a lot longer, just increase mana costs by a factor of, like, 10. For all practical purposes, mines are either a minor inconvenience that will be ignored entirely. Or they are downright deadly, at which point players will come to realize there’s a pile of heroic gems and skulls that may auto-trigger them, even just through gems dropping in after taking a perfectly safe match. Spoiler, players just love instant-loss scenarios that happen entirely at random. ---
**Author:** ![Risa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@Risa](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Risa)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/10 "2026-09-21T16:59:56Z")
There’s already trap gem in game, that hurts player when destroyed. Gem exploders are weaker than gem destroyers (thrall, bog strider, angry mob, marilith, bork, and egg thief), anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Zuul-Emo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/67e7ee/32.png) [@Zuul-Emo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Zuul-Emo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 8:06pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/11 "2026-09-21T20:06:06Z")
> [@Fourdottwoone](#): > > What would be the point? To force players to think more, not just spam a few buttons and get bored of the game. You used to have to play carefully, think about what you were doing. Now, I think most players barely pay attention during battles, unless they’re super high level event battles or the player is still new to the game. As for damage, I dunno, but something like a percentage of armour and life would be fair, rather than a flat amount (like burning damage) that feels too powerful early on and worthless later. And yeah, there’s other gems that trigger explosions, but that’s just more reason to play carefully. If you have an enemy that makes mines, you’ll have to plan your team to avoid setting them off. If you’re against an exploder team, you can plan to makes mines to do extra damage to them and help you win. Like most things in the game, it’s rock-paper-scissors gameplay. There’s always a way to counter it. Like barrier. Or, if the mine does damage to all, use submerge. I definitely wouldn’t want instant kill or instant lose, though. I agree that would be unreasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Zuul-Emo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/67e7ee/32.png) [@Zuul-Emo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Zuul-Emo)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/12 "2026-09-21T20:09:42Z")
> [@Risa](#): > > Gem exploders are weaker than gem destroyers Destroying a gem triggers it, so a mine gem being destroyed might be the same as exploding it anyway. If the point is to offer a counter-play against random destruction mana generation, it should be a counter to exploders AND destroyers. The only thing that wouldn’t be affected would be gem removers. Which would make them useful against mine gems, like they could be useful against trap gems (but I doubt they get used that way much) if they destroy gems in a way that can target trap gems. ---
**Author:** ![AMT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/amt/32/56829_2.png) [@AMT](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/AMT)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/13 "2026-09-21T23:40:23Z")
> [@Zuul-Emo](#): > > To force players 🙅🙏🖖 … ---
**Author:** ![Zuul-Emo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/67e7ee/32.png) [@Zuul-Emo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Zuul-Emo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 3:13am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/explo-teams-too-popular-balance-offer/90195/14 "2026-09-22T03:13:47Z")
> [@AMT](#): > > 🙅🙏🖖 > … OK, fair. Bad word choice. I just mean it makes the game better at tactical counter-play when there’s more options for being able to counter different playstyles.