# Lions Rampant **URL:** \ **Category:** Official News\ **Created:** [July 31, 2016, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542 "2016-07-31T23:02:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Robert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/robert/32/12802_2.png) [@Robert](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Robert)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/61 "2016-08-01T12:30:24Z")
As we are aware of all your benefits. ---
**Author:** ![HKdirewolf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/hkdirewolf/32/21614_2.png) [@HKdirewolf](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/HKdirewolf)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/62 "2016-08-01T12:32:08Z")
Yeah having that feature on console is awesome, but I believe the economy is overall better on pc. With a lot more ways to get things. I know eventually console will catch up though. _fingers crossed_ ---
**Author:** ![therealwetwilly](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/therealwetwilly/32/4178_2.png) [@therealwetwilly](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/therealwetwilly)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/63 "2016-08-01T12:32:28Z")
> [@Drathas](#): > > Take Behemoths Immemse for example, on a 4+ skull match Behemoth gets +4 health, whereas Maw gets +4 health and +2 to all other stats. But can you really compare skulls \<\> all gems ? ---
**Author:** ![Shimrra](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/shimrra/32/87_2.png) [@Shimrra](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Shimrra)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/64 "2016-08-01T14:09:20Z")
As far as I can tell, Maw is not gaining the effects of Hunger on skull matches that hit nothing (i.e. no troops left). While this obviously doesn’t matter itself, I’m wondering if it also does this for being dodged by Agile, hitting a Barrier, being Entangled, or the rare case of having zero attack damage… If any of the above are true (I would guess all or nothing) then it should be reworded to say ‘on skull damage’ instead of on skull matches as it is currently. I haven’t tested the others myself yet. * * * In other news, Maw appears to be reduced very little, if at all, in lethality. The random kills I will gladly trade for randomly losing the game. ---
**Author:** ![Gouki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/gouki/32/22405_2.png) [@Gouki](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Gouki)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/65 "2016-08-01T16:02:10Z")
Sad that the Pride Guard is neutered before he even had a chance to be played in open competition. Damage scaling by armor values is the easiest to counter to begin with(one enemy aoe troop destroying pride guards dreams!), and with that ratio the spell is not gonna be great at any point other than challenges maybe. Lately it seems the weekly troops get less and less competitive with the exception of hellcat filling one very unique role. In a time where legendary and mythic troops reign supreme and a change to a trait of one of those legendary troops to **adding +2 to all skills on skull matches** is an effective **nerf** of that troop, it is hard to get excited for the weekly troops who have stuff like _armored_ or _alert_ being their best trait… ---
**Author:** ![TaliaParks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/taliaparks/32/11738_2.png) [@TaliaParks](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/TaliaParks)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/66 "2016-08-01T16:21:40Z")
If Astral Spirit still hits for over 15 True Damage, then it’s not really nerfed at all ---
**Author:** ![SirCookie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sircookie/32/13060_2.png) [@SirCookie](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/SirCookie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/67 "2016-08-01T18:29:12Z")
> [@Sirrian](#): > > Turns out, although it’s thematically a lot of fun to have 2 potential devours on a creature, in practice the meta just can’t get past it! I’m quite surprised actually. Ever since Impervious (and Indigestible) went live on iOS, Maw’s 3rd trait hasn’t been scary for me. In fact, I quite enjoyed that it encouraged me to use a different team (one with Behemoth up top). Kind of bummed that my Behemoth is going to go back on the shelf now, since it just isn’t quite as good as many other non-impervious troops. ---
**Author:** ![TaliaParks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/taliaparks/32/11738_2.png) [@TaliaParks](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/TaliaParks)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 6:33pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/68 "2016-08-01T18:33:36Z")
> [@SirCookie](#): > > I’m quite surprised actually. Ever since Impervious (and Indigestible) went live on iOS, Maw’s 3rd trait hasn’t been scary for me. In fact, I quite enjoyed that it encouraged me to use a different team (one with Behemoth up top). Kind of bummed that my Behemoth is going to go back on the shelf now, since it just isn’t quite as good as many other non-impervious troops. That’s because Behemoth isn’t a top-position Troop ---
**Author:** ![SirCookie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sircookie/32/13060_2.png) [@SirCookie](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/SirCookie)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/69 "2016-08-01T19:15:35Z")
> [@TaliaParks](#): > > That’s because Behemoth isn’t a top-position Troop I’d argue that it was for a short time, but yeah not so much anymore. There was some good discussion here: [Behemoth: the anti-Mab, anti-Maw](http://community.gemsofwar.com/t/behemoth-the-anti-mab-anti-maw/9928) Do you have a top-tier invade team in mind that has Behemoth in it? Help me to not regret spending all those Arcanes on it… 😏 ---
**Author:** ![Molesto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Molesto](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Molesto)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/70 "2016-08-01T19:15:48Z")
> [@Shimrra](#): > > I like the Maw chan- OK call it what it is, the Maw nerf, but I do think this further highlights that Abhorath’s legendary trait is pretty garbage by comparison. +3 on enemy death or +2 on skulls. You tell me which is going to be more effective. I was thinking this exact same thing, too. Abhorath was my first legendary and I think he’s a fun card to use, but he’s seriously held back by his third trait. Even if Sacrifice was numerically superior, the fact that Abhorath ALREADY gets significant boosts to his important stats, usually before killing anything and triggering Sacrifice, severely diminishes the effectiveness of further stat bonuses. Abhorath needs a third trait that synergizes with his high hp and/or attack, such as damage reduction or a cleave-/trample-type mechanic (from Warcraft and MTG, respectively). ---
**Author:** ![TaliaParks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/taliaparks/32/11738_2.png) [@TaliaParks](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/TaliaParks)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/71 "2016-08-01T19:19:39Z")
> [@SirCookie](#): > > Do you have a top-tier invade team in mind that has Behemoth in it? Help me to not regret spending all those Arcanes on it… 😏 > [@TaliaParks' Team Build Series: Original Blue](http://community.gemsofwar.com/t/original-blue-fears-nothing-great-team-build-for-anyone-even-pc/10573): > > [[Original Blue Fears Nothing] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmlOWqLY6vY) I have shared this team the most out of any team suggestion. There’s good reason, it’s still incredibly powerful, even at end-game. The Banner of Progress (Adana, Red/Yellow) works best, this team revolves around Valkyrie. Each Troop is suited for the position it’s in and the team has near-perfect synergy. You have 3 Water Links (no need for Blue on your Banner) with high, controllable damage output and the potential to win ANY battle in under a minut… ---
**Author:** ![Bobomb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/bobomb/32/2263_2.png) [@Bobomb](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Bobomb)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2016, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/72 "2016-08-01T20:31:11Z")
I’ve been using the following in PVP for a little over a week. It tends to win in under a minute on many match-ups, as it devastates and chains. Behemoth at the top means you just shrug off things like Frozen Soul (Bone Dragon) and generally don’t care about leaving skulls for your opponent, since Behemoth ends up gaining quite a bit of health (and Mercy’s there just in case). Behemoth\*\*\* Black Manacles (Hero as Sorcerer works best, but I use Necromancer for the slight Soul boost)\*\*\* Terraxis\*\* (I don’t have his third trait YET, but it would work even better with it) Mercy\*\*\* Mercy feeds Terraxis, who shoots and feeds Behemoth, later Black Manacles. You end up doing about 18-21 damage to each opponent per hit, and often chain at least two-three to just devastate the opposing team. I’ve laughed off multi-gorgotha teams, as well as most others. ---
**Author:** ![Treemo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/treemo/32/8848_2.png) [@Treemo](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Treemo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 10:17am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/73 "2016-08-02T10:17:35Z")
> [@utfanx2](#): > > > [@Sirrian](#): > > > > - Trait Change: Air Spirit changes to Centaur Bond > > - Spell Boost Ratio reduced from 2:1 to 3:1 > > - No longer gives Magic at level 17 and 19 > > Triple nerf! 😟 Sirrian is on the nerfing streak 😸 ---
**Author:** ![Studs](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/studs/32/3498_2.png) [@Studs](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Studs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:33pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/74 "2016-08-02T15:33:18Z")
Regardless of how people feel about their toys being taken away, it’s clear that the nerfs needed to happen. Folks have been complaining about Maw for a couple of months, and Astral Spirit was abused immediately. To @Sirrian’s point, I think this underlines the need to be very careful about how Empowered is used. I also still say Mercy needs to be nerfed. The next strong Yellow troop is gonna be right back in the position of Maw bc of her. ---
**Author:** ![htismaqe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/htismaqe/32/23893_2.png) [@htismaqe](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/htismaqe)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/75 "2016-08-02T15:35:45Z")
Like I said, nerfing Mercy would be a good way to get people like me to quit. I don’t use Maw, have never used Maw, and likely will never use Maw. I play this game to exercise my mind, not my clicking finger. Mercy is a lynchpin in my Divine team and without her, it’s probably no longer viable at all. Nerfing Mercy would literally force me into playing whatever the current OP meta is. ---
**Author:** ![Studs](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/studs/32/3498_2.png) [@Studs](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Studs)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:38pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/76 "2016-08-02T15:38:26Z")
The game shouldn’t be balanced around middling team compositions. ---
**Author:** ![htismaqe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/htismaqe/32/23893_2.png) [@htismaqe](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/htismaqe)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/77 "2016-08-02T15:40:52Z")
That’s not condescending at all. Just FYI, the definition of balance implies finding an acceptable MIDDLE ground. By definition, a game (or anything else) is implicitly balanced around “middling team compositions”. “Balancing” around OP team compositions isn’t “balancing”, it’s “weighting”. PS. I hope I’m not alone in saying that for me, the fun of this game is taking “middling team compositions” and making them into consistent winners. If this was about competition and achievement, I’d play a game that didn’t have a 10% average on defense battles. ---
**Author:** ![Ashasekayi](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/ashasekayi/32/61090_2.png) [@Ashasekayi](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Ashasekayi)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:44pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/78 "2016-08-02T15:44:56Z")
Mercy doesn’t need a nerf. It’s rare that I get a starting board in which I can’t stop Mercy from getting an extra turn through regular gem matching. That isn’t even counting using an empowered mana drain against her to neutralize her. ---
**Author:** ![Sirrian](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/sirrian/32/35758_2.png) [@Sirrian](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Sirrian)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/79 "2016-08-02T15:49:04Z")
No plans to nerf Mercy at the moment… I find the perfect Mercy starting board is about 1 in 5 in my games, which is great when it happens, but quite often Mercy is just baggage for me until turn 5 or later, which often makes me think about including Alchemist or another troop entirely. ---
**Author:** ![htismaqe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/htismaqe/32/23893_2.png) [@htismaqe](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/htismaqe)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2016, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542/80 "2016-08-02T15:51:26Z")
1 in 5 sounds about right, although with the way I use Mercy (primarily to charge Valk) I will often fire her first turn even if it doesn’t give me another turn. Mercy is the fuse in my loop dynamite. Without her, there’s a good chance my Templar dies before he gets to cast his spell. [Previous page](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542.md?page=3) [Next page](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/lions-rampant/10542.md?page=5)