# Skulls are not Gems **URL:** \ **Category:** Gameplay Chat (PC/Mobile)\ **Created:** [September 23, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/skulls-are-not-gems/77066 "2022-09-23T22:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boomerayng](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/boomerayng/32/83332_2.png) [@boomerayng](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/boomerayng)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/skulls-are-not-gems/77066/1 "2022-09-23T22:18:55Z")
There are certain Troop Cards that blow up gems, target gems for removal & yet skulls aren’t targetable. And then there are Troops whom gain certain extras from “match four match five gems” bonuses which somehow also include grouped four-five skulls matched(all kinds of skulls)most noticeably, on Behemeth and others included. i propose a nerf to that feature to balance it out. whaddya think??!😁 ---
**Author:** ![Stratelier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/977dab/32.png) [@Stratelier](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Stratelier)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 1:17am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/skulls-are-not-gems/77066/2 "2022-09-24T01:17:27Z")
IIRC, in most cases don’t most spells that target a gem color of choice specifically say “Mana Gem”, not just “Gem”? (Or, alternatively, gems of a desired “color” – Skulls being colorless.) Conversely, some troops (such as the six Elemental Guild Guardians), can create Gems of a desired type _including Skulls._ Personally, I think maybe that the condition of “4 or 5 gem matches” should probably get split into two conditions: have traits that activate on matches of _exactly_ 4 gems, and traits that activate only on matches of _5 or more_ gems. ---
**Author:** ![TheIdleOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@TheIdleOne](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/TheIdleOne)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/skulls-are-not-gems/77066/3 "2022-09-24T02:19:31Z")
> [@Stratelier](#): > > Personally, I think maybe that the condition of “4 or 5 gem matches” should probably get split into two conditions: have traits that activate on matches of _exactly_ 4 gems, and traits that activate only on matches of _5 or more_ gems. I feel like that makes the game needlessly more complicated. 4/5 gem matches has been established this way for so long that the split would just be extremely jarring ---
**Author:** ![Graeme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@Graeme](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Graeme)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 2:33am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/skulls-are-not-gems/77066/4 "2022-09-24T02:33:41Z")
Would make more sense it if read “4+ gem matches” for every description? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Dust\_Angel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/dust_angel/32/35256_2.png) [@Dust\_Angel](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Dust_Angel)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 2:58am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/skulls-are-not-gems/77066/5 "2022-09-24T02:58:40Z")
A newish player in our guild family recently asked “why can’t I select a skull with troop X but can with troop Y”…I went over all the troops they mentioned and it is what @Stratelier says - _mana gem_ (colors only) vs. _gem_ (colors and skulls). Of course, I haven’t gone over every troop in the game but the ones I did look at eventually where consistent and easy to understand. I don’t think any change is necessary at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![Lucien](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/community.gemsofwar.com/lucien/32/75325_2.png) [@Lucien](https://community.gemsofwar.com/u/Lucien)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2022, 11:08am UTC](https://community.gemsofwar.com/t/skulls-are-not-gems/77066/6 "2022-09-24T11:08:44Z")
it could be to do with the fact 4 matches never surge and 5+ always do surge