Ant Miners work relentlessly under the burning wave of the earth crust. Their work are overseen by the Antoid Platoon, one every fifty miners. Their limbs are more frail compared to the Antoid. Some of them work too close to the fire, causing searing fire to emerge from their skin. Even so they're not fireproof. They're ready to let themselves burn to death. For from the carcass remain of their fallen comrades, they will consume it. It's a potent source which allow them to grow a harder carcass.
I've used Ant Miners quite frequently in my early bronze league battle. The card are not particularly strong. But since it cost only 2 mana, I might as well used it as canon fodder or filler to any empty position. But the truth is, this card is not to be underestimated. Typical to all low mana card, their status could swing up and down easily by the surge of any buff, debuff, or other special effect. Any formation bringing Ant Miners, means they ready to put a hard fight!
Pros & Cons
 |  |
|---|---|
| 1. A 2 mana cost to deploy won't hurt much and won't call for a second thought. | 1. Basically lower overall status, with no particular strong point. Although at later level, this card grow stronger as Tanker card. |
| 2. Scavenger and Shield if combined will boost the card health while reducing the incoming damage; making both abilities to synergize very well on a Tanker card. | 2. Magic attack will be the main weakness of this card. It takes role more as a Tanker, but the low health are an easy target for magic damage. |
| *Reference for Archetype term : Striker --> Superior Damage / Tanker --> Superior Health / Ninja --> Superior Speed / Support --> A Lot Number of Abilities. |
Market Price Analysis
Ant Miners are quite expensive for a Normal type card. It cost $0.17 for regular foil, and $2.12 for a gold foil as per this post was made. Regular price is somehow in sideways trend, meanwhile gold price have been down-trending for the past 2 weeks. The trend has caused the price gap between regular foil and gold foil to narrow down; and considering the regular-gold bcx ratio for this card is at around 10:1 to 12:1, the cost for both foil to reach the same level have become closer. In total it will cost around $68 to max level at regular, and $80 to max level at gold. So in conclusion, its still a good price to focus level on the gold foil.
Progression Analysis
Ant Miners started at Level 1 with 1 value on all status (except the armor). Even thought all of it seemed low, its fair enough for a 2 mana card; as there's more potential with more value is gained from growth in each progression steps. The starting ability, Scavenger, is the cutting edge feature. This health gained from this ability could turn Ant Miners health to equal a card with 4 or 5 maca.
Speed grow 2 times at Level 2 and Level 8 which give enough speed to rival other cards. There are 4 health growth, but the final sum is only 2 health, as there's 2 drawback happened at Level 4 and Level 6. The both drawback are used to compensate the +1 armor and Shield ability, which in my opinion could be justified, since both growth are closely related and support Ant Miners into real Tanker. The third and fourth health growth really important for this card to resist any ambush attack.
The final and ultimate progression is the damage growth. This allow Ant Miners to fight back opposing card, rather than just stand aground as a Tanker. Again it might be too costly to gain this growth since this card is quite expensive for a Normal rarity card. It might be better to consider maximizing damage on card with of a more Striker type.
Rulesets To Be Watched
| Ruleset | Strategy |
|---|---|
 | Scavenger ability works most efficient if possessed by low mana card because the health gained will grant the highest health-mana ratio addition. So since this card have low value on all status, its best to not deploy this card in Back To Basic ruleset. |
 | Low health card will always gain the best benefit from other high health card in this Equalizer ruleset. |
 | Noxious Fumes could flush out Ant Miners in just one round. But if the noxious fumes take effect on your opponent formation first, there's great chance the card will gain health before being poisoned. Still it's too risky and not worth it to gamble. |
WATCH BATTLE
Here's one of my battle experience with Ant Miners in my formation. Click Here for the battle link. The battle have 13 mana cap, with Standard ruleset. For my formation, I used:
| Position | Card Name | Level | Mana | Health | Armor | Speed | Damage Type | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summoner | Tarsa | 2 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1st Row | Chaos Agent | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | None | - |
| 2nd Row | Radiated Scorcher | 3 | 1 | 2 | - | 2 | Melee | 1 |
| 3rd Row | Ant Miners | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | 2 | Melee | 1 |
| 4th Row | Serpentine Spy | 1 | 3 | 1 | - | 3 | Melee | 2 |
| 5th Row | Goblin Fireballer | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 1 | Ranged | 1 |
| 6th Row | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
My opponent formation:
| Position | Card Name | Level | Mana | Health | Armor | Speed | Damage Type | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summoner | Obsidian | 1 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1st Row | Failed Summoner | 1 | 2 | 4 | - | 2 | None | - |
| 2nd Row | Regal Peryton | 1 | 5 | 6 | - | 5 | Magic | 1 |
| 3rd Row | Xenith Archer | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | 1 | Ranged | 1 |
| 4th Row | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 5th Row | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6th Row | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
I decided to deploy Ant Miners primarily since its a low mana cap battle. I put Serpentine Spy as my main Striker, while Ant Miners as the main Tanker. But to avoid Ant Miners fall down earlier, I choose put Chaos Agent and Radiated Scorcher in the first two rows as cannon fodder. Goblin Fireballer fill the last row as a shield against any Sneak attack. This battle is a high stake battle, as both we both deployed summoner with damage buff. But the opponent summoner is less effective as there is only single magic card being deployed. My opponent seemed to focus the power into single card that is Regal Peryton. Failed Summoner become less useful as my formation are full melee formation.
I already got the upperhand in the first round as my Serpentine Spy strike down Xenith Archer. Chaos Agent work very well as cannon fodder as Regal Peryton attack are wasted to strike it down. Meanwhile Failed Summoner is down to 1 health as Ant Miners and Goblin Fireballer combines attack.
In Round 2, Regal Peryton put a damage into Radiated Scorcher, but failed to bring it down. When the turn for my formation. Serpentine strike down Failed Summoner, and then Radiated Scorcher making counter attack toward Regal Peryton.
Peryon are not giving up and show some fight by putting an end to Radiated Scorcher. The remaining team launched full scale attack only to have Serpentine Spy making the hit.
By the start of Round 4, the fate is sealed for my opponent as Ant Miners have build itself into formidable Tanker with 6 health. Regal Peryton have lost its momentum to finish my formation.
CONCLUSION
Did your strategy work? What will you try differently next time?
My formation work very well thanks to Scavenger being utilized effectively. There are 4 card eliminated, and therefore 4 health have been added to Ant Miners. At Round 4, the 6 health become a wall which delay Regal Peryton from killing Serpentine Spy. The melee damage buff from Tarsa also contribute into Ant Miners having some bite.
Do you like ANT MINERS? Why or why not?
Of course Ant Miners will always be my favorite cards. Its very tactical for low mana cap battle. It also very motivating to leveling it up to gain armor, additional health, and the Shield ability. It the best bargain for an effective Tanker card.
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Thanks for sharing! - @marianaemilia
Ant Miners is really great in low mana cap!