Greetings Splinterlands community!
@affliction here back with another Splinterlands lore video.
Our this week's lore video is a special one as it is perfectly timed right after the Black Foil Arcane auction of Dar 'Gottem' Gearnut.
Many congratulations to @cryptomancer for winning the auction and bagging the card.
And thank you @unitmaster for your recommendation to create this lore video.
If you missed my previous work, do check out the recent videos:
- Splinterlands lore video - Flagulon Reine
- Splinterlands Lore Video : Adelade Brightwing
- Splinterlands Lore Video: Axe Master
- Splinterlands Lore Video: Nidhoggr – The Eternal Devourer
- Doctor Blight Unleashed | Splinterlands Lore Series
Now let's do a deep dive on today's card and it's lore.
The Card
Stats & Abilities
| Level | Melee | Speed | Armor | Health | Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 20 | Trample |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 22 | Trample, Flank |
| 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 24 | Trample, Flank, Inspire |
| 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 25 | Trample, Flank, Inspire, Void |
- Mana Cost: 14
- Attack Type: Melee
- Element: Dragon
- Rarity: Legendary
Gameplay Analysis
Strengths
Chain-kill potential (Trample): With enough damage (Inspire + other buffs), Dar can snowball through frontlines.
True off-tank (Flank): Pairs perfectly with a high damage dealer melee in the reach position.
Teamwide melee buff (Inspire): Turns melee comps into wrecking balls; pairs beautifully with Sneak/Opportunity squads.
Late-game durability (Void @ Level 4): Finally stands up to magic spam once maxed.
Weaknesses
- High mana (14): Hard to justify in tight caps.
- Needs damage to Trample: Shield, Repair, Tank Heal, Resurrect, and big armor stacks can stop his chains.
- Melee counters: Thorns, Dodge/Phase (with his middling speed), and Disarm-like pressure via Weaken/Blind reduce impact.
- Magic vulnerability if not maxed: Until Void, magic-heavy lobbies melt him.
Best Rulesets
- Stampede: S-tier with Trample—chains can trigger repeatedly.
- Melee Mayhem / Up Close & Personal: Guarantees he’s swinging; Inspire buffs the whole squad.
- Equal Opportunity: Team piles damage; Inspire amplifies kills to enable Trample.
- Super Sneak (conditional): If you still place him up front or 2nd (so he’s hitting high-HP targets), chains can pop off. Add armor shred (Rust/Shatter from allies) to secure first kills.
Synergy tips
- Pair with Rust/Shatter allies to strip armor → easier Trample procs.
- Add Speed buffs (Swiftness/Slow on enemy) to reduce misses.
- Taunt tank in front + Dar second (Flank) is a clean formation.
- He loves friendly Tank Heal/Protect to survive longer while chaining.
Lore
Dar Gottem was never cut out for the forge. Other gnomes of New Wilhelmdale hammered steel into swords or armor; Dar hammered scraps into makeshift wings, plates, and a tail he swore would let him pass as a dragon. His obsession was plain to anyone who heard him roar from behind the smithy or saw him gnash his teeth at passersby.
Then, one day, Dar got it in his head to set out alone and see a real dragon for himself. Maybe he sought a reference for his next suit. Maybe it was simple curiosity. Whatever the reason, he trudged across the Western Lowlands, through the forests of Blackmoor Basin, and into the foothills of the Jagtooth Mountains. High above the clouds loomed Mount Redwyrm, the tallest peak in the range and lair of Rage, the ancient wyrm, and his flight of reds. No sane soul would’ve dared approach.
Dar approached. His patchwork suit rattled like a death knell. He ascended the slopes and clambered up rocks and cliffs until he stumbled upon the entrance to a cave. Inside the cave, he found a tunnel leading into Mount Redwyrm.
The labyrinth seemed endless until, finally, the mouth of a massive cavern gaped ahead, scorched black by millennia of fire. Treasure spilled within like a river of gold. Dar’s eyes widened as he stared at the hoard, and his gaze fixed on an hourglass pendant glowing among the coins, baubles, and relics.
He rushed forward, stumbling as the coins slid beneath his feet, and plucked it up. He clasped it around his neck just as something stirred in the darkness. Rage swung his head, saw Dar, and roared. Fire erupted from his maw. Dar bolted, armor melting, lungs burning. Yet when the smoke cleared and the flames died away, he still lived. The pendant pulsed hot against his chest.
When Dar staggered back into New Wilhelmdale, he told anyone who’d listen that he had faced Rage and survived. No one believed him. They laughed, said he’d found the pendant in a junk heap, said his scars came from falling into his own forge. But Dar knew the truth.
Since that day, the locals have endured his antics. He charges through alleys, chasing rodents, pretending they’ve stolen his hoard. He bellows, “Come back here with my treasure!” before crushing them with his oversized mace. Then he throws back his head and screams his victory cry:
“Gottem!”
To the villagers, he’s a mad gnome in dragon’s skin. To Dar, he’s only waiting for his wings to grow.
The Video
Now based on the lore, we have split it into eight smaller segments and converted them to different scenes using ChatGPT.
Scene 1 – “The Mad Gnome of the Forge”
Show New Wilhelmdale—a bustling gnome village full of smiths. Cut to Dar hammering together bizarre mechanical wings and a tail, roaring like a dragon while the others watch, half amused, half disturbed.
Scene 2 – “The Journey Begins”
Depict Dar traveling across varied landscapes — rolling lowlands, misty forests, and rugged foothills — with his clunky armor rattling. Include wide landscape shots to set the adventure tone.
Scene 3 – “Mount Redwyrm”
Cinematic reveal of Mount Redwyrm wreathed in smoke and firelight. Dar climbs toward a dark cave entrance, trembling yet determined.
Scene 4 – “The Hoard of Rage”
Show Dar wandering through twisting tunnels lit by the glow of magma veins, then entering the grand treasure cavern — mountains of gold, jeweled relics, and a mysterious glowing hourglass pendant.
Scene 5 – “The Wrath of Rage”
Dramatic action: Dar grabbing the pendant, then the dragon Rage awakening—massive, ancient, eyes burning. Fire engulfs everything. Dar runs for his life, surviving only because of the pendant’s magical protection.
Scene 6 – “The Return of Dar Gottem”
Dar, scarred and limping, returns home clutching the pendant. Villagers mock him; he waves his arms in frustration, shouting that he faced Rage himself.
Scene 7 – “The Mad Gnome’s Hunt”
Comedic yet slightly tragic montage: Dar in his dragon-themed armor chasing rats through the streets, roaring dramatically, swinging his mace while villagers shake their heads
Scene 8 – “Gottem!”
Dar strikes a triumphant pose after smashing a rat, roaring “Gottem!”
End with a slow zoom out—Dar standing proud in sunset light, mechanical wings gleaming, eyes full of belief—“waiting for his wings to grow.”
Tools Used
- ChatGPT / DALL·E → for scene breakdowns and cosmic dragon imagery.
- KlingAI → to animate the still images with flame, shadow, and void transitions.
- ElevenLabs → for the deep, resonant narration voiceover.
- Canva → to assemble, edit, and finalize the video with audio + music.
If you are interested to read about the details how these lore videos are created using the tools mentioned, please give this article read.
Upcoming Videos
- Djinn Oshannus & Oshannus Unmade Crossover - Self recommendation
Do let me know how you liked this video and I’d love to hear your suggestions on which character deserves the spotlight next.
Until next time…
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