Splinterlands Weekly Battle Challenge - My Lava Spider is better than the Centaur

We are fast approaching Christmas, and I am getting closer to completing my first year of playing ++Splinterlands++++.++

The festive weekly battle challenge involves a half horse - half man with an amazing long hair that can snipe arrows while galloping in battles. It looks like this neutral ranged BETA monster is no longer included in the standard free cards after the Chaos Legion update so I no longer have it.

I was using this card in the past and for the 4 mana cost was delivering a good set of skills, with his 4 health points and 1 ranged damage with Snipe. I had a look on the market to buy it but at $3.10 for a single card I decided to not buy it.

Does it feel too expensive? Not at all ... but I have a cheaper option that I can use it for free! The Lava Spider costs only 3 Mana, and the only difference is that he has only 2 Speed instead of 3 Speed that the Centaur has.

**Battle Strategy and Line-up: **Standard rules with 14 mana cap doesn't give much options so I opted for a line-up that can resist to damage. The Living Lava will reduce both melee and ranged attacks, while the Lava Spider decent health will absorb any potential damage done behind the tank.

Summoner: Tarsa - gives +1 Melee and +1 Health to all friendly monsters.

Living Lava - Tank with Shield

Lava Spider - Ranged with Snipe

The opponent had a similar plan as he chose the Cursed Windeku as main tank and the Riftwing at the back to absorb any behind the tank damage.

The Cursed Windeku is one of the cards I hate, with the Thorns ability that gives back 2 damage for every melee damage taken. Choosing the Living Lava was a good choice as the Shield also reduced the Thorns effect.

The first two rounds were a ping-pong of attacks between the two main pawns on the board, while the Spider was slowly grinding the Riftwing health.

I cruised towards victory, as the Living Lava halved all the damage, including Thorns and defeated the Windeku. Hot lava spider webs were strong enough to take down the Riftwing. See the full battle here!