Steem Monsters highly frustrating defeat streak against life splinter

Recently I have been playing Steem Monsters like crazy. I have been able to find more time from my otherwise hectic office schedule. I have even got my weekends back which were working earlier. I have been pushing hard to up my league but it has been very frustrating. Here is a quick sample. I lost 6 battles back to back against 6 different players but exactly similar deck and exactly same splinter the Life Splinter. Is it just an ugly coincidence ?

I have always hated the life splinter when using it as well as playing against it. I have lost most of those battles. Today was no different. Lately I have been finding it almost impossible to beat the combination of Silvershield Paladin in the front row and the Air Elemental in the last. It is a deadly combo. The silver shield paladin has a great shield halving the strong melee and ranged attacks. The air elemental with its super fast speed and extremely high ranged damage takes down the strongest tank troop I have which is the Goblin Mech. To worsen the things there comes the Divine healer to heal and incur more damange with its magic attack. Its a nightmare. Peace bringer added to disturb my mental peace. LOL
Here is my unfortunate series of lost battles 6 in a row. The defeat streak continued with a relief that it was a different splinter and different monsters later. :P

https://steemmonsters.com?p=battle&id=6866b147fdded7acdbfa1eceec0f31b23709e1e7&ref=blog-beginner

https://steemmonsters.com?p=battle&id=a8eab9df3f70e1b51c45ca17dd91b92263059cea&ref=blog-beginner

https://steemmonsters.com?p=battle&id=67ad061eaf21c7676e61442802c7d4a7399e5a3a&ref=blog-beginner

https://steemmonsters.com?p=battle&id=307690de774f99f5ac649c84c0967ad4a93e059e&ref=blog-beginner

https://steemmonsters.com?p=battle&id=9fad2227ba7d70da9a77b7c4588be6017024084c&ref=blog-beginner

https://steemmonsters.com?p=battle&id=ad44dd3c4f96f12f462ea26f6f65a68535b0f1a8&ref=blog-beginner

It ended in this fashion. 10 battles lost in a row. 8 out of which were Life Splinter

Has anyone found a combination to beat this combo ? Does the game enforce investment to move up the league ? Can't someone keep moving up without buying or trading cards ? I haven't invested a penny ever since I purchased my starter back at $10. I don't wish to invest. I may settle for 15 cards a season instead of investing to go higher the league table.

I regularly participate in @zaku @zaku-spt 1000 DEC giveaway contest. Do check out for those. They are published daily. This gives me an idea to be suggested to @zaku. He can distribute DEC to unfortunate ones like me who lose 5+ battles back to back.