Is it the Cards or the Player?

SPOILER ALERT It is most definitely the player!

I have written before on the idea of renting cards and some of the perils of getting cards ahead of your experience. I want to highlight a Silver 3 battle that makes this point quite effectively. The battle can be replayed here: https://splinterlands.io?p=battle&id=0ddb4494a0f200029e360c4ff83d9322ac6e526f&ref=mrosen95

Here we have the set-up. Battle rules are "Keep Your Distance" and 19 Mana Cap with Earth Splinter inactive. I'm trying to complete a daily quest on the Life Splinter and my opponent goes for a Dragon inspired Fire Splinter opting for the new Air Dropped Dragon Summoner Drake of Arnak which provides +1 Shield.

He is playing 3 legendary Monsters in the form of an Elemental Phoenix: 2 magic, 5 speed, and 8 health with Flying. Backed up by Zalran Efreet: 2 magic, 2 speed, and 3 life with Life Leech. Lastly a Lord of Fire with 1 ranged, 2 speed, 4 health and Strengthen.

For my side, I've got the Prismatic Energy, Divine Healer, Air Elemental, and Furious Chicken. A side note here, the Air Elemental is one of the most underrated cards with his speed and Dodge ability. At any rate, it seems from the set-up that the Dragon team will have it.

Fast forward, the Prismatic Reflect power has been doing double duty damage and the Phoenix is wiped out. Until now the Efreet has been gaining a life and losing a life and the Healer has rendered the Prismatic virtually unscathed.

To My point....

Playing a handful of:

1. expensive, or
2. rare, or
3. powerful cards

does not make a Splinterlands player. Hats off to all the elite players who have put in the time to master the subtleties of the battle effects, manage the mana cap, and truly understand the synchronicity of the Monster selection.