Briar Patch ruleset in Splinterlands - you do not even need to attack to win

So folks a new week is for me a new post to write about my adventures in Splinterlands.
As for news I understood that the new airdrop system was revealed. From what I got it will become more of an staking system. However... my information is so blurry because it seems only relevant for Rebellion set. Well, as I still do not own anything Rebellion...

...let's say we just look at my next battle in another ruleset!

"Briar Patch" it is then. And the rules read like this: "All units receive the Thorns ability at the start of the battle. Enemy units that use melee attacks receive damage back."

And some fine-print added: "Damage returned is equal to damage of the attacker divided by 2, rounded up.
Melee attack units with the Reflection Shield ability do not take damage from thorns.
The Amplify ability increases damage."

So there really are some things to be considered. First: (Only) Melee attack units receive damage when they attack. Second: The stronger your attack, the more damage you will receive. Third: Reflection Shield and Amplify abilities have some effect, as well.

My battle I would like to share is this one here:
https://splinterlands.com/?p=battle&id=sl_077871a21469c0a2a93abdcde655953f&ref=jdike

This battle is one of the rare occasions I did not go with a magical setup.
My idea was to deal some Ranged damage and so circumvent "Briar Patch" ruleset.
My opponent seemed to have a somewhat similar idea but with a different setup including more costly units.

Not too much surprise Round 1 already saw several of my units leave the board. However Riftwing with its Scavenger ability got strengthened. And as he does not attack on its own his HP will not be reduced by "Briar Patch" ruleset.

Indeed Riftwing's combination of not attacking and Scavenger ability turned out to be beneficial in Briar Patch ruleset. While my opponent's strong unit attacked and got worn down by ranged attacks and Thorns, Riftwing was still there!

Opponent's low cost units were quickly taken care of by ranged attacks and so my opponent's last ranged attack unit ceased fire.

That is it, another win for team @jdike ! Actually I had to look through several "Briar Patch" matches to find one with a victory of mine. :D

Seems like I do not go too well with Briar Patch. However looking at this match I should have learned that mainly countering your enemy might prove beneficial. Of course this can only hold truth thanks to Briar Patch ruleset which gives blocking units something similar to an attack.

You are still not into the Splinterverse, but you consider joining? -Consider using my sign-up link, too: https://splinterlands.com?ref=jdike