I am not Groot… GIAM ROOT!

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Every time I see Giam Root, I can’t help but think Splinterlands slipped a little Marvel Easter egg into the game. The name itself feels like an anagram of "I am Groot", and the design, the towering treant with bark for skin, seals the deal. Maybe, in the Splinterlands universe, Giam Root also doesn’t say much, speaks slow and deep, and most of the time his allies are just nodding like “yeah, we get the gist.” Giam Root’s basically Groot, but instead of hanging out with Star Lord, he’s stomping enemies flat in Sylvaras with his immense size and rugged root.

Lore

Giam Root is a decidite treefolk of Sylvaras. He’s tall and solid, with a broad, bark-skinned frame and a living canopy for a crown. He rarely speaks, rarely sees the need. When he does, it’s slow, deep, and hard to follow. But the forest understands him. So do the beasts. And his companions, eventually, get the gist.

No one’s quite sure how old he is. Giam doesn’t say, and the moss along his back suggests either centuries or a very humid upbringing. He wanders the forests surrounding Sylvaras, sometimes taking root for weeks at a time, then rising without warning to follow birdsong, smoke, or strangers who look like they need help. When battle comes, Giam isn’t one to back down. He blocks blades with his forearms, hurls sharpened branches like spears, and flattens foes with a single stomp.

Stats

Giam Root is a high health tank with 11 base health that makes it extremely durable for a 9 mana unit. It only has one ability, Strengthen, that boosts the health of the whole team. This is a valuable ability especially in long battles because the goal of Splinterlands is to reduce all enemy unit's health to 0. Since it only has 1 range damage, it is best used as a wall that acts as a sponge while the rest of your team do the damage.

Abilities

Icon	Name	Description
	Strengthen	All friendly Units have their Health increased by 1.
		is a match because Stacking Strengthen abilities creates a team with higher health than normal. The advantage is very clear. If you and your enemy both has 2 attack and you have +2 health, your enemy will die first. Teams with multiple Strengthen units can outlast enemies much easier in matches.
		is a counter because This directly cancels out Strengthen, making Giam Root’s ability useless. While this doesn't affect Giam Root a lot, the lost in extra health still affects your entire team whom Giam Root rely for damage.

Good Rules to Consider

Icon	Name	Reason
	Close Range	All units have Close Range (can use ranged attacks from the first position).
		Giam Root has ranged attack and normally, ti cannot attack when moved to the frontline. Close Range removes that weakness. This ruleset allows it to act as both a tank and an extra damage, though its damage is still small. Still, the damage can add up with the others. This makes Giam Root more useful instead of becoming a useless body in front.
	Noxious Fumes	All Units start the battle Poisoned.
		With 11 health, Giam Root lasts much longer than most enemies even while poisoned. Its Strengthen also buys more time for allies to outlive the enemies. Even without healing, it becomes a dependable key unit in these type of battles.
	Target Practice	All units with magic and ranged attacks have Snipe (magic and ranged attacks target the first non-melee enemy unit behind the first position).
		With proper placement, Giam Root can be used to absorb Snipe attacks to protect your team. Its massive health pool makes it ideal for this job since it won’t fall quickly. Just remember to place him behind your front tanks since Snipe attacks avoid any melee units.

Bad Rules to Think Twice

Icon	Name	Reason
	Equalizer	The initial Health of all Units is equal to that of the Units on either team with the highest base Health.
		Giam Root’s main advantage is its naturally high health but Equalizer removes that advantage by giving all units the same max health. Now, the enemy’s weak units also gain immense amount of health making Giam Root less special. With everyone having high amount of health, Giam Root's low attack now becomes a problem.
	Equal Opportunity	All units have Opportunity (targets the enemy unit with the least health).
		This ruleset is harmful to your other units since enemy units also gain Opportunity which changes their attacks to the least health ignoring Giam Root due to its high health. A tank that is not being attacked does not perform its job. Giam Root just becomes a liability in this scenario since he doesn't do much damage as well.
	Born Again	All units have Rebirth (self-resurrects once per battle with 1 health and 100% of armor; all magic debuffs are removed, and all magic buffs are reapplied; skips turn).
		Since Giam Root has no armor, its revive effect is very weak here. When it comes back, it only has 1 health and dies to the next hit. This makes the rule practically useless for Giam Root.

Battle

In this battle, I used the synergy of Giam Root and Aurelia to combat the combo of Thalgrimore and Sorrow Harvester. My Strengthen and +1 health to all of my units counteracts the enemy's Weaken and -1 to all of my units. Normally, I have another tank at my disposal in front of Giam Root but for this one, I settled with a lower mana Spellmonger in order for me to not limit myself with the stronger units that can deal high damage at the back. While the enemy has a clear advantage in number and strategy, I still won because I have a better tank and solid damage. Without Nim Guard Captain, I was able to quickly get in the enemy's back line and slowly reduce their numbers one by one with the help of Kicking Roc and Wilhelmdale Deputy until I win.