Explanation in Speed submenu. There is a base speed going from 31 to 61, all axies got their speed between these. Each speedup can buff you 20% up, there are only 2 options, koi combined with another aqua card (you need 2-3 aqua cards to use reliably and no 0 costs for aquas, only nimo which is also tail, so this costs 2 energy at least) and arco (1 speed 3 morale on others instead of 3 for birds/aqua parts), a beast card which is standalone, 1 speedup stack for each attack. Each speed down sends you 20% down. Defensive speedup, goldfish for each hit speed up to 5 stacks. Five is the maximum and two axies on 5 speedup the more damaged axie will attack first. I used round down, so I'm not entirely sure what happens when you got exactly matching speeds, would it calculate for advantage or not, I assume it wouldn't in this table. Filter the middle column called Base. Important values to keep in mind: 31 (tanks), 41 (pure beast and reptile), 46-50 dusk termi, 57 (aqua), 53-55(aqua with tech card, usually bug or beast card) 61(bird)
Speed up and speed down
Speed table- Values are round down
J52 speed +1 speedup faster than bird. (51 same speed, unsure if the decimals matters, it's 61.2) 49 speed +1 speedup faster than aqua. (48x120%=57.6) 35 speed +1 speedup faster than beast 49 and a - speed brings down a bird under himself 46 and a -speed brings an aqua under himself 42 and a -speed brings 53 under himself 37 and - speed x2 brings birds under 35 and - speed x2 brings aqua down 45 and +2 speedup faster than bird
most calculations are rounded down so in case of 57.9=57.1, so if both are same 57, then lower hp is faster, need more proof on this
there is a tradeoff always, if you got too much speed or too little, it won't do anything but you get less other stats.
0 speed will still attack doesn't modify the ability to attack only the order. you will only see -5 speed in adventure or in really specific scenarios. +5 speed happens quite often with aquas (3 attacks into 2 goldfish) speed won't make the axies attack more or hit harder, they only attack first.
Jaguar card in last stand attacks first regardless of speed order. Also applies the lethal from axie kiss (mouth card so can't combine it with confident).
The above numbers are good for breeders and pvp players to know, people spend a lot to get faster axies than others, it has an advantage in pvp. And these cards and parts will make axies better, just a few examples why higher purity might be worse than lower one. 5/6 aqua with 57 speed will always have bird cards and will be faster than any other aqua.
In bird backdoor mirrors owl targets the fastest axie, so the other bird with owl. owl and 2 damage plus post is enough to kill, 4 card 3 energy or even less after he used a post fight. So this is a clear disadvantage when the opponent has lower ID than yours, it can kill your bird before you kill his. In aqua mirrors the bird card on aqua reduces your health by 6 and morale up by 1 so on same and lower health, until undamaged you go first, this makes a clear advantage for aquas born later, this ignores low ID and if you assemble 4 cards that can kill your opponent, he will go after you and either gives up his aqua or loses it if can't out armor your damage. In 1v1 or 2v2 mirrors the faster aquas usually win.
As for the steal effects, slower tanks are better, slowest possible is 31 with bug or plant. One bug card will give 1 hp and 3 morale instead of 3 hp and 1 morale. That's 12 health points ingame so 504 total health. The older tank goes first, yes newer breed plants on same cardset are slower. This only works until their tank is more damaged but a good start often enough to win. Cactus gains damage if the axie goes last, so by hitting it early you reduce it's damage, this might matter in plant mirrors on front.
Bugs got usually 120 hp under plants so they go first until you bring them down a bit. If you want to be faster than them, use 1 beast card on eyes, ears or cardset. Beast cards don't reduce morale either but you don't get 10% attack bonus on them and you lose 6 ingame health so either get 0 cost or utility beast cards or eyes and ears. No point to get more speed, you won't reach 41-42 without speedups and that already would be only 2 bug cards so no reason to go 2 bug card on a bug body.
This assume that values are round down, so 1 level difference if the partial speed matters. If anyone has experience with it let me know.