Best Cull Obsidian Decks to Try on Day 1 and Strategy Guide: I Mean… 10 Power Is a Lot

Cull Obsidian is the Series 5 card for the February 2024 Season, Black Order. It is a 4-Cost, 10-Power card that reads: You can only play this where you have a 1-Cost card. Today, we will take a deeper look at the new card and, of course, the best decks to try it out in.

Variants

Cull Obsidian

You can only play this where you have a 1-Cost card.

Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Cull Obsidian

Strengths and Weaknesses

Cull Obsidian is arriving in Marvel Snap this week. This is one of the simplest cards that has been released in some time; it’s basically just four energy for ten power. The downside for that power is you have to play it at a location where you either have a 1-drop or can play a 1-drop on the same turn. Will Cull Obsidian‘s limitation prove to be enough to stop it being played in every deck that can afford to run 1-drops?

Variants

Thanos

Starts in your opening hand and shuffles the six Infinity Stones into your deck.

Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Thanos

Variants

Black Swan

On Reveal: Until the end of next turn, your 1-Cost cards cost 0.

Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Black Swan

Cull Obsidian has potentially the lightest deck building requirement and restriction for an above rate card. It is really simple: include 1-drops in your deck, play a 1-drop when you can, and play Cull Obsidian. The confirmed interaction that you can actually play the 1-drop on the same turn as Cull Obsidian just makes this restriction even lighter. This could change how we build many decks in order to include 1-drop packages with Cull Obsidian.

Once again, I am starting out with Thanos in what may be the biggest addition for a deck that desperately needed support from big ten power cards. Given how well Thanos decks are doing going into this release, this is potentially where we will see Cull Obsidian make the biggest immediate impact.

This deck gets to automatically include six 1-drops, and this means you are potentially always going to be able to play Cull Obsidian on Turn 4 at least, and, when you cannot, it will just support your Blob or come out of Lockjaw. Black Swan versions of this strategy can even ensure that you can play it rather freely onto any lane.

Variants

Armor

Ongoing: Cards here can’t be destroyed.

Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Armor

Variants

Falcon

On Reveal: Return your 1-Cost cards to your hand.

Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Falcon

Variants

Nico Minoru

On Reveal: After you play your next card, cast a spell. (The spell changes each turn.)

Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Nico Minoru

Variants

Squirrel Girl

On Reveal: Add a 1-Power Squirrel to each other location.

Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Squirrel Girl

Which leads me to decks that are heavier on 1-drops. Bounce and Zoo-style decks may find that playing Cull Obsidian is also rather free. Playing Cull Obsidian in decks alongside lots of 1-drops allows for decks like this to potentially push lanes over the top. This could be the stats these decks need to push them back into the conversation.

You need to make sure you build these decks with cards like Armor and Caiera so that you can rely on Cull Obsidian, but versions of Zoo and Bounce including Cull Obsidian both seem like they will be strong directions for the card.

Variants

Zero

On Reveal: Remove the abilities on the next card you play.

Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Zero

Variants

Shuri

On Reveal: If you play your next card at this location, double its Power.

Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Shuri

Variants

Martyr

At the end of the game, move to a location that LOSES you the game. (if possible)

Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Martyr

How big of a package do you need to support Cull Obsidian? Well, it could be as small as two 1-drops that allow you to set up a lane for Cull Obsidian on later turns. But is that worthwhile? You could look to use Cull Obsidian purely for stats in many decks if they can afford to play two 1-drops along with Cull Obsidian. You would have a good chance of drawing one of the two 1-drops by Turn 3, which would at least make Cull Obsidian playable on Turn 4. Doesn’t this mean we should be playing Cull Obsidian in every deck and just include two good 1-Cost cards?

The main issue with the card’s restriction is highlighted when we break down what this could mean. You would have played the 1-drop by Turn 3 at the latest, and this means you are now committed to that lane as your “Cull Obsidian lane”. This can be very limiting, and, although not as limiting as Crossbones, it should not be underestimated how much this could impact you in games if you’re planning on running Cull Obsidian with a package that cannot freely play the card. You have now committed your four energy to the lane where you played your 1-drop. This could telegraph where your power is going, which makes you less flexible for later turns. However, if the stats are just higher than what other decks can do, this might not matter at all.

What if you use Shuri on Cull Obsidian to allow you to drop the negative effect packages? You can include cards without Ongoing effects like Zero, Martyr, or even something like Forge to support playing Cull Obsidian in an Armored lane with Shuri. Without the need for Sauron, this may also highlight the final major synergy: Zabu.

Variants

Zabu

On Reveal: Until the end of next turn, your 4-Cost cards cost 1 less.

Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Zabu

Variants

Nebula

Each turn your opponent doesn’t play a card here, +2 Power. (except the turn you play this)

Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Nebula

Zabu makes this three energy for ten power, and this could be the thing that really pushes this card over the edge. Reducing the cost of ten power that could potentially be included in decks that can play it freely is big. Having three energy alongside Cull Obsidian to play on Turn 6 is a lot, and it could result in decks with Zabu + Cull Obsidian packages.

Variants

Shang-Chi

On Reveal: Destroy all enemy cards here that have 10 or more Power.

Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi is the only real counter for this card (outside of not being able to play a 1-drop). This is one of the most played cards in Marvel Snap, though, so it dictates how you may need to build decks that are aiming to support Cull Obsidian. Armor may be needed if you are looking to play Cull Obsidian on curve , which, of course, results in less flexibility with the deck.

The Verdict

It is really hard to find the downsides for this card. It appears that the real downside is the deckbuilding requirement, but this could be as small as including two 1-drops. The second downside is Shang-Chi, but, in practice, Shang-Chi has not resulted in Darkhawk or Sentry decks running Armor for some time. Additionally, it may be protected by Armor anyway in decks that are heavy on 1-drops and just result in ten unconditional power in those decks.

The card is not exciting or flashy, but high stat cards in Marvel Snap are generally powerful. The assumption is that the downside is bigger than it seems since you have to include this card over other cards, but it may just end up resulting in the way we build decks changing to support this card.

In short, Cull Obsidian is now the payoff for playing 1-drop cards.

Potential Score:

Thanos

Blobby Order

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 3 months ago

0

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

8x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

4.4

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

6.3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Let’s continue the evolution of Thanos with Cull Obsidian. This deck includes the new card as an almost unconditional ten power that is supported by the Lockjaw and Blob plays (as well as just being a good way of getting power down on curve). Black Swan on Turn 3 can lead to a bunch of 1-drops and either Cull Obsidian or Supergiant on Turn 4, and then the game might just be over. The rest of the game plan is the same Thanos style we have become used to.

Blobby Lashley

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 3 months ago

1

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

3x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

6x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

4.7

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

6

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Here is a version of Thanos with just Cull Obsidian added. There’s nothing much to add here; having the early 1-drops should make Cull Obsidian playable in two locations by Turn 4, and you still have synergy with Skaar, Blob, and Lockjaw. This deck also requires less of the newer cards, so if you’re only going after Cull Obsidian this month this direction requires less of your collection.

Zoo

Stats Zoo

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 3 months ago

0

1x Collection Level 1-14

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

1x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

3x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

3x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

1x Recruit Season

2.2

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.4

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Cull Obsidian may just be best in a deck where you can play lots of 1-drops and get it down in any lane. This version of Zoo has the potential to play Black Swan on Turn 5 and then play basically the rest of the deck from your hand on Turn 6. The potential of playing Hit Monkey and Cull Obsidian on the final turn with several one drops could be more power than many opponents are expecting.

Bounce

Cull By Night

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 3 months ago

0

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

3x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

4x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

2.4

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

As we continue to work with Black Swan, we can isolate the core cards needed to support it and make more efficient decks. Here you can get Cull Obsidian down with Black Swan on Turn 3 or have Zabu down for a Turn 5 Black Swan into Hit Monkey, Cull Obsidian, and a lot of 1-drops on Turn 6. This is in addition to the ability to leave 1-drops on the board without bouncing them for a Turn 4 Cull Obsidian play.

The new card may be vulnerable if played early, but if the tech cards hit it then your Werewolf By Night and Hit Monkey are safer and may end up uncontested on Turn 6. It’s not flashy, but ten power in any location could end up having a big impact when played alongside multiple 1-drops and a big Hit Monkey.

Zabu

Paint By Numbers

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 3 months ago

0

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

2x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

4x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

2.5

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.7

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

This deck aims to play on curve, protect Cull Obsidian with Armor, and set up some counter plays with Ghost, Shang-Chi, and Enchantress. Cull Obsidian can be played alongside the tech cards on Turn 6, but you have to spread your 1-drops carefully to maintain the Ms. Marvel power boost.

Just Some 1 Drops

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 3 months ago

1

1x Collection Level 1-14

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

1x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

1x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

6x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

2.4

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.4

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

In a similar style of play, this deck looks to protect the 1-drops more to keep the Ms. Marvel activation easily, and you primarily want Cull Obsidian on Turn 6 to flip the game with either Shang-Chi or Enchantress. You want to wait for the chance to flip the match with this deck, so you’re aiming to only activate Ms. Marvel on Turn 6 in order to stay behind on priority.

Shuri

Small Ball Shuri

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 3 months ago

0

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

2x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

3x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

5.6

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

This Shuri deck does not rely at all on Sauron (and it may be all the better for it). Here you have two strong 1-drops that can set up for Cull Obsidian. You can also use Supergiant to play Attuma or even Taskmaster and set up for a Turn 6 Shuri.

Supergiant on Turn 4 into Taskmaster and Shuri + Cull Obsidian is 20 power on two lanes by itself. Red Skull is still included due to how big it gets with Shuri, and you don’t have to worry about turning off your Armor anymore. It feels like there is room to experiment with Shuri alongside Cull Obsidian.

Variants

Closing Thoughts

Cull Obsidian doesn’t have a crazy effect, but it does have ten power with a restriction that a lot of decks can just ignore. If it ends up being as strong as I think it is, there’s a good chance that it will totally change the way we build decks in Marvel Snap… and that’s pretty huge.

Good Luck, Have Fun, and Stay Safe!