Marvel Snap’s newest game mode Deadpool’s Diner has been the source of plenty of discussion, with a big question being whether this will be a time sink or not. As far as I’m concerned, the more objectives and possibilities I have in a game, the happier I am. Still, I can definitely understand how some players wouldn’t want to invest all their available playing time just to not get the reward that was the only reason they were playing the game mode in the first place. So, in this piece, I’ll explore how to optimize your time in Deadpool’s Diner and try to set realistic goals for everyone.
Strategy Overview
First, let’s discuss the two most important factors to understand in Deadpool’s Diner: the raised stakes and the limited playing time.
In this new mode, the game will automatically Snap on Turns 4, 5, and 6, which means the stakes will always be high whenever a match goes the distance. With this in mind, finding a deck that is able to make an educated decision about the outcome of the match by Turn 3 is ideal. Indeed, that would allow you to Retreat at a minimal cost, or enter the high stakes part of the match full of confidence.
The second influential mechanic of Deadpool’s Diner is the way it’s played; you use a life system, represented by your Bubs. When you run out of Bubs, you can’t play anymore until you regenerate enough to play again. At most, you will have to wait for eight hours until your Bubs are back to full (unless you spend some Gold to speed up the process).
With this rule, you can time your playing sessions in Deadpool’s Diner if you are on a tight schedule. For example, the mode entices you to play at least two times a day in order to benefit from a full refill. Some players will even be able to play the mode three times a day if they can manage to play early in the morning and before going to sleep. In the scenarios where you have to optimize your playing time due to a busy life schedule, risky decks that are able to go on huge win streaks (or fail miserably) have more upside than usual. Indeed, the losses just hurt your ability to play, which is something you’ll get back over time. Remember, you don’t lose your progress.
You can already see that certain archetypes might have more upside in Deadpool’s Diner compared to Ranked or Conquest. Decks that are able to give you a clear perspective about the last three turns and decks you can grind with during breaks when you’re looking to maximize your busy schedule will be more desirable in this new mode. Of course, you could also take the same approach you use for the existing game modes and simply pick your best performing deck.
So, what should you play in Deadpool’s Diner?
The Phoenix Force
There are several archetypes in the game that focus on themselves. They often tell you most of what you need to know early in the match. Unfortunately, these archetypes are typically very volatile and can easily lose to certain counter cards.
Granted, your opponent will likely Retreat on Turn 4, which will limit your Bub gains. That’s easily this deck’s biggest flaw with this strategy. Still, even if they do Retreat, you still get your Snap and the one that automatically triggers on Turn 4, which means the stakes will have been raised four times already.
Junk
Junk is another archetype that is able to Snap both early and reliably. The deck just knows when it will be able to lock an opponent’s lane early and can capitalize on it. If you really want to work on those early Snaps, you could even consider removing Sentry and Annihilus to make your early game even more consistent. Try adding Green Goblin to the mix for that strategy.
Lately, Junk hasn’t been a particularly strong archetype, so it is important to understand how the higher stakes per game in Deadpool’s Diner should impact the way Snaps are perceived. Raising the stakes on Turn 3 or 4 means you immediately jump to x4 or x8 Bubs, which can be a lot of pressure for certain opponents. This possible fear is exactly what you are trying to target with an archetype such as Junk.
Loki Arishem
den
Even if the OTA tried to weaken it, Arishem Loki is still posting the best results in the game overall. Plus, the archetype fits the mold that I already explored with the previous two decks. You often know the quality of your hand by Turn 3. As such, you’ll have most of the significant information needed to know if a Snap is worth considering.
Due to the nature of Deadpool’s Diner, this list is tailored around countering the opponent and emphasizing your control of the Snap and Retreat mechanic. With such a build, you should be able to anticipate your ability to play against your opponent by Turn 3 or 4. Then you can either mitigate the damage of growing stakes or maximize your winnings.
Mister Negative
den
Not only is Mister Negative perfect for the “I want as much information about your deck by Turn 3” concept, it is also perfect for players on a schedule. Indeed, Mister Negative is known for its ability to win a lot when the stars align, but it can also lose just as much when they don’t. If you can only play Marvel Snap for a bit at various times throughout your day and you have too much on your plate to give the game all your focus, give Mister Negative a try.
I could have recommended The Living Tribunal or Destroy in a similar role, and you might want to pick either of those if you have some comfort with them already. Either way, Mister Negative has the added benefit of ticking both boxes I covered here in Deadpool’s Diner.
Closing Thoughts
Most likely, even if it will take some time to grind all those Bubs to get the reward, I expect most players will keep the decks they have been using for the other game modes. If you are willing to spend some Gold to regenerate your Bubs faster, that is probably the way to go since you won’t have to prepare a totally different strategy. If you manage to get Cassandra Nova through Deadpool’s Diner, spending some Gold is definitely worth it, on top of the other rewards on the way.
However, for those with limited resources, or those who are just looking to challenge themselves doing this fully free to play, I believe a little prep would go a long way into maximizing your Bub gains. First, it will probably take a bit of time to acclimate to these super high stakes games, and the already careful players might be quick to Retreat once they see the pot doubles on Turns 4, 5, and 6. You also have to consider that certain players will treat Deadpool’s Diner like Conquest’s Proving Grounds; I’m sure many players will just be aggressive and wait once they run out of Bubs (or pay to get more). In the end, there is nothing to lose in this mode. If you see that as a net positive, you might as well play like you have nothing to lose.
This big difference in how everyone will consider the mode is the reason I believe you should go into Deadpool’s Diner with a deck you can control most aspects of. More than anything, it’s important to be confident with your Snaps. A Retreat during the first three turns will be almost inconsequential to your bank of Bubs; however, the same Retreat on Turn 6 against an opposing early Snap—like what happens every day in Ranked—means the stakes have already been raised four times! With this in mind, I would emphasize Retreating as much as possible by Turn 3, as that’s the latest turn in the “safe zone”. It will probably be the most crucial turn in a lot of Deadpool’s Diner matches.
I hope this breakdown helps some of you complete the reward track. I can only recommend not checking social media too much if you have FOMO, as people who paid to get multiple Bub refills will inevitably get all the rewards quickly (but they won’t tell you how much it cost them).
For any questions or coaching inquiries, you can find me on the Marvel Snap Zone community Discord, or reach out through my Twitter page where I share decks and biased opinions about the game.
Good Game Everyone.
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