Kang the Conqueror Theorycraft, Strategies and Decklists: How Exactly Does This Card Work?

Kang the Conqueror joins Marvel Snap as a Series 5 card on February 28, 2023, and with his arrival he will become the third ‘Big Bad‘ staying in Series 5 for the foreseeable future along with Thanos and Galactus. Prior to release, the card potentially poses more questions than answers, so let’s dive into what the card may be able to do and how we can use the effect to our advantage.

Variants

Kang

On Reveal: Look at what your opponent did, then restart the turn. (without Kang)

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

view card details Start a deck Decks with Kang

Strategy and Potential

Out of all the cards since the Series 4 and 5 releases commenced, this is the hardest to figure out just how good it really is. So this week I won’t even attempt to give a solid rating on the card; instead, let’s take a look at the questions this card poses for deck building and try to evaluate the practical applications.

Question 1: Is it just a more expensive Daredevil?

Variants

Daredevil

On turn 5, you get to see your opponent’s plays before you make your own.

Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Daredevil

One card we can compare Kang to is Daredevil. Both cards allow us some insight into the opponent’s hand. Daredevil is valuable when there are specific or risky plays you want to make on turn five. This allows you to play the cards where you need to and not be punished – Professor X and Galactus fall into this category. The big advantage Daredevil has for these applications, though, is being overlooked. Your opponent has committed at the time you press end turn. This allows you to make the plays and snap with confidence.

Kang, however, works differently. As an On Reveal effect, it can be played whenever you have the energy. This adds significant value as you can play it on turn six instead and see what your opponent was going to do. Now you have more information than they do on how they planned to win the game and can act accordingly.

How much value this actually holds remains unclear until we see it in action. Remember, they also know you have seen the card they choose to play and they don’t necessarily have to replay the same way either. The simplest application is using Kang to reset your turn before you Galactus to identify if the counter is in your opponent’s hand, then making your play appropriately.

Turn 6 Galactus

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 1 month ago

2

TheorycraftPool 5

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

7x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

2x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

3.8

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

1.7

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Galactus Kang

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 1 month ago

3

TheorycraftPool 5

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

7x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

2x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

4

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.2

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Question 2: If it’s so good, what is the cost of running the card?

Since you restart the turn without Kang, the spent energy isn’t wasted and you now have information. This has led to some claiming you may as well put the card in every deck. This would likely be an incorrect way to look at the card. There is a cost of including the card in your deck – the lack of any other card in the game that works with your game plan. In Marvel Snap, a deck can only contain 12 cards, and this could actually end up being a massive limitation on what decks you could include Kang in. When you play him, you lose the card and have to have another turn five or six play. If Kang is in your deck, it represents one less play you get to make.

Some decks, like Electro ramp decks, may not mind because they carry so many big plays. Using Kang in these decks can be seen as a late game check to use if you’re not sure what finisher you may be facing and which of your big plays is best.

Kang Electro Ramp

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 1 month ago

0

TheorycraftPool 5

1x Collection Level 1-14

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

4x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

5x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

4.7

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

5.3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Other archetypes that may relish resetting the turn include any that play towards a specific combo. Using Kang, you can see if the counter is coming then choose the correct approach to your final turn based on the information you obtain. This works over Daredevil as you often want to see the final turn instead.

Kang x Hazmat

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 1 month ago

0

TheorycraftPool 5

1x Collection Level 1-14

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

1x Recruit Season

3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Question 3: How can we abuse the effect?

Given the opportunity cost attached to the card, one thing I’ve seen less discussion about is how we actually abuse the effect. The power of this approach is unclear depends heavily on how the interactions work (hence why I’m not even trying to score this card). Let’s first look at the wording one more time.

On Reveal: Look at what your opponent did, then restart the turn. (without Kang)

Look at what your opponent did then restart the turn indicates it is a full rewind of the turn. This was confirmed over on Twitter.

This was confirmed to mean everything resets. All effects return to the start of the turn state. The team clarified this more to include:

• Snapping
• All On Reveal effects
• All played cards
• All random effects

Additionally, the following was confirmed:

• You draw the same card you did on the turn Kang was played, unless you drew Kang the same turn. If you drew Kang the same turn you played him, you draw the next card from your deck.
• If you replay cards with random effects they also resolve with the same outcome on the repeated turn.
• We can copy Kang with Moon Girl, and then you will be able to play the card twice. Each Kang is considered a separate instance, so Kang 1 does not remove Kang 2.

With this confirmed, the ways to abuse the effect are limited, but it could have a massive impact on how snapping and retreating works for players with Kang. The implications here could be huge and we will have to see how this plays out.

Kang could also find a home in The Infinaut combo deck. With the use of Kang, we can see where our opponent planned to play and if we’ll have enough power; if we do, we commit. If not, we leave the game. The additional advantage is we can potentially do this on two turns. We can play Kang on turn five to work out if we should Magik, then again on turn seven to work out where to play our cards. Given everything resets, we could even use Kang on turn six to work out if we should skip the turn for The Infinaut play on turn seven.

Kang Combo

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 1 month ago

2

TheorycraftPool 5

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

3.2

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

4

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Who is Kang?

Kang is a time-traveling conqueror from the far future who has been a recurring enemy of the Avengers and other Marvel superheroes since his first appearance in Avengers #8 in 1964.

Kang’s real name is Nathaniel Richards, a brilliant scientist and inventor from the 31st century who became fascinated with the history of the 20th century. Using his advanced technology and time-travel abilities, he traveled back in time to the present day, where he assumed the identity of Kang the Conqueror and began a campaign of conquest and domination.

Over the years, Kang has clashed with many Marvel superheroes, including the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. He has also had a complex relationship with his alternate reality counterparts, including Immortus, Iron Lad, and Rama-Tut.

Kang is known for his intelligence, cunning, and ruthlessness, as well as his advanced technology and weaponry. He is a master strategist and tactician with a deep understanding of history and the workings of the timestream. Despite his villainous nature, Kang has occasionally allied himself with heroes to prevent even greater threats to the timeline.

Closing Words

This card is staying in Series 5, so in time we should see just how the card can be used and whether it is worth the 6,000 tokens. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys this type of effect, you probably already know if you want the card.

The news that it is remaining in Series 5 lowers the risk for picking it up to test it out. Its pure power, though, is unclear for now, and we just have to wait and see how it develops.

Good Luck Have Fun and Stay Safe!