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Every four weeks, Marvel Snap undergoes a major patch. Unlike the OTA Balance Updates, cards are able to be reworked in their abilities, as well as their stats (Power and Energy). This article is our in-depth analysis of the changes, how it might impact the current meta, as well as potential decks you can play from the get go!
Patch Balance Update Overview
Ever since we saw the last OTA, a large part of the community was eager to see what this patch had in store. Indeed, with Galactus and Kitty Pryde nerfed, the past few days have featured very little diversity. The metagame has felt like it’s held hostage by Alioth since it’s pushing the game to be about priority first and foremost. Sure, we saw a few other strategies work out and put up a decent performance. Discard Dracula, Shuri Sauron, and Loki Collector are three archetypes that still exist in the current metagame. But there was a lot of pressure on this patch and on Elsa Bloodstone to bring some diversity back to Marvel Snap and give us a different feeling for the new season.
Elsa Bloodstone should give Kitty Pryde a reason to remain a card in the game, even as a [1/0]. We’ve already seen the trio they form with Angela be featured in Bounce and Move extensively. As for Galactus, I’m sorry, but I don’t think this is the patch to help the card find some new friends, even if the Ramp archetype does get a little something here.
Overall, it feels like the winner of this patch is Loki, who is again seeing several cards from its arsenal changed. It is hard to say if the deck will use all of them, especially Mantis (which is considered a beginner’s card more than anything). However, Cable is providing more points, which is something the deck might enjoy since space can quickly fill in Loki Collector with all the cheap generator cards. Maria Hill is by far the most interesting change of this bunch. Now it feels like a better Agent 13, and it could potentially become a new staple for the archetype.
Joining these three are Mojo, which can be overlooked for now (apart from being a [2/8] on The Space Throne), and Uatu the Watcher, which is the big curiosity of this patch.
When it comes to archetypes impacted, I can really only see two to be honest: Loki Collector and Ramp. Both decks could benefit from the new Maria Hill, while Loki would also keep Cable in its new form. Otherwise, we’re going to have to do some serious digging to find big upsides to this patch.
Let’s put on our adventurer’s cap and dive in to a patch we hoped would be much more impactful than this one.
Maria Hill Feels Playable Now!
While many still believe Loki should be nerfed, it seems like the card will continue to receive support with this patch, however minimal. Indeed, the change to Cable should be a net positive for a deck that is packing several two costs (The Collector, Jeff the Baby Land Shark, and Mobius M. Mobius), but often lacks a solid Turn 3 play if Agent Coulson isn’t in hand. That problem might be solved now that Cable can become the second option and remain a staple for the deck.
As for Maria Hill, the card should represent a better option than Agent 13 – especially when it generates an extra copy of The Collector. After Kitty Pryde was nerfed, the deck only played Quinjet and Snowguard in the 1-Cost slot. It might remain this way depending on how we want the curve to look, but it never hurts to have an extra option.
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The other deck I expect to benefit from Maria Hill is Ramp, as the now 1-Cost card could fill a similar role to Snowguard before its nerf in the last OTA. Ramp loves being able to stack its deck with expensive cards, but it still needs to respect a certain amount of early plays to make sure it doesn’t fall behind. Last week, the deck started running Snowguard for that exact reason, as the card provided both a Turn 1 and Turn 2 play. And now Maria Hill does that as well.
It isn’t such a big deal, but it opens some potential extra space in a deck that is always dying to have more flexibility. Also, more early reliability allows the deck to run Professor X again now that it can expect to have developed enough points to secure a lane on Turn 4 after Electro.
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Uatu Has Found A Home!
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I’m sure Uatu the Watcher will have the ability to help on Wednesdays and Sundays more reliably. Otherwise, the card needs to be included in a deck that is able to react quickly to the information it is given about the rightmost location.
Kazoo feels like it could be that deck. It’s quick enough to play on the location if the information entices you to do so, and it also pushes for a synergy around 1-Cost cards (which is basically Uatu the Watcher‘s only other trait).
Plus, the deck feels like it could play the new Elsa Bloodstone if you fancy trying the card in a different deck. Indeed, with the game focusing a lot on who can wrestle the initiative from their opponent, Kazoo has proven to be superb in that regard. It can then use the right to play first to punish the opponent with cards like Echo, Armor, Cosmo, and other tech cards.
Closing Words
Overall, this patch wasn’t the one I hoped for. I wished for something more game-breaking, something with a ton of buffs to bring more synergies into the spotlight to explore. Here, I feel like Elsa Bloodstone will have to bring some major changes in order for Marvel Snap to feel different. It might happen, as the card already seems to be a good addition to Move, Bounce, and even Kazoo. However, I can’t help but think it won’t be enough to make the frustration that many built during September disappear, even if it is a step in the right direction.
Nevertheless, let’s keep in mind that Marvel Snap has weekly updates and new cards, so it could be a matter of a week before we get the changes we are so hopeful for. Until that happens, we still have a few avenues to explore, be it around the new Season Pass card, Uatu the Watcher, or Maria Hill (both of which feel much improved). It wasn’t enough, but a step in the right direction is a step nonetheless.
As always, I’m eager to know your opinions on these changes. Feel free to let us know in the comments section, find me on the Marvel Snap Zone community Discord, or follow my Twitter page where I share decks and biased opinions about the game.
Good Game Everyone.
