Table of Contents
With an OTA Balance Update targeted at reducing the grasp of Shou-Lao the Undying on the metagame, The highest level of Marvel Snap is now slightly different. The season pass card remains the best card overall, although each of its decks have reasonable numbers now.
Both On Reveal builds shared with Werewolf by Night remain at the top of the competitive mountain.Flexible Move with Shou-Lao included has a fantastic Cube Average, but 58.5% is fair among strong archetypes. Last, The Activate remains a fine competitive pick with a sizeable amount of games under its belt, but definitely is the biggest loser of that update. Over the past couple of days, the deck sported a reasonable win rate combined with a cube average on the lower end.
The thing is, not many archetypes shone since the OTA. Pure Move posted a stellar performance over a hundred games, same for Arishem. However, unless we open our search to a larger widow of the ladder, Shou-Lao still remains the most played, and the one winning more games.
Plus, the card still feature extreme flexibility as long as one is able to play two cards per turn. As such, whenever an archetype able to do so makes sense in the current metagame, you can expect Shou-Lao to be in a list for that strategy.
For example, Move has returned to be a very strong synergy following the balance up. However, it might not last for very long, as a Scream deck with the now [5/6] card is posting promising results.
Marvel Snap is more balanced after this update, mostly thanks to Move being another flexible synergy able to develop a lot of points. Yet, I can’t help but think the impact of the OTA was more psychological than real.
At least, there is a new season around the corner, so the metagame will keep moving.
Happy Tier List, everyone!
| Tier | Deck |
|---|---|
| Trending | Scream Move 0.95 Cube Average / 65% Win Rate |
| Trending | Pure Move 1 Cube Average / 61% Win Rate |
| Trending | Arishem 0.85 Cube Average / 63.5% Win Rate |
| Tier 1 | Good Shou-Lao On Reveal 0.85 Cube Average / 61% Win Rate |
| Tier 1 | Skilled Shou-Lao On Reveal 0.4 Cube Average / 63% Win Rate |
| Tier 1 | Flexible Move & Shou-Lao 0.7 Cube Average / 58,5% Win Rate |
| Tier 2 | Discard Khonshu 0.35 Cube Average / 59% Win Rate |
| Tier 2 | Discard & Destroy 0.3 Cube Average / 57% Win Rate |
| Tier 2 | Shou-Lao Activates 0.25 Cube Average / 57% Win Rate |
| Tier 3 | Man-Spider Combo 0.25 Cube Average / 53.5% Win Rate |
| Tier 3 | Wiccan, Master of the Rings 0.1 Cube Average / 52% Win Rate |
Are you still chasing that elusive Infinite Rank? Here are the Top 5 performers in the ranks 80 to 99!
| Shou Lao Activates | 0.9 Cube Average / 60.5% Win Rate |
| Chamber Ramp | 0.5 Cube Average / 59.5% Win Rate |
| Mister Negative | 0.55 Cube Average / 58.5% Win Rate |
| High Evo Affliction | 0.4 Cube Average / 58% Win Rate |
| Zombie Galacti | 0.55 Cube Average / 55% Win Rate |
Here is my usual annoying advice because I’m a coach and I like to think this helps people: Focus on controlling the stakes of each game and building trust in both your deck and your decision making abilities. Once you feel confident, feel free to take more risks. Reaching Infinite is all about understanding the process of grinding cubes. Also, constantly changing your deck limits your ability to learn the game fundamentals, as you are always focused on learning how to pilot the new deck.
Trending
Scream Move
den
Performance: 0.95 Cube Average / 65% Win Rate
With the OTA, Move managed to rise to a dominant synergy, a regular occurrence after most balance updates. Typically, Scream Move will follow a similar curve for a short period of time, acting as the counter to regulate how much Move will be able to dominate.
In that context, Scream posting a stellar performance is no surprise, as the field rewards that archetype currently. However, the build is slightly different this time around, with Shou-Lao the Undying in the mix. As such, this one might not just be another Move counter, but a deck able to develop enough points to stay even if Move was to lose some popularity.
Pure Move
den
Performance: 1 Cube Average / 61% Win Rate
Flexible Move is the more popular among Move decks, as Pure Move failed to be a contender ever since Human Torch was changed to a [3/2]. Yet, this build is posting promising results over the limited sample size of about a hundred games it managed to record.
It might not lead to anything on the long run, but it seems the average amount of points decks develop since the OTA is something Pure Move can be fairly reliably.
Arishem
den
Performance: 0.85 Cube Average / 63.5% Win Rate
Arishem hasn’t been a menace for a very long time, as the random cards will prevent the deck from being very consistent. However, extra energy is always good, and there are times when the metagame rewards an edge in one of Marvel Snap’s core resources.
Obviously, the low sample size (about 80 games) helps this type of deck. Yet, the build is also fairly unique for that archetype, which certainly helps when it comes to gaining more cube than other Arishem decks are able to.
Tier 1
Good Cards On Reveal
den
Performance: 0.85 Cube Average / 61% Win Rate
The best archetype at the end of last season, then among those benefiting from Shou-Lao for of this month. Good Cards On Reveal keeps finding ways to adapt and stay on top of the Marvel Snap metagame.
To be fair, there wasn’t much adapting needed this time, as the deck only stole Scarlet Spider from the Activate build, otherwise changing absolutely nothing following the OTA. This is an ironic swap, considering Stardust was in the slot before the update, precisely to counter Scarlet Spider in that Activate deck.
Potential Additions
Nico Minoru, Iron Patriot or a disruptive card makes sense, either instead of Quake or Scarlet Spider. If you have no use of Shadow King, it can become another counter pick, such as Rogue or Mobius M. Mobius.
Skilled On Reveal
den
Performance: 0.4 Cube Average / 63% Win Rate
The win rate hasn’t changed much, but the cube average took a hit following the update. Two possibilities here:
- The archetype remains exceptional but is now respected so opponents aren’t giving you more than a cube on most occasions.
- The OTA limited this deck’s ability to win high stakes matches, and four cubes losses occur more often.
I’m leaning towards option number one, especially as Destroy isn’t on the ranking to possibly target the many 1-costs in this deck.
Potential Additions
Spider-Ham isn’t an On Reveal card but makes sense in the global picture. Otherwise, Stardust is the only flexible card, replaceable with any card you see fit, either for disruption, or to further enhance this deck’s synergy. Grand Master or Prodigy make sense alongside Shou-Lao, while Mercury or Shadow King should help against Move.
Flexible Move
den
Performance: 0.7 Cube Average / 58,5% Win Rate
The fact Shou-Lao the Undying is still part of the best performing Flexible Move deck tells me the OTA didn’t hit the card hard enough. It did a great job at tempering the Activate archetype, but there are so many other synergies the season pass card can be a part of.
Pure Move is in the silent performers, while Maverick is now more vulnerable to Red Guardian or Lady Deathstrike. Still, this is another great archetype that shook off the OTA with no issue.
Potential Additions
Flexible Move can also be played withou the Shou-Lao package. The Win Rate is similar, at 58%, but the cube average is much lower, around the 0.45 mark.
den
Tier 2
Discard Khonshu
den
Performance: 0.35 Cube Average / 59% Win Rate
Just like Move, Discard is another synergy to expect right after an update. This is the perfect environment for a deck mostly interested in developing as many points as possible with very little ways to interact with the opponent.
This one makes the most of the buffed Colonel America, and seems to win a good amount of games considering the other decks in the rankings also tend to focus on points.
Potential Additions
Marrow adds another discard target if you feel the need for one more. Silver Samurai, Moon Knight or Gambit can be used to add some disruption to the mix.
Discard & Destroy
den
Performance: 0.3 Cube Average / 57% Win Rate
Fantomex never managed to be more than an exotic archetype so far, and this OTA didn’t buff it directly. As such, it is fair to assume the Discard and Destroy archetype is making the most of the post-balance environment, but needs to prove it can compete over the long run.
Potential Additions
Fastball Special can serve as a disruptive piece, while many cards can be considered to add more targets, discard or destroy abilities to the mix. Common inclusions are the Hood, Killmonger or Bucky Barnes.
Shou-Lao Activates
den
Performance: 0.25 Cube Average / 57% Win Rate
Clearly the most impacted archetype in the OTA, it is fair to expect the Activate archetype to slowly disappear as the other Shou-Lao decks are simply more appealing from a performance standpoint. Especially the Good Cards On Reveal deck, now using Scarlet Spider, should eclipse this deck in the mind of many.
Both metrics are fair, but when you build around the most popular synergy in the game, you need to be more than a fair competitor.
Potential Additions
America Chavez or some disruptive piece, for example Mercury, would make sense in the deck.
Tier 3
Man-Spider Combo
den
Performance: 0.25 Cube Average / 53.5% Win Rate
Except for Pixie or The Fallen One to play multiple cards on the last turn, Man-Spider isn’t surprising enough to dominate on a 53% win rate.
Unfortunately, the metagame still features a plethora of archetypes able to develop a ton of points. They won’t compete with your perfect draw, but they will likely give you a cube for it while they often beat you when both decks get an average draw.
Potential Additions
Wave is another way to get your big cards out. Otherwise, Nico Minoru could be America Chavez for buffs, or Spider-Ham for a bit of disruption.
Wiccan of the Rings
den
Performance: 0.1 Cube Average / 52% Win Rate
Wiccan is another foundation to expect after an update, combining a solid reputation and a play style anyone can pick up quickly. Unfortunately, the OTA did not weaken the best decks enough for Wiccan to become dominant, at least not without a high roll during the match.
As such, you almost have no chance when Wiccan doesn’t show up, while the 4-cost isn’t a guarantee to beat the likes of Move or Shou-Lao either. Most of your cubes will come from Mole Man or Emperor Hulking getting a great hit, and catching your opponent off-guard.
Potential Additions
Considering the points approach isn’t working, I would likely edge towards more disruption for this deck. Mobius M. Mobius, Legion, Magneto… this type of card might help the deck to steal more games, and raise its cube average a little.
That’s it for this week! To reach out, find me on the Marvel Snap Zone community Discord, or shoot me a direct message (@den_ccg) for specific stuff or coaching.
Good Game Everyone.
Disclaimer and Tier Explanations
In order to be featured here, a deck needs to represent at least 1% of the current environment and have a positive Cube Average in the Ranked mode. Win Rate is also taken into consideration, and it can greatly impact the ranking of a deck, particularly when several archetypes (or different builds of the same deck) have a similar Cube Average but big Win Rate discrepancies. The Marvel Snap mechanics do, however, push players to maximize cubes gained rather than win every single game.
In order to create this chart, den is using data from our Marvel Snap Tracker, as well as other available data online and his own expertise and opinion of respected players. If a deck showed great performances with a very limited presence in the meta, you can find it in the Silent Performers section. That section highlights decks with an excellent Win Rate, but too little of a sample size to be representative of their real strength.
Decks not good enough to be considered contenders but with a good representation will be ranked in Tier 3 in our chart. See those builds as decks that are good to know about, as you should face them when playing Marvel Snap. However, unless the meta changes or a new variation of the build emerges, these decks are a notch below the dominant ones in Tier 1 and Tier 2.
Silent Performer: Decks with a very little presence in the meta that still showcase a Cube Average and Win Rate worthy of a Tier 2 deck (or better). Oftentimes, these can be archetypes with some nice game play that have been left unchecked in the current environment, or decks on the rise that found a few good match ups to abuse.
Tier 1: Tier 1 represents decks with all the upsides we would be looking for to rack up Cubes. They have good match ups in the current meta, offer different play patterns during a match, and often have the ability for explosive or surprising turns. These should be decks worth investing into in order to climb for the coming week.
Tier 2: Tier 2 are very good decks but with a weakness holding them back – either not being as reliable in its draws as Tier 1 decks, countered by another popular deck, or still being a work in progress as you read this. A good pilot could probably take these and have the same results as with a Tier 1 deck, but their play patterns are more difficult to enact compared to the tier above.
Tier 3: This tier is made of decks that have a pervasive issue compared to Tier 1 or Tier 2 decks. Usually, Tier 3 will be a mix of decks on the rise that don’t have much data, old archetypes on the decline, decks that require substantial experience and/or knowledge to pilot properly, powerful decks that aren’t well positioned, or niche decks.
Budget: Decks that consist only of cards in Pool 1 and 2 that are still capable of competing with an experienced pilot in a similar Collection Level, Rank, and MMR range. See our matchmaking guide for more details.
Meta stats and analytics directly from our Marvel Snap Tracker can also be found here.
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