Marvel Snap Balance OTA Analysis and Decks to Play: The Mighty Have Fallen: Part Two.

Thanos takes a significant hit while Discard is tapped on the wrist… it feels like I’ve seen this OTA already. Except this time might be different. Thanos can only sustain so many hits, so we will eventually get to the point where the Mad Titan will be a worse deck due to a nerf. Will this be the one that does it?

Thanos finally being a fair archetype doesn’t mean others won’t try to become the next big thing. Speaking of, I’m sure some of you remember how dominant Angela was back when it was a [2/0] with the +2 power gain ability. In those days, the card was the go-to 2-Cost card in Marvel Snap; it seemed strong in almost any deck that could play three cards behind her (or that ran Jeff the Baby Land Shark). Plus, Hope Summers has joined the game in the interim and Elsa Bloodstone recently regained a large chunk of her power. I wouldn’t expect the average game to feature less power across each location – even with Thanos out of the picture – so we’ll just find a different way to get there.

On that same theme of getting power on the board, Crossbones is another card we need to discuss. Cull Obsidian showed how strong a [4/10] could be, even in a meta with Shang-Chi everywhere. With War Machine recently added to the mix, this is another buff we should keep our eyes on. I’m not as excited for Miek and Sabretooth because I consider their power levels to be very similar after this OTA. I’ll discuss them during this piece, but they clearly aren’t the cards I would expect to have a big impact in the near future.

If you wanted to reach the Infinite rank with Thanos, it might too late to do so. But, fear not! There are still plenty of strong decks in Marvel Snap, and this OTA probably makes that number even bigger.

Miek and Sabretooth are Forgettable Changes

Apart from the fact I find it ironic to see Miek be nerfed while it is still discussed as a “maybe” inclusion in the Discard deck, these two changes should be forgotten fairly quickly. Indeed, it is hard to see Miek see less play if you think the card is a good inclusion in Discard, and those who preferred to run The Collector and Helicarrier can continue to do so.

Discard

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

3x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

3x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

3x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

3.3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

4.5

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

In this deck, for example, you could very well run Miek and Gambit instead of The Collector and Helicarrier, or just add Miek instead of Colleen Wing if you like the 1-Cost more.

As for Sabretooth, I don’t think this is anywhere close enough to make the card a consideration in the current Destroy deck. That archetype could very well be the best deck in the game following this patch, especially because it has been gaining lots of momentum lately. However, I think we’re going to have to look in a different direction to include Sabretooth in a deck. The buffs feels more aimed at helping players who are still collecting cards rather than those who can build a full Destroy deck. It’s not that the card is still terrible as a [3/5]; rather, the problem is having to spend your Turn 3 to play it, and it’s too expensive to be played during another turn.

Here are a couple of ideas if you want to give the card a shot, both for players with a big collection or those still in Pool 2:

Destroy

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

3x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

4x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

3.1

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.2

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Pool 2 Destroy

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

1x Collection Level 1-14

6x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

5x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.4

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Can Crossbones Save Thanos?

Thanos

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

1

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

3x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

4.1

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

6.3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Considering how many nerfs Thanos has survived so far, it feels impossible to rule the Mad Titan out of the meta until it actually happens. Still, it is undeniable that starting every game with a 6-Cost card in hand – particularly one you rarely intend to play – is a major blow to the deck’s biggest strength: reliability. I am going to be part of the pessimistic people who don’t believe in Thanos‘s ability to remain a Tier 1 archetype. I see Discard or Destroy being stronger now.

One thing I do see in Thanos, though, is the ability to run big cards and develop lots of points while maintaining the flexibility to include a couple of disruptive cards. I chose Enchantress over Shang-Chi because I believe we need to run Armor now with Crossbones joining Cull Obsidian in a deck. Playing either of those two proactively just gives an opposing Shang-Chi too much opportunity to be played. Naturally, this also removes Alioth from the equation and makes Thanos more of a proactive deck with high power cards that it can spread flexibility across the various locations.

Let’s take a look at three other decks with just as many upsides to running the new Crossbones:

Kazoo

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

2x Collection Level 1-14

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

2x Recruit Season

3.1

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

4.7

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Kazoo has been in love with Cull Obsidian since the card released because it gives the deck a way to seize priority (alongside a great way to get points without actually clogging your space too much). Crossbones is basically the exact same card now, but with a different condition. And, honestly, it’s just as simple to fulfill as Cull Obsidian requiring a 1-Cost on the board.

The real change in the deck is Zabu having enough upsides to be played now that you run three 4-Cost cards. Ka-Zar‘s pet would give the deck fewer points than Dazzler, obviously, but it allows a very flexible Turn 6 when Alioth isn’t such a good option.

Good Cards Black Knight

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

3x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

3.3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

7.1

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

A high power card with a limiting condition is exactly what this deck is about. You can discard Crossbones or play it with War Machine (even on a losing location). So far, the deck hasn’t been so hot, but it had a spot open with Shang-Chi, Armor, and other flexible cards occupying that last spot in the deck. Now it seems like we found that last card to complete a cohesive unit around the deck’s theme. I’m curious to see if Good Cards Black Knight can finally take off.

Buffs deck

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

1x Collection Level 1-14

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

3x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

1x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

2.8

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

5.8

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

After War Machine released and a lot of people shared their disappointment with the card’s performance, more exotic builds started to emerge. This one, which was part of SafetyBlade’s article on decks to explore with War Machine, was discussed as a potential sleeper. It’s funny to see this OTA be as good as it gets for this particular deck with buffs to arguably the two weakest cards in the deck.

The Entire Kitty Pryde Gang is Back!

When Hope Summers was released at the start of March, the connection with Kitty Pryde, Angela, and Elsa Bloodstone was obvious. Unfortunately, all of these were nerfed in the past, which left that package to be pretty weak compared to other options available. As such, Hope Summers ended up being played in a lot of decks, but barely with those three for the first two weeks of the season. A couple of weeks ago, Elsa Bloodstone was buffed, which reinvigorated the synergy (at least for Kitty Pryde and the former Season Pass card). Angela, however, was quickly was removed from many lists because it was considered too weak to be played when there were other options available.

That all changes with this buff reverted nerf; Angela might immediately come back in the discussion for the best 2-Cost card in Marvel Snap! Indeed, I would already argue Angela beats Maximus and The Collector as a cheap points provider, especially if you have the rest of the crew in your deck. Here are at least three archetypes that I think we need to discuss:

Sera Control

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

3x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x 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)

2.8

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Loki

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

3x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

2.3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

2.7

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Move

Created by den

, updated 28 days ago

0

1x Collection Level 1-14

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

2.7

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.4

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

In each of these archetypes, Angela was used in the past to anchor a lane and force the opponent to use Shang-Chi to turn it around. While this might sound like bad news considering Shang-Chi is played in most Marvel Snap decks, forcing a 4-Cost card to deal with a 2-Cost isn’t such a bad deal if you think about it. Plus, it’s not like you can’t run Armor if you feel like it, or simply keep Angela at eight power (which is extremely simple to do with this deck).

As a [2/2], Angela required six cards being played behind her to reach eight power, which meant you were almost forced to play Kitty Pryde or all move cards. With this new (or old depending on how you look at it) Angela, you only need four cards to reach eight power. This is only one more cards than the normal three you’ll typically throw behind the 2-Cost. With Nightcrawler, Jeff the Baby Land Shark, Kitty Pryde, Vision… I think you get the point. Angela is much, much stronger this way.

Closing Words

Overall, I really like the look of this OTA, even if I’m a bit concerned about Destroy and Discard running free. Both synergies can be adapted against at least, especially if Thanos is out of the picture. Obviously, the Angela, Kitty Pryde, Hope Summers, and Elsa Bloodstone package is one to keep in mind going forward. It could very well represent the next high-profile flexible synergy. Still, with Crossbones giving some gas to completely different decks, we could have a nice mix of archetypes that are able to compete when it comes to proactive development. Throw in Silver Surfer gaining momentum lately and Phoenix Force finally looking like a reliable archetype for more than a couple of days, and the meta is looking very diverse all of a sudden.

By the time the patch comes out on Tuesday, we might not have had enough time to even figure out this meta. As such, the best bet could be to just find a deck you enjoy until the next balance update comes around. Also, patches typically include mechanical changes to certain cards, so we can expect a ton of different possibilities. By the time we revisit the meta at this time next week, Marvel Snap could look completely different from what it has been for the past month.

I have a great feeling about the impact this OTA and the upcoming changes can have on the game. In the end, it is not about not having strong decks anymore. Now it’s about having enough so everyone can have its fun.

As usual, let us know what you think about this balance update, or what decks you plan on testing with these changes in the comment section. You can join us on the Marvel Snap Zone community Discord or reach out through my Twitter page to share your creation with the community.

Good Game Everyone.