Two new cards are hitting Marvel Snap on December 20, 2022. They will both be entering Series 5, given the lofty cost of 6,000 Collector’s Tokens, and choices will have to be made between these two, setting up the battle for the ages – Sentry vs. Darkhawk!
In the red corner: Sentry:
Decks with Sentry
For full details on upcoming new Marvel Snap cards, check out the dedicated schedule guide, and the strategy guide on the other card being released at the same time, Darkhawk:
Who is Sentry?
Sentry. Often touted as Marvel’s answer to Superman, is an interesting character and immensely powerful. Robert Reynolds, a meth addict, broke into an laboratory where experimental super solider serum’s were being developed, he found and consumed a vial named Golden Sentry Serum and obtained the power of a million exploding suns, destroying the lab and killing his partner. He eventually begins to use these powers for good and becomes the superhero, The Sentry.
Then The Void arrives! The Void begins a reign of terror on Earth but the Heroes of Earth discover it is in fact the dark side of Sentry’s own powers manifested. With the help of Reed Richards and Doctor Strange they were able to erase the memory of Sentry from the entire population of Earth, including the Sentry himself. This made him inactive, with that stopping The Void also.
He later awakens and is shortly a member of the New Avengers, Dark Avengers, he stops the Hulk in World War Hulk, is killed by his wife, destroys Asgard as The Void, becomes a Horseman of Death and is eventually killed at the hands of Knull during his invasion of Earth. He is considered Marvel’s “Superman” and the depth of his mental health concerns and relationship with The Void is fascinating and worth exploring.
Strategy and Potential
Sentry is an interesting card. It has a net 0 power added to the board all alone.
There is an argument the -8 lane could be abandoned adding to his utility but in reality, he will require build arounds. The build arounds and combos however, are interesting and dynamic. The Void can be abused by destroying it or sending it across to the other side.
There is also, as with most negative effect cards the option to play with Zero or play as the last card and negate the effect. The concern he doesn’t line up as stronger than other Zero targets at the 4-Cost spot. For example both Typhoid Mary and Attuma are bigger targets.
The effect is very limiting and it seems possible all the build around and work required just won’t be worth the 4 energy, 8 power stat line. It’s only an ok statline when we compare him to Jessica Jones or Rescue but requires less work to play than Crossbones, the other 4 energy, 8 power card.
It does have the potential to be part of Zero, Destroy and Junk style decks consistently, but I doubt he will be the strongest part of any of these decks or even the best way to play the styles. Given the low starting point, in time he is only more likely to lose ground as alternatives are released. It hurts me to give such a low score for The Sentry as he is truly a unique character in the books and in game!
Potential Score
Below are some potential starter decks for Sentry with brief descriptions.
Starter Decks (Theorycraft)
SafetyBlade
This direction is an example of including Sentry as the top end of a lockdown style. Carnage and Nova are included as backup ways to get rid of the -8 The Void if required, but the main goal is to send it across with a combo with Viper, as a pseudo-Hobgoblin. The weakness is the need to keep the location free until late game to allow for the combo to be played.
SafetyBlade
This deck looks to use The Void as a destroy target, but also we have the ability to try to Wave and Viper on 5 to send something across to the other side or Carnage on 5 alongside Wave. This combo will hopefully set up a Death and Leader play on 6 whilst blocking an extra location on the other side of the board. The concern with this build is if we miss or need to destroy cards on 4, it could end up feeling clunky.
SafetyBlade
Final deck to highlight is Series 5 heavy and relies on Shuri to get the full value. Titania is an excellent addition to this style of deck also as she has a high statline. Maximus should be a consideration, but given we now have Sentry trying to drop in a Viper package alongside The Hood to take advantage of this and give us another high power 1 drop.
Good Luck Have Fun and Stay Safe!
