Best Shou-Lao the Undying Decks and Strategy Guide

Shou Lao is the Season Pass card joining Marvel Snap for the January 2025 Season, DRAGONS. It is a 5-Cost, 8-Power card that reads: On Reveal: Give the last character you played +3 Power for each turn you played 2 or more cards. (+0)

Variants

Shou-Lao the Undying

On Reveal: Give the last character you played +2 Power for each turn you played 2 or more cards. (+0)

Series 5

view card details Start a deck Decks with Shou-Lao the Undying

Today, let’s explore the new card strengths and, of course, the best decks to try it out in.

Season Pass cards can only be obtained through purchasing the Season Pass they are attached to when they release. At the end of their season, Season Pass cards become Series 5, and can be purchased for 6,000 Collector’s Tokens from the Token Shop as part of the daily rotation. They will be also be included in the Seasonal Series 5 Snap Pack during the season following their release.

Synergies

Playing two cards per turn can be more difficult than it seems, especially early in a match. Typically, decks are able to do so in the second half of the match pretty well, but the lack of energy is a problem in the first three turns. In that context, Shou Lao should aim to be buffed three times, which already makes it a [5/17], more than Red Skull and on par with Gilgamesh in Kazoo decks.

There is one main difference with those high power 5-cost cards however : Shou Lao doesn’t require a specific deck to function. Indeed, any deck able to play at least two cards per turn is able to grow Shou Lao, and there are a good amount.

Variants

Nico Minoru

On Reveal: After you play your next card, cast a spell. (The spell changes each turn.)

Series 5

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Variants

The Hood

On Reveal: Add a Demon to your hand.

Series 3

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Variants

Iron Patriot

On Reveal: Add a random 4-Cost or more card to your hand. If you’re winning here after next turn, give it -3 Cost.

Series 5

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Variants

Hawkeye Kate Bishop

On Reveal: Add 2 Arrows to your hand.

Series 5

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Variants

Merlin

At the start of each turn, add an Incantation to your hand.

Series 5

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Variants

Prowler

On Reveal: Add 2 Thief’s Tools to your hand. Set their Costs to 0 if a card moved last turn.

Series 5

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First, we have the good cards type of decks, typically built to move Werewolf By Night around the battlefield. These decks create plenty of cheap On Reveal cards, and will have no issue growing the power of Shou Lao.

Variants

Kitty Pryde

When this returns to your hand, +1 Power. Returns at the start of each turn.

Series 3

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Variants

Mysterio

On Reveal: Add an Illusion to another location. Activate: Swap Power with it.

Series 3

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Variants

Cable

On Reveal: Draw a card from your opponent’s deck.

Series 1

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Variants

Mirage

On Reveal: Copy the character that costs the least from your opponent’s hand into your hand. Give it +2 Power.

Series 3

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These could also fit the Good Cards label, but they don’t generate On Reveal cards so they are typically associated with other archetypes. Still, this group of cards could easily join a deck looking to build around Shou Lao without following a specific recipe.

Variants

Toxin

On Reveal: Return your other cards here to your hand. +2 Power for each returned.

Series 5

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Variants

Falcon

On Reveal: Return your 1-Cost cards to your hand.

Series 3

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Variants

Beast

On Reveal: Return your other cards here to your hand. They cost 1 less next turn.

Series 3

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Bounce is another archetype known for plenty a ton of cards per turn. With four to six 1-cost cards in the deck on average, there is a decent chance the deck could play two cards during four or five turns out of six.

Variants

Thanos

Game Start: Shuffle the six Infinity Stones into your deck.

Series 5

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Through the Infinity Stones, the Mad Titan is able to play two cards per turn for an entire match without breaking a sweat.

Variants

Firehair

When one of your cards is destroyed, this uses that card’s On Reveal.

Series 5

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Variants

Morgan le Fay

On Reveal: Return all your discarded and destroyed cards to hand with +3 Power.

Series 5

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Variants

Misery

On Reveal: Repeat the On Reveal abilities of your other cards here, then destroy them.

Series 5

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A synergy labelled On Reveal Destroy also looks poised to be able to play multiple cards per turn, as long as we find On Reveal abilities that would generate more cards.

Variants

Moira X

When Destroyed: Get a copy of your opening hand.

Series 5

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Variants

Headpool

When Destroyed: Return this to your hand, then give all cards in your hand +1 Power.

Series 5

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Variants

Deadpool

When Destroyed: Return this to your hand with double the Power.

Series 3

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Variants

Sabretooth

When Destroyed: Return this to your hand. It costs 0.

Series 2

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Even the regular discard synergy could potentially build for Shou Lao !

Once buffed, the new season pass card opens another boulevard of synergies. Indeed, as an On Reveal card with a buff ability, we could discuss all the card synergizing with one of the other. Absorbing Man to repeat the ability, Maverick to transfer the buff to one more card, Scarlet Spider to create a huge clone…

Except for Cosmo, or Shadow King if we decide to play Shou Lao before the last turn, the new season pass card looks really strong.

The Verdict: Should You Get Shou Lao?

In the right deck, Shou Lao should be in the discussion for the most points among 5-cost in Marvel Snap. With just two turns of playing two or more cards, the Undying already represents 14 points, enough to be considered a high power card. Past that threshold, Shou lao becomes a really strong card.

It is sheer power with a fairly simple condition, so it should lead to a lot of power without much trouble. Plus, it synergize with some of the best performing synergies in the game.

Pre-Release Score:

Shou Lao Decks

Shou Lao joins Good On Reveals

Created by den

, updated 5 months ago

0

1x

Series 1

4x

Series 3

4x

Series 4

3x

Series 5

Shou Lao joins Bounce

Created by den

, updated 5 months ago

0

1x

Series 1

1x

Series 2

2x

Series 3

2x

Series 4

6x

Series 5

Shou Lao Bounce Mill

Created by den

, updated 5 months ago

0

2x

Series 1

2x

Series 2

2x

Series 3

1x

Series 4

5x

Series 5

Shou Lao Wiccan Created

Created by den

, updated 5 months ago

0

2x

Series 3

1x

Series 4

8x

Series 5

1x

Starter Card

Shou Lao joins Destroy Zoo

Created by den

, updated 5 months ago

0

1x

Series 1

2x

Series 2

3x

Series 3

6x

Series 5

Shou Lao the Zombie

Created by den

, updated 5 months ago

0

4x

Series 3

4x

Series 4

4x

Series 5

Shou Lao & Thanos

Created by den

, updated 5 months ago

0

1x

Series 1

1x

Series 3

1x

Series 4

9x

Series 5

Variants

I hope this review of the new card was helpful. You can find everyone on the Marvel Snap Zone team in our community discord to have a chat or ask any questions.

Good Game Everyone!