Sleeper Decks of the Week – Post-Patch Edition: Surfer Goes in Everything, Thanos Revival Continues, and New Takes on Destroy
What new decks have emerged since the patch? Let's find some cool decks to play this week before the meta settles too much!
Table of Contents
Hello everyone and welcome to Sleeper Decks of the Week! I’m Glazer of Snap Judgments: The Official Marvel Snap Zone Podcast, and in this article, Iβm going to take you through all of my favorite Sleeper decks this week. In addition to the podcast (this week’s episode features the analysis of the new patch featuring NinaisNoob and SuperTechGod!), I do my own daily videos where I scour the darkest corners of the net (ahem Twitter and the various Marvel Snap sites) to find the best decks in Marvel Snap before the meta notices.
Remember: Each deck title will take you to a video explanation of the deck, so don’t be shy – check them out! This week weβre also trying out videos from some of our favorite creators playing the decks – check those out, too, and let us know what you think!
Silver Surfer… With a Twist
Silver Surfer used to be the class of the meta, but nerfs and a slow but steady power creep pushed him back. He recently returned in a huge way, and not just in his classic decks!
Safety’s Silver Surfer Bounce
Safety’s Ending it Right Here
Created by 
PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
4x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
2.6
Cost
2.2
Power
Deck Thoughts: This one was a Deck of the Day, so check that for a full turn-by-turn write-up.
#SafetyisaGenius.
A few nights back, Safety messaged that he was onto something with this deck, so he played it and played it, and played it. The win rate, instead of normalizing, just went higher and higher. The only real question with this deck is the Brood spot. Brood could easily be Nakia or Wolfsbane, and each card has its own positives and negatives. Everything else is settled.
Silver Surfer has a problem with huge stat games lately – it can win, but usually is forced to do so by controlling the opponent. The one archetype that never has stat issues is Bounce, so why not combine the two? With early Kitty Pryde, Angela, and Bishop plays and late Silver Surfer, Hit Monkey, Mysterio, and Brood + Wolfsbane + Maximus plays (facilitated by Sera), this is one of the most explosive decks in the game. Further, with only Kitty Pryde as a relevant 1-drop, it’s fairly resilient to Killmonger.
If you aren’t scared of Wave, this might be the best pure stats deck in the game. Try it out, get the hang of it. It’s sick.
Jeff the Baby Land Shark, Hit- Monkey, and Jean Grey are the higher Series cards here. Jean Grey could be Nakia or Wolfsbane, as mentioned above, and Jeff can be any good 1 or 2-cost card – try Medusa out if you want a 2, Iceman if you want a 1. I think this, even more than standard Bounce, really wants Hit Monkey.
Silver Surfer Thanos
The Real Surfer Thanos Conquest
Created by 
FaThorNewman
FaThorNewman, updated 3 months ago
1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
8x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
3.5
Cost
4.4
Power
Deck Thoughts: FaThorNewman made a list that featured two of my favorite cards in the game – Thanos and Silver Surfer:
I knew I would play the deck based on its cards and fun factor, but then the Tweet that it gained 10 ranks in one sitting? That’s a sleeper deck if I’ve ever seen one.
This deck attacks the opponent on two axes. It uses the Silver Surfer package to contest early with a complement of Stones to draw and find the right pieces. This is intended to lead to a last-turn combo featuring both Surfer and cheap Death.
Facilitating Death being useful are three Destroy cards: Carnage, Venom, and Killmonger. If these kill enough cards, Death can even be free, allowing for a 3-drop, Surfer, and Death on the last turn, an incredible bust of power. Killmonger and Venom even cost 3, adding further synergy to the deck.
Thanos is obviously needed for any Thanos list, but the rest of the cards here are Series 3 or lower!
Watch FaThor (subscribe here!) play this version of the deck:
Lamby’s Surfer Stats
Lamby’s Gamba Fish
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
9x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
3
Cost
3.8
Power
Deck Thoughts: The Clerks of decks – this wasn’t even supposed to be here today. I had released NINE videos this week and was one, but when the best player in the game releases a new deck, well, another video is demanded.
This deck is full of great plays. There’s the Invisible Woman package, which can, at the end of the game reveal Maximus or Gambit to no negative effect or reveal Killmonger to ruin bounce and give +1 to your board with a dead Nova. There’s a strong play on 3 like Polaris or Mister Fantastic – since replaced by Sera with Wave barely in the metagame, a naturally discarded Black Cat, and Ghost Rider for a 10-power turn 4 play. Better, if you Gambit on 3, likely against Lockjaw to kill that or Thor, you can bring back whatever card that hit with Ghost Rider, instead!
Maximus, Polaris, Brood, and Black Cat are crazy raw stats for 3, especially with Surfer, but even they pale in comparison to what a Gambit or Killmonger can take away from the other side.
Jeff is very good here, but can be Mister Fantastic or Goose, if you prefer a 2.
Welcome back, stats Surfer. I’m happy you showed up.
Surfer Jean Standard
Den-Verse Surfer
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
8x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
2.6
Cost
3
Power
Deck Thoughts: And, of course, we have the classic Silver Surfer deck. For this one, I took the one that Lauren Whatever keeps hitting Infinite with and that Den got an Infinity Border with and changed Sera for Jean Grey. My logic is simple – the deck usually beats go-wide power with control, but Jean is another tool on turn 4 or 5 to ruin the power of go-tall decks – a Destroyer or Knull on an already lost lane is often a waste.
Beyond that, the idea is to leverage lane control with Storm + Juggernaut and Goose, along with end-game control of Invisible Woman along with Killmonger and Shadow King to control how much power the opponent can put out. With that, you get to go over the top using your Silver Surfer end game buff and there’s little any but the tallest decks in the meta can do about it.
If you didn’t get Jean, just go back to Sera in this deck.
Watch FaThor (subscribe here!) play this version of the deck:
Yet More Thanos Rising
Thanos is now officially the card/deck type I’ve hit Infinite with most. These versions (along with the one above naturally) are in a great spot in the current meta.
My Thanos Infinite Control
9. Phoenix Season Infinite (Thanos Control)
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
3x 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)
3x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
4
Cost
4.5
Power
Deck Thoughts: This one was a Deck of the Day, so check that for a full turn-by-turn write-up.
I love this deck. It’s built on leveraging early draw to get a lockdown and is one of the best decks at closing off two lanes for opponents. It can be Professor X on Turn 4 with Wave or Time Stone (or a lucky Iron Lad) and still Spider-Man on Turn 5 to lock an opponent out of contention. Jeff the Baby Land Shark and Doctor Doom add some flexibility to this plan while Killmonger, Wave, and Shang Chi solve various meta problems. You can even dominate going tall in a lane with the often gigantic Devil Dinosaur, who really loves all the Stones this deck draws.
America Chavez has been great for me in this deck, but it is frustrating when she gets hit by Iron Lad. If that’s driving you off the deck, feel free to change her for Invisible Woman. Jeff is hugely important here because of Professor X, and there’s not a great other solution, so I’d probably just try Carnage or Medusa in that spot. Iron Lad could be Jubilee, but you’ll run into board space problems.
Watch our friend the Savage Yeti (Subscribe here!) play it here:
Safety’s Thanos Destroy
Thanos Death
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
4x 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)
2x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
3.8
Cost
4.2
Power
Deck Thoughts: This is the only deck for the Phoenix Force this week and some will claim that’s why she’s mid. I still disagree- she’s good if not incredible, and different metagames will yield varying results for her.
This deck just wants to break stuff early. It doesn’t really care what or how, it wants a cheap Death and a huge Knull. If you can get both out, the game is very often yours.
There’s honestly nothing much fancier than that here. Draw a lot early, and eat it all by Turn 4 or so, when you can either eat some more stuff or drop Wave and Death or the Phoenix Force. When the answer is The Phoenix Force, you need to know two things: first, if your opponent is running Killmonger, it’s a bad play. You play her to be Vision that draws a card, but if she’s gone, no stats, and second, what you’re likely to draw. You mostly play her for an extra chance at seeing Death or Knull since those are the key cards.
Knull is in Spotlight Caches a lot and is an absolute requirement for this deck. You don’t need The Phoenix Force, though. I had this deck prior and just ran America Chavez as my consistency piece.
Let’s watch our friend AZ Snap (subscribe here!) play the deck:
High Evolutionary is still Great
High Evolutionary may have been nerfed, but Second Dinner took a very light touch to the deck, and it’s still great. If you’re interested, by the way, we’ll have another totally unique view on the deck for next week. Stay tuned!
Fazzer’s Lockdown
Meta lockdown
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
5x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
1x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)
2x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
3x Starter Card
3.1
Cost
4
Power
Deck Thoughts: This one was a Deck of the Day, so check that for a full turn-by-turn write-up.
This is classic High Evolutionary lockdown with a very simple twist – it removes the one-drops. Those cards are extremely powerful for the deck’s high roll potential, especially Nebula but they create a huge weakness to Killmonger, one of the meta’s most played cards. Instead, there’s some flexibility at 2, with Jeff the Baby Landshark going where he wants and Daredevil letting you know what to play on turn 5.
That Daredevil play is absolutely awesome, by the way, as it gives you the information to either play Spider-Man or Wave on Turn 5, a decision that often wins the game. In Conquest especially, that’s a snap it’s nearly impossible to stay in for.
Obviously, the classic Storm into Cyclops or The Thing play is here – there are just a lot of powerful things this deck does that the nerf didn’t break at all.
You can play this deck without Jeff – add Nebula, Sunspot, or Misty Knight.
Watch our friend JHugs (subscribe here!) play the deck:
Safety’s Meta Warper
Safety’s Apocalypse Now
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
2x Starter Card
3.1
Cost
3.8
Power
Deck Thoughts: Safety’s been holding out!
This deck takes the same track as the last one but instead chooses to answer basically everything the meta can offer. Invisible Woman being added with Shang-Chi and Killmonger gives the deck an answer to both the best decks in the game – High Evolutionary Lockjaw and Bounce. The rest of the deck is functionally the same – but these decks are both insane and absolutely worth playing.
Destroy Finds New Ways to Break Sh*t
Between the Nimrod change, the Venom change, and the release of the Phoenix Force, Destroy is having the renaissance we all expected for Move!
TheJollyRoger’s Nim Jacinto 2.0
Jolly’s Nim Jacinto 2.0
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
5x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
5x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
1x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)
3.5
Cost
4.3
Power
Deck Thoughts: This one was a Deck of the Day, so check that for a full turn-by-turn write-up.
TheJollyRoger is a mad genius. This begins as the standard Nimrod Destroy deck- suddenly one of the better decks in the game. You just sort of dawdle early, getting down only Wolverine, Nova, and Invisible Woman, then Turn 4, play Shuri and 5 Nimrod. After that, it’s 2 of Venom, Carnage, and Deathlok on 6 for massive Nimrod‘s all over the place.
Roger didn’t come up with that. What he did that was brilliant was add Invisible Woman, Destroyer, and Taskmaster. The playline is to have Invisible Woman out, then play Shuri on a different lane. Taskmaster then goes on Invisible Woman, which doesn’t get rid of the Shuri buff. Destroyer then goes on Shuri for 30 power, and he destroys the whole boards… except for the newly revealed and also 30-power Taskmaster. GGs.
Watch our friend Combat – Marvel Snap (subscribe here!) play the deck:
The Counter Guy’s Spider-Bombs
Please insert deck uuid. click the edit button for this block.
Deck Thoughts: Explodium is one of our buddies and he found this deck from Twitch Streamer and former Magic pro, The Counter Guy.
This deck is the definition of break stuff, this is yet another deck that combines the power of early move with Destroy. This one, though, wants to break the opponent’s stuff, not your own.
This is a game of balance – grabbing power with cards like Human Torch and Vulture, taking it away with Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Shang-Chi, and Spider-Man 2099. It feels like it’ll be too much, but very often Vulture and Miles Morales steal a lane, then as your opponent prepares for a Heimdall, you drop Knull. GG.
The deck is built around Knull and 2099, but you can try another move card like Doctor Strange or Dagger for Negasonic. If you have 2099 and Shang-Chi and want both to work, Zabu is pretty key, too.
Miscellaneous Cool Stuff
KeenKoala’s Infinite Quake
Keen Koala’s Infinite Quake for July
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
3x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
2x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
2.8
Cost
3.3
Power
Deck Thoughts: KeenKoala hits Infinite with Quake every single month, and every single month, I feature the deck.
This deck is not easy to play, but it is extremely cool. The idea is to get out power early using cards like Kraven, Jeff, or Silk. At that point, you want to Storm a location. Turn 4 is usually dedicated to Silk and another 2. Your opponent will have gone all out to win that Storm location, but now it’s elsewhere and really easy for Silk to end up in.
Turn 5, it’s time to figure out how to steal one more lane. Is it Killmonger on Invisible Woman? Spider-Man to make sure you can take a lane over? Captain Marvel and then deciding where to Shang-Chi? Once you get the reads down for the meta deck, this just rolls.
Silk and Jeff are very important to this version of the deck. Without them, you’re stuck trying Doctor Doom and really limiting your plays. You’ll also need another move card – Nightcrawler? Iron Fist? For Miles to still have value.
Turts For Hire’s WongWave
TurtsforHire WongWave
Created by PulseGlazer
PulseGlazer, updated 3 months ago
1x Collection Level 1-14
1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)
1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)
7x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)
2x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)
4.2
Cost
4.9
Power
Deck Thoughts: This one was a Deck of the Day, so check that for a full turn-by-turn write-up.
The key play for this one is in the picture above – you Wong then Wave and Psylocke, allowing you to play two cards and limiting the opponent to one. There are other great plays here though – Wong with Doctor Doom or Leader is a lot of power. Wave on 4 and Odin on Wave on 5 is a great way to shut down decks like Bounce. An honest game of regular cards into Aero and Magneto still wins a fair bit of games, especially with Silver Surfer everywhere.
Silk is the only high-series card in the deck if you bought Nebula as a Season Pass. But even if you didn’t both are replaceable. Silk is totally fine as Medusa, and Nebula works well as Sunspot or Spider-Ham.
Wrap up
Thanks for reading! Check back all next week for Deck of the Day articles and so much more from Marvel Snap Zone!
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