Sleeper Decks of the Week – The Meta Settles, but It’s Never Quiet

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, I’m going to take you through all of my favorite Sleeper Decks this week. In addition to the podcast (this week’s episode features a look at competitive play from Lamby and PeacefulSea!), 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!

Loki is Still Meta

Variants

Loki

On Reveal: Transform your hand into cards from your opponent’s starting deck and give them -1 Cost.

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

view card details Start a deck Decks with Loki

Loki remains a top archetype in the hands of top Marvel Snap players, and nothing seems especially likely to stop that in the foreseeable future. It’s not head and shoulders above everything, so welcome to our new consistent T1 deck.

Evazord Loki

Evazord Loki – Second Place Deck

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

3x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

2.3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

2.6

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: Evazord is a fantastic Portuguese-language streamer, constantly ranked above the top in the world, and in the Team Impulse Tournament last weekend, he came in second with this build (we’re going to look at the #3 and #4 finishers, but #1 was pulled down by the OTA, so it won’t be featured this week).

This all in on Loki build features more two-cost cards than is usual, loading up with Mirage along with tech cards Luke Cage and Mobius M Mobius. It can afford to do this thanks to the power of this month’s season pass card, Elsa Bloodstone as a power spike in combination with Collector and Kitty and Angela.

The inclusion of Mirage is the real spice here, as it often grabs a key card from an opponent, in particular, a second Elsa is game-winning. In fact, that’s one of the best cards a Loki can get, too, and a reason to Loki on 4 instead of 5. Be sure to keep an eye out for that playline.

Unfortunately, this is a more expensive Loki deck, particularly for someone who missed out on Kitty Pryde, and Kitty is a staple for all of these builds. You can still replace most of the other high-series cards. Maria Hill and Agent 13 do a good enough job for Mirage and Snowguard. Mobius is mostly good for the mirror, and Cable or Sentinel is a fine replacement. For a list without Elsa, check below.

Remember, the title of each deck is a how-to-play video.

THS Loki

TheHuman Spider Loki – 4th place

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

3x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

1x Starter Card

2.4

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.2

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: The deck is still extremely strong without Elsa Bloodstone, and this deck’s Top 4 finish is clear proof. The Human Spider (THS) is free-to-play, so he got this deck just by saving up and opening wisely (Loki was a giveaway win), a testament to the power of discipline in Marvel Snap.

Most of the deck is the same, but THS cuts the Kitty package to keep Quinjet and, instead, gets his power spike from Shang-Chi and Legion. Legion remains one of the very best cards in the whole game despite his disappearance from the metagame. Quinjet is often countered by Mobius M. Mobius, but when it isn’t, it, too, still represents an absolutely huge spike in power, as you can then play more cards than the opponent basically guaranteed.

Jeff the Baby Land Shark joins the list here to give it reach, especially useful in winning mirrors that don’t run him and thus can’t reach certain locations. With Man-Thing in the meta, though, Jeff may be better as Luke Cage. If you’re missing Legion, you can try Vision.

If you want a turn-by-turn on how to play the deck, check the video linked in the title.

Thanos NEVER Dies

Every so often Thanos misses two weeks in this space. That’s never really true for long, though, as he is back near the top of the meta, and once again, proves himself to be among the most versatile cards in the game.

Variants

Thanos

Starts in your opening hand and shuffles the six Infinity Stones into your deck.

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

view card details Start a deck Decks with Thanos

Johnson Thanos

Mawile Thanos – #3

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

3x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

1x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

1x Recruit Season

4.2

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

4.3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: Streamer Johnson brought Thanos back to the meta with this build, piloted to a Top 4 finish by Mawile.

This is an evolution of the W list, which was never the same after the Spider-Man rework, as this keeps the Pyslocke or Time Stone into Professor X play. Now, this adds another power spike, though, in finding a spot for Elsa Bloodstone. She’s fantastic for all the Stones, and, along with Vision, can steal games from decks looking to top out on Alioth. You, of course, also have Alioth here, as a way to guarantee a win after Professor X wins a lane. Shang can work much the same way here, too, especially with Red Skull decks still a regular meta presence.

This is an expensive deck, though, and needs many of those cards. Iron Lad can be America Chavez for consistency, but if you’re missing Jeff and Lad, it probably needs to be Klaw to help out X. Jeff’s spot would then be taken by a card like Angela. Alioth is the hardest to replace, but try Leader. I don’t think Thanos works right now without Elsa.

Peaceful Thanos

Deck Thoughts: Not to be outdone, our friend Peaceful Sea came up with his own Thanos list and has maintained a 70% win rate with it. This version focuses more on Move cards, with Silk and Spider-Man joining the fray as ways to abuse Elsa Bloodstone and combine with Kitty Pryde and Angela. Those cards give this deck a higher power ceiling, while America Chavez adds consistency.

Mobius M Mobius is the outlier here and may be better as either Kraven or Psylocke. Silk is nearly a requirement for this style of deck, and while Jeff could be Nightcrawler, it’s a fairly major hit. Alioth could, once more, be okay as Leader here. Elsa is a requirement, but I don’t think Kitty is, as you can choose from the above replacements.

Galactus is Back, But… Less Back

Galactus nerf to 5-power made him far less attractive, but enterprising Galactus players show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Variants

Galactus

On Reveal: If you’re winning this location and this is your only card here, destroy all other locations.

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

view card details Start a deck Decks with Galactus

Royce Townsend Galactus

Royce Townsend Destroylactus

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

2x 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)

3x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

4

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.5

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: Royce got both an Infinity Ticket and reached Infinite with this version of the deck. Galactus here, is a backup plan, a way to steal a game as a surprise after either Electro or X-23. When he does so, Alioth still locks up the game entirely from the opponent, especially given the extra power Wolverine or X-23 herself represents in those matches.

The other plan here is straight-up destroy. Carnage and Venom are still amazingly powerful tempo cards, and the ability to copy them thanks to Absorbing Man, too, is quite strong. These are meant to lead into Death for the common gameplan, but with Mobius everywhere, Lady Deathstrike finally has a purpose, as she can eat him, restoring your Death to an appropriately cheap cost and becoming a game-winning, back-breaking card, especially since Electro and X-23 still allow her to be played on turn 4.

Unfortunately, there are no real replacements here- you need Galactus, X-23, and Lady Deathstrike. You can try Knull for Alioth, though it’s dangerous.

You know the drill – turn by turn in the link above.

LDZ_Davis Galactus

LDZ_Davis Galactus

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

1

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

3x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

4x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

3.7

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

2.8

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: Another Infinite Galactus from this French Marvel Snap Zone supporter. This is a classic build with a less complicated backup plan in Professor X. If you can get Professor X to win a lane, Alioth and Orka give a good shot at another lane. It’s really hard to win that way if Professor X doesn’t work though, so Jeff is all but a requirement here.

The Galactus playline uses Wave or Electro to cheat out Galactus preceded by or followed by Hobgoblin depending on the ramp card used. That’s really it here- it’s a very straightforward deck that uses Sunspot and Nebula for priority, with Nebula adding a bonus of your opponent often playing in her lane, a lane you obviously cannot Galactus.

Nebula and Jeff are important here, but could conceivably be Wolverine and Nightcrawler. Alioth is even more of a requirement here than the last deck, though, and Galactus is the deck.

Man-Thing Arrives

From big bads to little bads, the new toxic card has arrived in Marvel Snap and immediately found some interesting homes.

Variants

Man-Thing

Ongoing: 1, 2, and 3-Cost cards here have -2 Power.

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

view card details Start a deck Decks with Man-Thing

Evolved Man-Thing (Nerfherder and Jhugs)

Nerfherder’s Man Thing 70%

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

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)

4x Starter Card

2.6

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.6

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Jhugs 65% Man Thing

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

1x 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)

1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

5x Starter Card

3.3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

4.5

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: Two of my oldest friends in Snap came up with very similar ideas for Man-Thing, so there’s no point in covering them separately. Both of these decks gameplan is simple – inflict negative power on cards – Hazmat, Cyclops, The Thing, Man-Thing, Scorpion, Wasp, all do the job.

At that point, make sure your opponent’s Luke Cage works for you with Rogue, then drop a cheap Abomination to win. The big difference here is that Nerfherder runs America Chavez for consistency while Jhugs prefers the power of Hulk. The choice is yours, but either way, this deck is quite good.

Miscellaneous Decks

These are good, but don’t fit in any other categories.

Safety’s On Reveal

Safety Absorb the Power

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

2x Collection Level 1-14

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

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

1x Recruit Season

1x Starter Card

3.6

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

2.7

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: Safety keeps getting Infinity borders with this, and what better time to highlight the deck than the buff to White Tiger. This deck has a thousand play lines, from Tigers all over the board to massive pumps from Iron Heart and Absorbing Man to cheating out your power with Iron Lad and Jubilee. It’s even got some good cost reductions with Zabu and Ravonna Renslayer. Luckily, while those cards are all good, none are central to the power of the deck. That power is in its versatility. This deck looks at what your opponent is doing, what you have, and then forms a gameplan from there.

Nebula can be Forge here. Ravonna is often Echo depending on how much Cosmo is around, but with Alioth everywhere, Armor also works. The same is true of Zabu who can also be Luke Cage or Scorpion. Mobius is just a good card here, but not a required one, and Jeff may be better. So might Elsa Bloodstone. Iron Lad can be America Chavez, and don’t sleep on a potential Rogue for this deck, either.

For turn-by-turn, again, check the video.

Scuba’s True Bounce

Scuba Bounce

Created by PulseGlazer

, updated 7 months ago

0

3x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

4x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

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

1x Series 5 Ultra Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 5)

3x Starter Card

2.1

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

1.8

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Deck Thoughts: This two-lane killer is one of my favorite recent brews. It’s a bounce deck that foregoes the Hit-Monkey and Mysterio play pattern to instead go super tall with cards like Hawkeye and Medusa. These cards played multiple times thanks to Beast and Falcon, easily handle one lane, especially with the added buff of Elsa Bloodstone. Meanwhile, Iron Man, usually played on turn 6 in this Rogue meta, handles business in another lane as a surprise finisher.

The best part of this deck is its cheapness. All you really need for it to work at a high level are Elsa Bloodstone and Kitty Pryde. Of course, that makes those two completely irreplaceable.

Wrap Up

Thanks for reading! Check back all next week so much more great content from Marvel Snap Zone!