The latest addition to *Marvel Snap*, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, is a character familiar to fans from *Captain America: Brave New World*, portrayed by Harrison Ford. Given Ford's stature, it's no surprise that expectations are high for this card to shake up the meta. Let's delve into what makes Thunderbolt Ross a unique addition to the game.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Works in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross comes into play as a 2-cost, 2-power card with a specific ability: "When your opponent ends a turn with unspent Energy, draw a card with 10 or more Power." This ability echoes effects seen with Red Hulk and cards influenced by High Evolutionary, making it familiar yet distinct.
Card draw is a potent mechanic in *Marvel Snap*, and a card that draws even a single card is often a staple in many decks. However, Thunderbolt Ross's condition to draw only cards with 10 or more Power narrows its utility. Here's a list of cards he can potentially draw:
- Attuma
- Black Cat
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Typhoid Mary
- Aero
- Heimdall
- Helicarrier
- Red Hulk
- Sasquatch
- She-Hulk
- Skaar
- Thanos (if generated into your deck)
- Orka
- Emperor
- Hulkling
- Hulk
- Magneto
- Death
- Red Skull
- Agatha Harkness (if generated into your deck)
- Giganto
- Destroyer
- The Infinaut
Most decks include only a few of these high-power cards, if any. However, if your deck contains several of these, Thunderbolt Ross becomes a valuable asset, enhancing deck thinning and strategic depth. The only direct counter to him is Red Guardian.
Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross naturally fits into Surtur decks, which are currently relevant in the meta. Here's an example of a Surtur deck that includes him:
- Zabu
- Hydra Bob
- Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
- Armor
- Cosmo
- Juggernaut
- Surtur
- Ares
- Attuma
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Skaar
This deck includes several Series 5 cards, but you can substitute Hydra Bob with other 1-cost cards like Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. The strategy is to play Surtur on turn 3, followed by high-power cards to boost Surtur to 10 power, making Skaar free. Juggernaut and Cosmo serve as final turn counters, while Armor protects against Shang-Chi.
Thunderbolt Ross significantly aids this deck by drawing high-cost cards like Skaar, potentially clinching victory. He's likely to become a staple in optimized Surtur decks.
For a different approach, consider a Hela deck with Thunderbolt Ross:
- Black Knight
- Blade
- Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
- Lady Sif
- Ghost Rider
- War Machine
- Hell Cow
- Black Cat
- Aero
- Hela
- The Infinaut
- Death
This deck includes Series 5 cards like Black Knight and War Machine, though the latter is optional. The aim is to discard high-power cards of varying costs for Hela to revive on the final turn. Thunderbolt Ross enhances consistency by drawing these high-power cards for timely discards. Black Knight and Ghost Rider provide steady power before the final turn.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens?
Currently, unless you're deeply invested in Surtur or Ares decks, Thunderbolt Ross may not be the best use of your resources. While his potential could increase with the addition of more 10-cost cards, his utility is limited to specific deck types. Moreover, with Wiccan decks dominating the meta, opponents are less likely to end turns with unspent energy, reducing Thunderbolt Ross's effectiveness.