Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross enters the Marvel Snap fray. Recognizable as Harrison Ford's character in Captain America: Brave New World, his impact on the meta warrants examination.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Functions in Marvel Snap
Ross is a 2-cost, 2-power card with the ability: "When your opponent ends a turn with unspent Energy, draw a card with 10 or more Power." This effect, similar to Red Hulk and High Evolutionary-boosted cards, is potent due to the power of card draw in Marvel Snap. However, the restriction to 10+ power cards limits its applicability. Currently, this includes cards like Attuma, Black Cat, and many others. His effectiveness hinges on a deck containing multiple high-power cards. Deck thinning is a significant advantage he offers. His primary counter is Red Guardian.
Optimal Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks
Ross synergizes well with Surtur decks. A sample Surtur deck includes: Zabu, Hydra Bob, Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. Note that this deck features several Series 5 cards. Substitutions, such as replacing Hydra Bob with Iceman or Nico Minoru, are possible. The strategy focuses on playing Surtur on turn 3, boosting it with 10-power cards, and utilizing cards like Juggernaut and Cosmo for end-game control. Ross significantly enhances this deck's consistency by drawing high-cost cards.
A Hela deck incorporating Ross might include: Black Knight, Blade, Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, and Death. Again, Series 5 cards (Black Knight, War Machine) are present. War Machine can be replaced with Ares or Swordmaster. The strategy revolves around discarding high-power cards of varying costs to be revived by Hela on the final turn. Ross facilitates drawing these high-power cards for discarding.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth the Investment?
Currently, unless you're dedicated to Surtur/Ares decks, Ross might not be a worthwhile investment if resources are limited. His value will increase with the addition of more 10-cost cards to the game, but his limited synergy with many current meta decks, particularly against prevalent Wiccan decks (where opponents rarely leave unspent energy), diminishes his immediate impact.
