The new addition to *Marvel Snap*, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, brings a familiar face to the game, portrayed by the legendary Harrison Ford in *Captain America: Brave New World*. Given Ford's iconic status, expectations are high for Ross to potentially shake up the meta. Let's dive into how this card operates and its impact on the game.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Works in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross is a 2-cost, 2-power card with an ability that triggers when your opponent ends a turn with unspent Energy, allowing you to draw a card with 10 or more Power. This mechanism isn't new to *Marvel Snap* fans, as it mirrors the effects seen with Red Hulk and cards affected by High Evolutionary.
Card draw is a powerhouse mechanic in *Marvel Snap*, and a 2-cost card that draws any card would be a staple in most decks. However, Thunderbolt Ross's limitation to drawing only cards with 10 or more power narrows its utility. The cards he can draw include high-powered options like 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, and The Infinaut. Typically, decks might not include many of these, but if they do, Thunderbolt Ross becomes a valuable addition for deck thinning, which is a potent strategy.
Direct counters to Thunderbolt Ross are scarce, with Red Guardian being the primary one.
Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross naturally synergizes with Surtur decks, fitting seamlessly into the current meta. Here’s a sample Surtur deck:
- Zabu
- Hydra Bob
- Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
- Armor
- Cosmo
- Juggernaut
- Surtur
- Ares
- Attuma
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Skaar
You can copy this list from Untapped. Note, this deck contains several Series 5 cards such as Hydra Bob, Surtur, Ares, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. Alternatives like Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham can replace Hydra Bob, while Aero can substitute for Cull Obsidian if needed.
The strategy is to play Surtur on turn 3, then follow up with 10-power cards to boost Surtur to 10 power, making Skaar free to play. Juggernaut and Cosmo serve as final turn counters, and Armor protects against Shang-Chi. Thunderbolt Ross significantly enhances this deck by drawing crucial 10-cost cards like Skaar, potentially clinching the game.
For a different approach, consider using Thunderbolt Ross in a Hela deck:
- Black Knight
- Blade
- Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
- Lady Sif
- Ghost Rider
- War Machine
- Hell Cow
- Black Cat
- Aero
- Hela
- The Infinaut
- Death
You can copy this list from Untapped. The Series 5 cards here are Black Knight and War Machine, though War Machine can be replaced with Ares or Swordmaster. The goal is to discard high-power cards of varying costs, reviving them with Hela on the final turn. Thunderbolt Ross aids in drawing these high-power cards, enhancing the deck's consistency. Black Knight and Ghost Rider provide steady power output before Hela's final turn.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens?
Currently, unless you're heavily invested in Surtur/Ares decks, Thunderbolt Ross may not be the best use of your Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens. His utility is limited to decks that can capitalize on his specific card draw condition. Moreover, with Wiccan decks dominating the meta, opponents are likely to spend all their energy, reducing Ross's effectiveness. However, as more 10-cost cards are added to the game, his value may increase.
