Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross is set to make an exciting entrance into Marvel Snap, portrayed by none other than Harrison Ford in the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World. Given Ford's stature, expectations are high for this card to have a significant impact on the game. Let's delve into the details.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Works in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross is a 2-cost, 2-power card with an intriguing ability: When your opponent ends a turn with unspent Energy, draw a card with 10 or more Power. This mechanic, while familiar from cards like Red Hulk and High Evolutionary's effects, introduces a unique strategic element to Marvel Snap.
Card draw is a powerful mechanic in Marvel Snap, and a card that simply draws another at 2 cost would be highly sought after. However, Thunderbolt Ross's restriction to drawing only cards with 10 or more power narrows its utility. Currently, 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
Given that most decks include only a few of these high-power cards, Thunderbolt Ross's effectiveness largely depends on the composition of your deck. He shines in decks with multiple high-power cards, as he aids in deck thinning, a crucial strategy in Marvel Snap. His primary counter is Red Guardian.
Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross finds a natural fit in Surtur decks, which are currently relevant in the meta. Here's a recommended 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 that this deck includes several Series 5 cards. If you're missing some, consider substituting Hydra Bob with Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. While Cull Obsidian can be replaced with Aero in a pinch, the rest of the cards are essential for the deck's strategy, which revolves around playing Surtur on turn 3 and subsequently using 10-power cards to empower him, making Skaar free to play. Thunderbolt Ross significantly enhances this deck by drawing crucial 10-power cards like Skaar.
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, which can be swapped out for Ares or another discard activator like Swordmaster if needed. The goal is to discard high-power cards of varying costs and revive them with Hela on the final turn. Thunderbolt Ross aids in drawing these high-power cards, enhancing the deck's consistency.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens?
Currently, unless you're deeply invested in Surtur/Ares decks, Thunderbolt Ross might not justify the use of your Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector's Tokens, especially if you're low on resources. While his potential could grow with the addition of more 10-cost cards to the game, his utility is limited to specific deck types. Moreover, the prevalence of Wiccan decks in the current meta means opponents are less likely to leave energy unspent, further reducing Thunderbolt Ross's effectiveness.
