Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford in *Captain America: Brave New World*, is set to make his debut in *Marvel Snap*. Given Ford's iconic status, expectations are high for this card to potentially shake up the game's meta. Let's delve into how Thunderbolt Ross functions and his potential impact on the game.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Works in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross is a 2-cost, 2-power card with a unique ability: "When your opponent ends a turn with unspent Energy, draw a card with 10 or more Power." This mechanic is familiar to players who have used Red Hulk or cards affected by High Evolutionary. Card draw is a potent tool in *Marvel Snap*, and a card that draws another card for just 2 energy would be a staple in most decks. However, Thunderbolt Ross's ability to only draw cards with 10 or more power significantly narrows its utility. Here are the 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 typically include only one or none of these high-power cards. However, if your deck contains several of these, Thunderbolt Ross becomes a valuable addition, enhancing deck thinning and consistency. The primary counter to Thunderbolt Ross is Red Guardian.
Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross naturally fits into Surtur decks, which are currently meta-relevant. Despite recent nerfs, Hela decks also offer a viable alternative. Let's explore the Surtur deck first:
- 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 like Hydra Bob, Surtur, Ares, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. You can replace Hydra Bob with other 1-cost cards like Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. The rest of the cards are essential, though you can swap Cull Obsidian for Aero if needed.
The strategy is to play Surtur on turn 3, followed by 10-power cards to boost Surtur to 10 power, making Skaar free. Juggernaut and Cosmo serve as strong final turn counters, while Armor protects against Shang-Chi. Thunderbolt Ross significantly enhances this deck by drawing high-power cards like Skaar, which can be game-changing.
Now, let's look at a Hela deck featuring Thunderbolt Ross:
- 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 another discard activator like Swordmaster.
The goal is to discard high-power cards of varying costs to revive with Hela on the final turn. Ideal targets include Black Cat, Aero, The Infinaut, and Death. Thunderbolt Ross aids in drawing these high-power cards for discarding, adding consistency to the deck. Black Knight and Ghost Rider provide steady power output before the 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 worth the investment if you're low on resources. While his value could increase with the addition of more 10-cost cards to the game, his utility is limited to specific deck archetypes. Moreover, with Wiccan decks dominating the meta, opponents are less likely to end turns with unspent energy, further reducing Thunderbolt Ross's effectiveness.