Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross has arrived in Marvel Snap, joining the roster as a playable card. Portrayed by Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World, his in-game presence is intriguing, though not necessarily meta-defining. Let's break down his mechanics and strategic applications.
Thunderbolt Ross's Mechanics:
This 2-cost, 2-power card boasts a unique ability: When your opponent ends their turn with unspent energy, you draw a card with 10 or more power. This mechanic, similar to Red Hulk and High Evolutionary's effects, hinges on card draw, a potent strategy in Marvel Snap. However, the restriction to 10+ power cards limits its versatility. Currently, this includes cards like Attuma, Black Cat, Crossbones, and many others. The effectiveness of Thunderbolt Ross directly correlates to the number of these high-power cards in your deck.
Counterplay:
Red Guardian effectively counters Thunderbolt Ross by preventing the opponent from leaving unspent energy.
Optimal Deck Synergies:
Thunderbolt Ross finds a natural home in Surtur decks. A sample Surtur deck including Ross might feature: Zabu, Hydra Bob (or a substitute 1-drop), Thunderbolt Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. Note that this deck contains several Series 5 cards. The strategy revolves around playing Surtur on turn 3 and leveraging high-power cards to boost its power, enabling free Skaar play.
Another viable deck is a Hela deck, incorporating: Black Knight, Blade, Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine (or a substitute), Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, and Death. This deck, again with some Series 5 cards, focuses on discarding high-power cards of varying costs to be resurrected by Hela. Thunderbolt Ross enhances consistency by drawing these high-power cards for discarding.
Is Thunderbolt Ross Worth the Investment?
Currently, unless you're a dedicated Surtur or Hela player, Thunderbolt Ross may not be a worthwhile investment if resources are limited. His utility is dependent on the presence of numerous 10+ power cards in your deck and is further hampered by the prevalence of Wiccan decks, where opponents are less likely to leave unspent energy. His potential will increase as more 10-power cards are added to the game.
