Joaquin Torres Falcon: A Marvel Snap Deep Dive
Until recently, Joaquin Torres Falcon was relatively unknown to me. His unique hybrid origin (falcon-human), impressive regeneration, and mental link with Sam Wilson via Redwing, however, immediately grabbed my attention. While a full backstory isn't the focus here, let's determine if he's worth your Spotlight keys.
Table of Contents
- What Does He Do?
- Best 1-Cost Cards with Torres?
- Tier 1 – Top Choices
- Tier 2 – Solid Options
- Tier 3 – Less Effective
- Special Cases
- How to Use Him Effectively?
- Day One Deck Examples
- Falcon Power
- Diamondback
- Time to Mill
What Does He Do?
Torres' ability is straightforward: he doubles the effect of 1-cost cards with "On Reveal" abilities, functioning similarly to Wong, but limited to 1-cost cards.
Best 1-Cost Cards with Torres?
There are 23 1-cost cards with "On Reveal" effects. Here's a tiered list for pairing with Torres:
Tier 1 – Top Choices
Blade and Yondu, with their focused effects, become game-changers when doubled. These cards offer significant power, especially when combined with another Falcon for hand manipulation.
Tier 2 – Solid Options
These cards offer substantial benefits, though perhaps less impactful than Tier 1. Collector gains significant power, Devil Dinosaur grows rapidly with Agent 13 or Maria Hill, and Mantis shines. America Chavez, while not guaranteeing card plays, remains a viable option.
Tier 3 – Less Effective
Cards like Squirrel Girl might act as late-game fillers, but generally don't synergize well with Torres' strategy. Overloading the board isn't ideal.
Special Cases
Nico Minoru's powerful "On Reveal" is amplified by doubling, though consistency is a factor. Basic Arrow, while strong, requires multiple steps, reducing reliability. Thanos, while not 1-cost, introduces six 1-cost cards (five with "On Reveal"), offering interesting experimental possibilities.
How to Use Him Effectively?
Torres shines in bounce decks, maximizing the value of 1-cost cards. His use outside bounce is more limited. While established Discard or Mill decks may not have space, he could enhance discard or mill effects with Yondu.
Pairing him with a Moonstone/Victoria Hand hand-generation deck can significantly boost Collector's power.
Day One Deck Examples
Falcons Power
This bounce deck utilizes Torres to amplify 1-cost cards like Rocket and Hawkeye. Since he excels as a bounce card, replaying him isn't always necessary.
Diamondback
Korg synergizes well with Torres to boost Darkhawk. Zabu, Ares, Cassandra, and Rockslide further enhance this deck's synergy.
Time to Mill
Torres adds a disruptive element to Mill decks, especially in the late game. However, playing him on turn 3 might slightly hinder the deck's timing.
Torres offers exciting strategic possibilities in Marvel Snap, whether through bounce mechanics or alternative approaches.
