Thaddeus Ross Unleashes Thunder in Marvel Snap

Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross has joined the Marvel Snap roster. Portrayed by Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World, his in-game card is a 2-cost, 2-power unit with a potentially game-changing ability. Let's break it down.

Thunderbolt Ross's Ability: When your opponent ends a turn with unspent Energy, draw a card with 10 or more Power.

This mechanic, similar to Red Hulk and High Evolutionary effects, hinges on card draw—a powerful element in Marvel Snap. However, the restriction to 10+ power cards limits its applicability. Currently, this includes cards like Attuma, Black Cat, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, Typhoid Mary, Aero, Heimdall, Helicarrier, Red Hulk, Sasquatch, She-Hulk, Skaar, Thanos (if generated), Orka, Emperor Hulkling, Hulk, Magneto, Death, Red Skull, Agatha Harkness (if generated), Giganto, Destroyer, and The Infinaut.

Most decks contain only a few, if any, of these high-power cards. Therefore, Thunderbolt Ross's effectiveness is highly dependent on deck composition. His value increases significantly in decks with multiple 10+ power cards, offering valuable deck thinning. Red Guardian is his primary counter.

Optimal Deck Synergies:

Thunderbolt Ross excels in Surtur decks. A sample Surtur deck includes: Zabu, Hydra Bob, Thunderbolt Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. Note that this deck is heavy on Series 5 cards. Hydra Bob can be substituted with Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. Cull Obsidian can be replaced with Aero if needed. The strategy revolves around playing Surtur on turn 3, boosting its power with 10+ power cards, and utilizing Juggernaut and Cosmo for late-game control. Thunderbolt Ross significantly enhances this strategy by drawing crucial high-cost cards.

A Hela deck incorporating Thunderbolt Ross might include: Black Knight, Blade, Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, and Death. War Machine is optional but offers a strong alternative to Hela for playing The Infinaut. Ares or Swordmaster could replace him. The goal is discarding high-power cards of varying costs to be revived by Hela. Thunderbolt Ross aids in drawing these cards for consistent discarding.

Is Thunderbolt Ross Worth the Investment?

Currently, unless you actively utilize Surtur/Ares decks, Thunderbolt Ross may not be a worthwhile investment if resources are limited. His utility will increase with the addition of more 10+ power cards, but his effectiveness is constrained by deck construction and the prevalence of Wiccan decks (which encourage opponents to spend all their energy).