Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford in *Captain America: Brave New World*, is set to make a notable entry into *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 this card functions and its 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, you draw a card with 10 or more Power. This mechanic echoes effects seen with Red Hulk and cards influenced by High Evolutionary, making it a familiar yet potent addition to the game.
Card draw is a highly valuable mechanic in *Marvel Snap*, and even a 2-cost, 2-power card that draws any card would be a staple in many decks. However, Thunderbolt Ross's condition to draw only cards with 10 or more Power limits its versatility. Currently, he can draw cards such as 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, and The Infinaut.
Most decks might not include many of these high-power cards, but if your deck contains a good number of them, Thunderbolt Ross becomes a valuable asset, enhancing your deck's consistency through deck thinning. As for counters, Thunderbolt Ross is primarily countered by Red Guardian.
Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross naturally fits into Surtur decks, which are currently relevant in the meta. Here’s a sample Surtur deck:
Zabu, Hydra Bob, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, Skaar. Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
This deck features several Series 5 cards, including Hydra Bob, Surtur, Ares, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. You can replace Hydra Bob with another 1-drop like Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. The rest of the cards are essential, though you might swap Cull Obsidian for Aero if necessary.
The strategy is simple: play Surtur on turn 3 and follow up with 10-power cards to boost Surtur to 10 power, making Skaar free. Juggernaut and Cosmo serve as effective final turn counters, while Armor protects against Shang-Chi. Thunderbolt Ross significantly enhances this deck by drawing a high-power card like Skaar, potentially securing a win.
Alternatively, Thunderbolt Ross can be integrated into a Hela deck:
Black Knight, Blade, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, Death. Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
This deck includes Series 5 cards like Black Knight and War Machine, the latter of which can be replaced by Ares or another discard activator like Swordmaster if needed. The goal is to discard high-power cards of varying costs to revive with Hela on the final turn. Thunderbolt Ross aids in drawing these high-power cards, enhancing the deck's consistency, while 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 of Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector's Tokens. While his value may increase with the addition of more 10-cost cards to the game, few decks can effectively utilize him at the moment. Additionally, with Wiccan decks dominating the meta, opponents are likely to spend all their energy each turn, reducing Thunderbolt Ross's effectiveness.
