Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross has arrived in Marvel Snap, joining the roster as the character portrayed by Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World. While his in-game presence might not be as immediately game-changing as his actor's reputation suggests, let's delve into his mechanics and strategic applications.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Functions in Marvel Snap
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, similar to Red Hulk and High Evolutionary effects, hinges on card draw, a powerful element in Marvel Snap.
However, the restriction to cards with 10+ power significantly limits Ross's 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 utilize only a few, if any, of these high-power cards. Therefore, Ross's effectiveness is directly tied to deck composition. Deck thinning becomes a key consideration; if your deck contains several of these high-power cards, Ross provides significant value. Red Guardian serves as a direct counter.
Optimal Deck Synergies for Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
Ross synergizes particularly well with Surtur decks. A sample Surtur deck including Ross might feature: Zabu, Hydra Bob, Thunderbolt Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. Note that this list includes several Series 5 cards (Hydra Bob, Surtur, Ares, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar). Substitutions are possible, such as replacing Hydra Bob with Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. The deck's strategy involves playing Surtur on turn 3, followed by high-power cards to boost Surtur's power to 10, making Skaar free. Juggernaut and Cosmo provide end-game counters, while Armor protects against Shang-Chi. Ross enhances the deck's consistency by drawing crucial high-power cards.
Another viable option is incorporating Ross into Hela decks. A sample Hela deck could include: Black Knight, Blade, Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, and Death. Again, Series 5 cards (Black Knight and War Machine) are present. War Machine can be substituted with Ares or Swordmaster. This deck focuses on discarding high-power cards of varying costs to revive with Hela on the final turn. Ross improves consistency by drawing those high-power cards for discarding.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth the Investment?
Currently, unless you're a dedicated Surtur/Ares player, Ross might not be a worthwhile investment if resources are limited. His value will increase as more 10-power cards are added to the game, but his current niche use limits his overall appeal. The prevalence of Wiccan decks, where opponents consistently spend all their energy, further reduces his effectiveness.
