Starbrand, the newest muscle-bound addition to *Marvel Snap*, brings a fresh dynamic to the game with his unique abilities. Here's a detailed guide on how to make the most out of Starbrand and the best decks to use him in.
Jump To:
- How Starbrand Works in Marvel Snap
- Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
- Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
How Starbrand Works in Marvel Snap
Starbrand is a 3-cost, 10-power card with an ability that states: “Ongoing: Your opponent has +3 Power at each other location.” This effect influences every location except the one where Starbrand is played, setting him apart from cards like Mister Fantastic, which only affect adjacent locations. As an Ongoing card, Starbrand synergizes well with cards like Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress, which can mitigate his drawback.
Starbrand faces a hard counter in Shang-Chi, but he pairs excellently with Surtur. However, his 3-cost slot can make him challenging to integrate into many decks, particularly when competing with powerhouses like Surtur or Sauron.
Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
Starbrand fits seamlessly into a couple of pre-existing deck archetypes: Shuri Sauron and Surtur. Let's explore these options:
Shuri Sauron Deck:
- Zabu
- Zero
- Armor
- Lizard
- Sauron
- Starbrand
- Shuri
- Ares
- Enchantress
- Typhoid Mary
- Red Skull
- Taskmaster
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
This deck is cost-effective, featuring only Ares as a Series 5 card, which can be substituted with Vision if needed. The strategy revolves around using Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress to neutralize the negative effects of your Ongoing cards, then leveraging Shuri to boost a lane, often with Red Skull, before finishing with a powerful Taskmaster play.
While traditionally featuring Ebony Maw, the recent Taskmaster nerf to 6 cost has prompted the inclusion of Zabu. This change allows for strategic plays like deploying Shuri alongside Starbrand or Ares in the final turns, providing unexpected power surges. Starbrand's drawback is less impactful here, and Enchantress can negate it post-play.
Surtur Deck:
- Zabu
- Zero
- Armor
- Sam Wilson
- Captain America
- Cosmo
- Surtur
- Starbrand
- Ares
- Attuma
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Skaar
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
This deck is pricier, with four Series 5 cards. The synergy between Sam Wilson and Cull Obsidian, along with the high-impact plays of Surtur and Ares, makes it a powerful option. Starbrand enables getting Skaar down to 1 cost by playing him with two of Ares, Attuma, and Crossbones on turns 4 and 5. Zero helps mitigate the downsides of Starbrand and Attuma, though it's crucial not to disrupt your own Surtur or Ares.
Timing is key with Starbrand in this deck. Ideally, play Surtur first and save Starbrand for the final turn with Zero and Skaar, though flexibility will be necessary.
Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
Starbrand is a "wait and see" card due to recent meta shifts with additions like Agamotto and Eson. The viability of Shuri Sauron and Surtur decks in the current meta remains uncertain. It's wise to observe the meta's evolution for a few days before deciding to invest your Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens in Starbrand.
And those are the best Starbrand decks in Marvel Snap.
Marvel Snap is available to play now.
