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 acting pedigree is impressive, let's analyze whether his in-game card lives up to the hype.
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 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 only include one, if any, of these high-power cards. Therefore, Ross's effectiveness is directly tied to deck composition. If your deck features several of these high-cost cards, Ross becomes a valuable addition, offering powerful card draw and deck thinning. Red Guardian is a direct counter to this strategy.
Optimal Decks Featuring Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
Ross synergizes exceptionally well with Surtur decks. A sample Surtur deck might include: Zabu, Hydra Bob, Thunderbolt Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar. Note that this deck contains several Series 5 cards, which may require adjustments depending on your card pool. The strategy centers on playing Surtur on turn 3 and bolstering its power with 10+ power cards, potentially making Skaar free. Juggernaut and Cosmo serve as strong end-game counters. Ross enhances this deck's consistency by drawing high-power cards.
Another viable option is incorporating Ross into a Hela deck, which might consist of: Black Knight, Blade, Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, and Death. Again, this deck includes Series 5 cards. The goal here is to discard high-power cards of varying costs to be revived by Hela on the final turn. Ross facilitates this by drawing those high-power cards.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth the Investment?
Currently, unless you're a dedicated Surtur/Ares player, Ross might not be a worthwhile investment if you're short on resources. His value is contingent on the inclusion of numerous 10+ power cards in your deck, and the prevalence of Wiccan decks, which encourage energy expenditure, further diminishes his effectiveness. His potential will increase as more 10+ power cards are added to the game.
