Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap

Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross has arrived in Marvel Snap, the character portrayed by Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World. While his in-game presence might not be immediately meta-defining, let's examine his potential.

Thunderbolt Ross's Mechanics:

This 2-cost, 2-power card boasts the ability: "When your opponent ends a turn with unspent Energy, draw a card with 10 or more Power." This effect, similar to Red Hulk and High Evolutionary's influence, hinges on card draw, a powerful mechanic 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 will only contain a few, if any, of these high-cost cards. Therefore, Thunderbolt Ross's effectiveness is directly tied to deck composition. Deck thinning becomes a significant factor; if your deck is heavily populated with these high-power cards, Ross becomes a valuable inclusion. His primary counter is Red Guardian.

Optimal Deck Synergies:

Thunderbolt Ross synergizes best 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 is heavily reliant on Series 5 cards. Substitutions are possible, such as replacing Hydra Bob with Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham, and Cull Obsidian with Aero. The core strategy involves playing Surtur on turn 3, then utilizing high-power cards to boost its power to 10, enabling a free Skaar play. Juggernaut and Cosmo provide late-game protection, while Armor prevents Shang-Chi's disruptive effect. Thunderbolt Ross enhances consistency by drawing crucial high-cost cards.

A Hela deck can also incorporate Thunderbolt Ross: 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) may need replacing. The strategy revolves around discarding high-power cards of varying costs to be resurrected by Hela on the final turn. Thunderbolt Ross improves the draw consistency for this discard strategy.

Is Thunderbolt Ross Worth the Investment?

Currently, unless you are a dedicated Surtur/Ares player, Thunderbolt Ross may not be a priority acquisition if resources are limited. His value will increase as more 10+ power cards are added to the game. However, his restrictive condition and the current meta dominance of Wiccan decks (where opponents are less likely to leave unspent energy) limit his immediate impact.