Thunderbolt Ross Storms into Marvel Snap!

Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross: A Deep Dive into Marvel Snap's Newest Card

Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, portrayed by Harrison Ford in Captain America: Brave New World, has joined the Marvel Snap roster. While his cinematic pedigree is impressive, let's analyze his in-game impact.

How Thunderbolt Ross Functions

Ross is a 2-cost, 2-power card with a unique ability: When your opponent ends a turn with unspent energy, 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 10+ power cards significantly limits his utility. 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 contain only one, if any, of these high-power cards. Therefore, Ross's effectiveness is directly tied to deck composition. If your deck features several 10+ power cards, Ross becomes a valuable addition, providing crucial card draw and deck thinning. Red Guardian serves as a direct counter.

Optimal Deck Synergies

Thunderbolt Ross synergizes particularly well with Surtur decks:

• Surtur Deck Example: Zabu, Hydra Bob, Thunderbolt Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, Skaar. (Note: This list contains several Series 5 cards.)

The strategy revolves around playing Surtur on turn 3 and boosting his power with 10+ cards, making Skaar free. Juggernaut, Cosmo, and Armor provide crucial late-game support. Ross enhances consistency by drawing high-power cards.

Another viable option is incorporating Ross into Hela decks:

• Hela Deck Example: Black Knight, Blade, Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, Death. (Note: This list also includes Series 5 cards.)

This deck focuses on discarding high-power cards of varying costs to be revived by Hela. Ross aids in drawing these crucial cards.

Is Thunderbolt Ross Worth the Investment?

Currently, unless you're a dedicated Surtur/Ares player, Thunderbolt 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. However, his effectiveness is heavily dependent on specific deck builds, and the prevalence of Wiccan decks (where opponents consistently spend all energy) further diminishes his impact.