Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, the latest addition to *Marvel Snap*, brings the iconic character famously portrayed by Harrison Ford in *Captain America: Brave New World* to the game. Given Ford's high-profile role, fans might expect Ross to be a game-changer. Let's delve into how he performs and whether he's worth your investment.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Works in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt 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 effect echoes similar mechanics seen with Red Hulk and cards influenced by High Evolutionary, but with a twist.
Card draw is a potent tool in *Marvel Snap*. A card that draws another, even at 2-cost and 2-power, would be a staple in many decks. However, Thunderbolt Ross's ability is niche, as it only draws cards with 10 or more Power. Currently, the pool of such cards includes:
- Attuma
- Black Cat
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Typhoid Mary
- Aero
- Heimdall
- Helicarrier
- Red Hulk
- Sasquatch
- She-Hulk
- Skaar
- Thanos (if generated into your deck)
- Orka
- Emperor
- Hulkling
- Hulk
- Magneto
- Death
- Red Skull
- Agatha Harkness (if generated into your deck)
- Giganto
- Destroyer
- The Infinaut
Most decks might only include one or none of these cards. However, if your deck is rich in high-power cards, Thunderbolt Ross can be a game-changer by thinning your deck and drawing powerful cards. His main counter is Red Guardian, which directly neutralizes his ability.
Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap
Thunderbolt Ross seamlessly integrates into Surtur decks, which are currently meta-relevant. Here's a sample Surtur deck:
- Zabu
- Hydra Bob
- Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
- Armor
- Cosmo
- Juggernaut
- Surtur
- Ares
- Attuma
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Skaar
You can copy this list from Untapped. Note that this deck has several Series 5 cards, but you can substitute Hydra Bob with other 1-cost cards like Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. The strategy is to play Surtur on turn 3, then follow up with 10-power cards to boost Surtur to 10 power, making Skaar free. Juggernaut and Cosmo are excellent for final turn plays, and Armor protects against Shang-Chi. Thunderbolt Ross enhances this deck by potentially drawing a game-winning 10-cost card like Skaar.
Alternatively, Thunderbolt Ross fits well in Hela decks despite Hela's recent nerf:
- Black Knight
- Blade
- Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross
- Lady Sif
- Ghost Rider
- War Machine
- Hell Cow
- Black Cat
- Aero
- Hela
- The Infinaut
- Death
You can copy this list from Untapped. The Series 5 cards here are Black Knight and War Machine, which can be replaced by Ares or Swordmaster. The goal is to discard high-power cards of varying costs to revive with Hela on the final turn. Thunderbolt Ross helps draw these high-power cards, increasing the deck's consistency. Black Knight and Ghost Rider provide steady power output before the final turn.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens?
Currently, unless you're heavily invested in Surtur/Ares decks, Thunderbolt Ross might not be the best use of your Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector's Tokens. His utility is limited to decks that can consistently benefit from drawing high-power cards. Moreover, with Wiccan decks dominating the meta, opponents are less likely to end turns with unspent energy, reducing Ross's effectiveness. As more 10-cost cards are added to *Marvel Snap*, his value may increase, but for now, he's a niche pick.
