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 in-game presence might not immediately redefine the meta, his unique ability warrants a closer look.

How Thunderbolt Ross Works

Ross is a 2-cost, 2-power card with the following 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, centers around card draw – a powerful element in Marvel Snap. However, the restriction to 10+ power cards 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 contain only a few, if any, of these high-power cards. Therefore, Ross's effectiveness hinges on deck composition. If your deck features several 10+ power cards, Ross becomes a valuable addition, offering both card draw and deck thinning. Red Guardian serves as a direct counter.

Optimal Deck Synergies

Thunderbolt Ross synergizes particularly well with Surtur decks. A sample Surtur deck incorporating Ross 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 (Hydra Bob, Surtur, Ares, Cull Obsidian, and Skaar), which can be substituted with alternatives like Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham for Hydra Bob, and Aero for Cull Obsidian. The strategy focuses on playing Surtur on turn 3 and boosting its power with 10+ cards, making Skaar free. Juggernaut, Cosmo, and Armor provide crucial end-game control.

Ross also finds a place in Hela decks, offering consistent high-power card draw for discarding and subsequent revival with Hela. A sample Hela deck might include: Black Knight, Blade, Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, and Death. Again, this deck features Series 5 cards (Black Knight and War Machine), which can be replaced strategically.

Is He Worth the Investment?

Currently, unless you're a dedicated Surtur or Hela player, Thunderbolt Ross might not be a priority spend of Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector's Tokens. His value increases with the addition of more 10+ power cards to the game, but his effectiveness is highly dependent on deck construction and the prevalence of opponents wasting energy. The current meta, dominated by Wiccan decks, further diminishes his potential as opponents are less likely to leave unspent energy.