Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross is the newest addition to *Marvel Snap*, and he's ready to rumble. Played by Harrison Ford in *Captain America: Brave New World*, you'd expect a powerful card, and while he's not a meta-breaker, he's definitely worth examining.
How Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Works in Marvel Snap
Ross is a 2-cost, 2-power card with a straightforward ability: When your opponent ends their turn with unspent energy, you draw a card with 10 or more power. This mechanic is familiar to players who've used Red Hulk or cards boosted by High Evolutionary.
Card draw is incredibly valuable in Marvel Snap. A 2-cost, 2-power card that simply drew any card would be a staple. However, Ross's restriction to 10-power cards significantly limits his use. 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 include a few, if any, of these high-power cards. But if your deck is built around several of them, Ross becomes a strong inclusion, offering valuable deck thinning. His primary counter is Red Guardian.
Best Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Decks in Marvel Snap
Ross synergizes well with Surtur decks. While Hela decks are an alternative, the recent Hela nerf makes them less potent.
Surtur Deck:
Zabu, Hydra Bob, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, Armor, Cosmo, Juggernaut, Surtur, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, Skaar. [Click here to copy this list from Untapped.]
This deck is heavy on Series 5 cards (Hydra Bob, Surtur, Ares, Cull Obsidian, Skaar). Hydra Bob can be substituted with Iceman, Nico Minoru, or Spider-Ham. The rest are generally essential, though Aero can replace Cull Obsidian if needed. The strategy revolves around playing Surtur on turn 3, then playing 10-power cards to boost Surtur to 10 power, making Skaar free. Juggernaut and Cosmo provide late-game control, and Armor protects against Shang-Chi. Ross significantly boosts this deck's consistency by drawing high-cost cards.
Hela Deck:
Black Knight, Blade, Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross, Lady Sif, Ghost Rider, War Machine, Hell Cow, Black Cat, Aero, Hela, The Infinaut, Death. [Click here to copy this list from Untapped.]
This deck features Black Knight and War Machine as Series 5 cards. War Machine is optional but offers a Hela alternative for playing The Infinaut on the final turn. Ares or Swordmaster can replace him. The goal is to discard high-power cards of varying costs to revive with Hela. Ross enhances consistency by drawing these high-power cards for discarding. Black Knight and Ghost Rider provide early-game power.
Is Thaddeus Thunderbolt Ross Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector's Tokens?
Currently, unless you're dedicated to Surtur/Ares decks, Ross isn't a high priority if resources are limited. His value will increase as more 10-power cards are added, but his current niche limits his broader appeal. The prevalence of Wiccan decks, which encourage opponents to spend all their energy, further diminishes his effectiveness.
