Marvel Snap Balance Update 4th April 2024

The upcoming OTA introduces significant updates to Marvel Snap’s metagame, focusing on Thanos. The major change moves Thanos to players’ opening hands and continues to shuffle the six Infinity Stones into decks.

Thanos

Thanos
[Old] 6/10 – At the start of the game, shuffle the six Infinity Stones into your deck.
[New] 6/10 – Starts in your opening hand and shuffles the six Infinity Stones into your deck.

This adjustment addresses Thanos‘s overwhelming success by limiting the flexibility of decks centered around him and the Infinity Stones, aiming to balance the gameplay. Further modifications to this character and strategy are anticipated as part of a broader effort to refine the impact of new cards on various deck types.

Check out our in-depth analysis of Thanos’ update.

Time Stone

Time Stone
[Old] 1/1 – On Reveal: Draw a card and give it -1 Cost.
[New] 1/1 – On Reveal: Give Thanos -1 Cost next turn. Draw a card.

Marvel Snap officials are currently revising several Infinity Stones, with the Time Stone receiving immediate, more stringent adjustments. Despite previous changes not affecting its win rate as anticipated, they are determined to avoid a repeat of this outcome. As alterations to other Stones are implemented, there may be an opportunity to restore some of the Time Stone’s strength, yet the emphasis will remain on optimizing Thanos’s role within the game.

Here you can learn in detail how to play the Time Stone.

Miek

Miek
[Old] 1/1 – When you discard a card, this gains +1 Power and can move next turn.
[Change] 1/1 -> 1/0

In a recent update, adjustments to Apocalypse successfully moderated Discard decks, shifting the spotlight to Miek due to its high win rate, particularly problematic for a 1-Cost card. Despite the likelihood of drawing such a card being lower in early turns, Miek’s performance indicates a need for rebalancing, either by reducing Power or increasing Cost. The preference is for the former, aiming to maintain game balance while addressing the card’s unexpected dominance.

Here you will find an explanation of how to play the updated Miek.

Crossbones

Crossbones
[Old] 4/8 – You can only play this at locations where you are winning
[Change] 4/8 -> 4/10

The community is buzzing with discussions on whether Crossbones or Cull Obsidian has the more significant disadvantage, leading to a decision to let players battle it out. While Cull Obsidian seems favored due to his effectiveness in multiple decks, the outcome remains to be seen. Additionally, there’s interest in boosting support for Skaar, adding another layer of strategy to watch unfold.

Sabretooth

Sabretooth
[Old] 3/4 – When this is destroyed, return it to your hand. It costs 0.
[Change] 3/4 -> 3/5

The sentiment that “3/5 is becoming the new standard over 3/4” in card strength is gaining traction, and it seems justified as the balance among low-Cost cards is evaluated. Satisfaction has been expressed with the performance of these 3/5 cards, hinting at future adjustments for a deeper game balance. Sabretooth and Black Swan, both considered “vanilla” cards without effects unless specifically built around in decks, highlight the competitive nature of deckbuilding, especially in Destroy-based strategies where choosing the optimal 12 cards is critical.

Angela

Angela
[Old] 2/2 – After you play a card here, +1 Power.
[New] 2/0 – After you play a card here, +2 Power.

Angela returns, signaling a shift towards “small ball” decks where she’s a key player for escalating Power. The metagame’s evolution may offer these decks a comeback opportunity, including the likes of Silky Smoove. Whether additional adjustments are needed for their full resurgence remains to be seen.

Baxter Building

Baxter Building
[Old] Whoever is winning this location gets +3 Power at the others.
[Change] +3 -> +4

Do you get it? Yeah, you get it.

As Marvel Snap continues to evolve with each update, these strategic changes promise to enrich the gameplay, offering new challenges and opportunities for players to explore. The ongoing adjustments to cards and characters like Thanos and the Infinity Stones highlight the developers’ commitment to maintaining a balanced and dynamic game environment.