Guide to Grand Arena Strategy
Grand Arena is here! This new Limited Time Mode runs from July 24th to August 2nd. Read this guide before you start to maximize your win rate and prizes!
What is Grand Arena?
Grand Arena is a new mode where you play a deck that includes a champion that comes along with a special skill. Both your championship and the skill start in your hand and cannot be discarded! You will start each game with 2 energy, which means you'll have an extra energy per turn compared to a regular game of Snap. For example, you'll have 7 energy on turn 6. You can play one of eight pre-constructed decks or you can make your own. Entering a match costs one ticket. You'll start with 8 tickets with 3 more regenerated every 8 hours up to 12. You can purchase tickets to go above 12 (10 Gold each), but none will naturally regenerate above 12.
What are the rewards?
Two new series 4 cards, Mole Man and The Mad Thinker are available exclusively through this mode. They will be available later from Snap Packs, but not until after the event has ended. There is a reward track based on the XP you earn from wins and a Shop where you can spend the Glory you earn at the same rate ( a win = 10 Glory + 10 XP + 1 Arena Ticket, a Loss or tie = 5 Glory + 5 XP).
There is a variable rate of exchange between Glory and Gold, but the prices overall seem quite good. Here is the quote from Second Dinner about the obtainability of the new cards:
“Based on previous LTGMs, we expect the average Free Event Pass player to earn enough Glory for one new Series 4 card. We also expect ~10% of Free Event Pass players to earn enough Glory for both new Series 4 cards while supplementing their progress with 930 Gold in extra Tickets OR having an elite win rate. This cost can be as low as 465 Gold if the Daily Offers Ticket bundles are utilized effectively. If you're a true Champion of the Grand Arena you can absolutely get both Mole Man and Mad Thinker for free - but you may have to be FANTASTIC! As for Premium Event Pass players, ~75% can expect to earn enough Glory for one new Series 4 card while ~50% can earn both new Series 4 cards without needing any extra Tickets while maintaining an average win rate.”
Our quick math indicates that these numbers are on the conservative side and should be slightly better than Second Dinner indicates here. Also, the Premium Event Pass is purchasable with Gold and will help you get both cards pretty easily if that is your goal.
Grand Arena Shop Prices
Portal Pull
1800 Glory - 1440 Gold
Champions Variants
New Series 4 Card + Champions Variant
2000 Glory - 3800 Gold
New Variants
Human Torch - 1200 Glory - 1176 Gold
Mister Fantastic - 1000 Glory - 700 Gold
Emotes
3000 Glory - 2,130 Gold
Human Torch Flame On! Emote
Mister Fantastic Feeling Fantastic Emote
New Borders
800 Glory - 744 Gold
Fire, Blue Fire, Rainbow Refraction, and Cosmic Purple
Additional items include Avatars, Credits, PMVs, and more.
Which deck is the strongest?
Let's go through the pre-constructed decks, analyze them, and look at some potential tweaks for each of them. I've limited myself to 1 or 2 card changes so that we're not totally remaking the deck, though you can change more if you have additional ideas. I've included decks made from scratch below this section, so be sure to check those out as well.
Pre-constructed Decks with upgrade suggestions
Stretch Goals
Council of Reeds gives a Surge-style effect to all Ongoing cards in your hand so it's important to get it out early.
Stretch Goals
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Mojo, Punisher
IN: Sam Wilson, Cosmo
This deck is going to need some sort of protection, so Cosmo is a no-brainer. Sam Wilson provides too much value here not to include.
Vanishing Act
This is probably my favorite deck of the pre-cons, and the one that can go best with no changes. I worry that people will start to tech in Luke Cage as the event goes on, but Red Guardian can occasionally help with that. Alioth is also going to be a concern.
Vanishing Act
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Laufey
IN: Scorpion
Laufey is good, but the curve of this deck is just a bit high so I want to cut one of the 4s for a lower cost card.
Flame On!
Similar to the buff decks running rampant on ladder, this deck can get very large.
Flame On!
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Howard the Duck, Black Panther
IN: Mister Fantastic: First Steps, Iron Lad
Sorry, Howard fans, he's still not good enough in this deck to be worth one of your precious 12 slots. Black Panther can grow very large in this deck, but he doesn't quite fit with what the rest of the deck is doing and I'd rather have an Iron Lad that has almost no bad hits.
Clobberin' Time
This deck tries to get a cheap Clobberin' Time skill and Skaar for the final turn. If people start adding Shang Chi to more decks, we might need Armor.
Clobberin' Time
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Ant-Man, Giganto,
IN: Sunspot, She-Hulk
Giganto is out in favor of a more flexible 6-Cost in She-Hulk, who should be very good in this mode since you start with extra energy. I've put Sunspot in to Synergize with her and all the extra energy from Luna Snow.
Programmed to Thrill
A modern Zoo decks that can still slam Gilgamesh on the last turn and, in this format, Onslaught on turn 5.
Programmed to Thrill
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Caiera, Shang Chi
IN: Kate Bishop, Mockingbird
It might seem strange to take out our only protection for 1-Costs and the most prevalent tech card in the game, but Zoo decks tend to work best when they play for pure power. If people start adding Killmonger to decks, pop that Caiera back in.
Doom Supreme
This is a Ramp deck that also has a Doom 2099 plan. Ideally you would play Odin into Doctor Doom. Astral Projection and Hulkling allow for some major power spikes.
Doom Supreme
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Nocturne
IN: Luke Cage or Legion
This deck is a careful balance and it's hard to substitute without totally remaking the deck. Because there is an Affliction deck among the pre-cons, I'd like to have Luke Cage.
Subterranea Strike
This is a fun hand buff deck featuring Victoria Hand. The curve is a bit high, but playing high-power rocks sounds quite fun.
Subterranea Strike
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Agent Coulsen or Esme Cuckoo
IN: Moonstone or Moon Girl
I'm skeptical of Mole Man’s ability already, so the curve of this deck needs to be increased so you don't just end up with a bunch of 1-2 and 1-3 rocks.
Maximum Carnage
A classic destroy deck that comes along with an extra destroy trigger for 1 energy. No wonder they banned Nimrod!
Maximum Carnage
Substitution suggestions
OUT: Sabretooth
IN: Killmonger
Sabretooth is certainly a fun choice and he has a chance to be better here than in a ladder deck, but given the contents of the other decks, I definitely want Killmonger.
Scratch Decks
There is one dedicated deck slot for each Champion where you can build a deck with that Champion as a starting point, whether you own the Champion or not.
Grand Arena Surfer
Invisible Woman Arena
Herbie Grand Arena
Thing Grand Arena
Carnage PF Grand Arena
Thing Deathbird Grand Arena
Mole Man Hand Grand Arena
Banned Cards
Mode-Specific Strategies
The biggest impact on how this mode will play as opposed to ladder centers, not on the champions and their skill, but on the fact that you'll have 7 Energy on turn 6 (or 8 Energy on 7, Magik isn't banned!). Which cards can be played in combination with other cards on the final turn is one of the primary reasons Marvel Snap’s metagame develops in the manner it does. 6-Cost cards are less valuable if they are unable to affect multiple lanes or slam the door on your opponent. Now, they can be played alongside a 1-Cost in addition (or more if you avail yourself of the plentiful energy acceleration in Snap). 5-Cost cards have historically struggled since they can't be played out together with 2, 3, or 4-Cost which is where a lot of the interactive power in Snap lies.
Zabu has been one of the most powerful cards in Snap history specifically because he allows you to play powerful 4-Cost cards early and alongside other 3 or 4s on turn 6. Don't underestimate how much the new energy curve is going to shake things up. There is a solid justification for both Wiccan and Nimrod being banned. In addition to being able to play 4-Cost cards like Shang Chi and Enchantress more easily on the last turn, here are some combos to keep in mind.
This is a combo that I've already liked in the past with cards like Hope Summers. Now, Kitty Pryde or Demon plus an impactful 6 is available to any deck.
This combo being naturally available on turn 6 increases its value. Expect to see this a lot.
Is this cope or is it Ronan’s time to shine?
Juggernaut plus a tech card can create a deterministic win and now it's available without any discount required.
Final Thoughts
Grand Arena looks like a fun mode that will appeal to both new and experienced players. I am interested to see how the balance ends up feeling in the mode and if the meta can remain diverse. This has been a problem for past LTMs, so I hope one Champion doesn't become the obvious best one a day or two in. The event pass is a much more cleverly designed way to increase revenue from an event than the poor pricing design of Kid Omega and the rest of the shop feels attractive and accessible. Hopefully this can become one of Second Dinner's most successful modes and return in the future with new champions.