I Prefer Vigilantes
This week's spotlight card is a facilitator that can help you draw and execute your ideal plan.
Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross was there for the creation of the Hulk, as he was chosen to oversee Bruce Banner’s ill-fated gamma bomb experiment. Ever since he's detested both the Hulk, with whom he developed a life-long obsession and Bruce, as a weakling that his daughter loves. Speaking of, we need a Betsy Ross She-Hulk card ASAP!
This is technically, the second Thaddeus in Snap, since he is the Red Hulk. While that card plays on his uncontrollable power as a gamma beast, the new card focuses on his military organization. He helps bolster your forces by pulling a big card out of your deck. For extra draw, go with the general, Thaddeus Ross.
What Decks Want Ross?
The conventional idea is that a deck like Surtur wants Ross, but those decks already play enough 10-Power cards and they're not usually especially picky about what order they come in. The reason Ross will be a valuable addition to Surtur decks is specifically to dig for Skaar. Games when you get Skaar are much easier than games when you don't. However, his ideal place will be in decks that have 1 or 2 big cards that they really need by the end of the game (like Heimdall). Being able to ensure you get your Magneto or She-Hulk or whatever key piece will feel more consequential than just pulling another non-Skaar 10-drop in a Surtur deck.
How Powerful is Ross’ Thinning?
Ross will also be valuable to decks that play a few 10s but want them thinned out to increase their chance to draw specific combo pieces (like Hela). Thinning and draw have traditionally been both powerful and rare in Marvel Snap. However, Ross’ thinning isn't guaranteed and is contingent on your opponent floating energy at least once after you've already put Ross on the board.
Imagine the following scenario in a Hela deck. You play Ross on 2, your opponent floats an energy on turn 5 so you draw your Infinaut via Ross. Hela is still in your deck. How much has Thaddeus increased your chance to get Hela with your final draw? Normally you would have three cards left in your deck giving you a 33% chance to get the Hela. Now, because Ross pulled a card, you have a 50% chance to get Hela.
Let's imagine you play Ross on turn two and your opponent immediately floats handing you Infinaut again. Your deck now has 6 cards left in it when it would normally have 7. Assuming Hela isn't already in your hand, your chance of drawing her has gone from 1 in 7 (about 14.2%) to 1 in 6 (about 16.7%).
Ross’ thinning is relevant, but hardly revolutionary. Is it enough to make up for playing a 2/2 instead of a better card with a different effect? I'm skeptical, but it's one of the primary reasons Ross has the low stats he does. Any stronger than 2/2 and he potentially becomes just straight upside.
Variant Gallery
Ross has a He Tianyou Spotlight variant, but the dapper gentleman from Rian Gonzalez is unbeatable!
ScoSco’s Day One Thaddeus Ross Decks
SamRoss
This deck has multiple game plans and Ross can help with all of them. Ross can help pull or thin for Skaar in Surtur>Hercules>Aero games. He can grab Heimdall to set up massive Kraven buffs on the final turn. He can also grab Magneto as a final turn bomb in games where Scream is our primary game plan.
Ross Surt
This is a straightforward Surtur list with a variety of protection. Iceman is here as one small way to try to increase the chances of our opponent floating energy, but you could swap Sam Wilson back in if it feels like your opponents are floating anyway.
Thaddeus Move
Magneto and Heimdall are again our final turn targets in this low-curve move deck. The thinning can also help with this deck's consistency if our opponent floats early.
Ross Hela
This Hela deck is built a little differently to try to take advantage of Ross to set up Black Knight, pull Black Cat out of the deck, or make sure we see Death in time to hit her with Lady Sif. If the deck thinning ends up somewhat reliable, Hela becomes one of the better homes for Ross, whether here or in a more standard Hela list.
Disruptive She Naut
This deck mixes a little extra disruption into a She-Naut build and tries to give us several end-game options. Black Swan is here to ensure we can manage our hand size (you may even use her early sometimes) and float the energy exactly when we need to, in addition to occasionally letting us play extra cards out alongside Hit-Monkey.
Hand Naut
Another potential 7-turn She-Naut list, this one gives extra buffs to any generated cards or Moon Girl copies with Victoria Hand. Wiccan means we can occasionally skip turn 5 and play both She-Hulk and Infinaut together on turn 6 even without Magik to give us an extra turn.
Final Thoughts
Thaddeus Ross has some utility and upside, but it may not make up for the opportunity cost used by putting him in your deck as opposed to a different card. His small 2/2 body gives him significant downside to overcome. The most promising builds are She-Naut decks and move decks with Heimdall. If you're planning on getting him as an upgrade for Surtur, I would hold off for now and see how the week develops. Ross is a relatively skippable card, but one that will appeal to players who want to build unusual, distinctly off-meta combo decks with his thinning as a facilitator or players who want to tinker and brew to find razor-thin hidden advantages. Blink and Nebula are both solid, underrated cards, so if you're missing either of those and you've got the extra keys this is a decent week to open.
