Learning to accept the RNG and not rage out
Living with Locations
Learning to accept the RNG and not rage out when Mindscape or Dream Dimension ruins your day
We've all been there. You've just put together a new deck you want to try, and you're dying to see that combo go off. Perhaps you've only got a few minutes for a game or two and you want to relax with some Snap or maybe you want to try and climb the ladder, finally make a bit of progress. Then bam, out of nowhere, Dream Dimension reveals and ruins your whole game plan and perfect combo. Sound familiar? All is not lost! Let's look at some of the more ‘popular’ locations and what to do when snap RNG has seemingly forsaken you.
Dream Dimension
I didn't want to play Sera this game anyway
Turn 1: You've got the perfect hand. This is it. Finally, the pieces have all come together. There’s no way they can beat this Black Panther combo.
Turn 2: Dream Dimension. Disaster. You hover over the retreat button. Out of spite, you decide to stay, but you've already checked out and drawn this one up as a loss.
Don't give up so quickly! Outside of playing Mobius M Mobius, this location disrupts both players equally. Identify early what deck they're playing and you can make a call as to how big the impact will be and whether it will favor your deck or theirs. For example, is it a lockdown deck? You're safe from Professor X this game. Play accordingly.
For your own deck, plan ahead for turn 5 so you're not left locked out of the turn. The more cards you play, the less efficient you are. You might need to play your cheaper cards earlier or save them for turn 6 to optimize your energy spending. This could look like holding and pairing your Deadpool with Carnage, or keeping Jubilee for turn 5 instead of turn 4.
Mindscape
Thank you for your Shang Chi
Mindscape is interesting because it can dramatically change the play styles of both players. You're kind of in a race to see who can give the most unhelpful cards to the other on the final turn. It can be a lot to keep track of, but besides minimizing the good stuff you give to them, you have to remember them after they're gone (our deck tracker [link] can help with that). Can what you've given them beat you? You will both draw one card from your own deck, so there's one wildcard, but the rest is known. As best you can, avoid giving them answers to your own cards.
Be careful with Black Widow. If you give your opponent a Widow’s Bite on turn 5, you will block yourself from drawing your final card.
Finally, if Limbo is in play, you don't swap back on turn 7. They have two turns to use your cards!
Weirdworld
I didn't want to play with my cards anyway..
Here you have a unique opportunity to mix together your decks! There's the possibility for combos you wouldn't normally be able to pull off here. Be creative with combining the cards together. Your opponent won't know if you draw their win condition, and if the location gets changed, they might still be hoping to draw it. Holding it so they don't know their outs can be quite powerful. While this location is in play, keep track of how many cards they've played from their own deck and how many of your cards they've taken to reduce surprises.
Some important aspects to keep in mind, if you play cards like Rockslide and shuffle rocks into the opponent's deck, while you will be powering up your Darkhawk, you will also have a chance to draw those rocks.
Also, effects that don’t draw from the deck, such as Jane Foster, will take cards from your own deck, reducing your opponents draws.
District X
We have draft mode at home
Ok, I get it. If you didn't want to use your deck you wouldn't have queued up with it. But so did your opponent. Literally anything could be in your deck now. You could even draw Agatha and suddenly lose all control. It's almost like a new game mode. Enjoy the small break and challenge in putting together the best that you can, with what's given. It's kind of like a blind draft. Like Weirdworld, keep track of how many ‘real’ cards your opponent has played. Surprises are usually held for turn 6. You can't play around random cards, but you can make some guesses about the potential maximum power.
Ego
Ego = Snap
There's really only two things to do here. One, immediately snap, close your eyes and hold on for dear life while ego takes the wheel, or two, see if one of the turns is particularly favorable for you, either before or after the reveal and try to push your opponent out of the game. Fair warning though, some may stay just because it's Ego.
Closing thoughts
These locations can be highly disruptive, but it's important to keep in mind that this is actually just part of a normal game of snap. The game is not out to get you. Adapting to these situations is one of the key elements of the game. Sometimes all three locations will work against you and there's not much you can do about that, but try to navigate it as best you can. Over time, you're equally likely to see the same thing happen to your opponent. Also, these locations open up potential play lines that wouldn't normally be possible or recommended, which can be a refreshing change.
Finally, if you really don’t like these locations, or your deck is easily disrupted, consider cards that can change a location such as Storm, Legion or Thanos' reality stone. Once your opponent has settled in to trying to optimize their play around one of these locations, pulling the rug out from underneath them can be quite powerful.
Happy snapping!