The Marvel universe boasts a roster of powerful, Hulk-like characters, and now, Starbrand joins the fray in Marvel Snap. Let's dive into the best Starbrand decks currently available.
Jump To:
- How Starbrand Works in Marvel Snap
- Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
- Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
How Starbrand Works in Marvel Snap
Starbrand is a 3-cost, 10-power card with the ability: “Ongoing: Your opponent has +3 Power at each other location.” Unlike Mister Fantastic, this effect isn't limited to adjacent locations; Starbrand grants power to every location except the one he's on. Because of this Ongoing effect, successful Starbrand decks often incorporate cards like Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress to mitigate the downside.
Shang-Chi single-handedly counters Starbrand, while synergies with Surtur are exceptionally strong. However, his 3-cost placement makes him tricky to integrate into many decks, often competing with Surtur or Sauron for the same slot.
Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
Starbrand fits surprisingly well into a couple of established deck archetypes: Shuri Sauron and Surtur. Let's explore how he impacts these strategies:
Shuri Sauron Deck
This budget-friendly deck features only Ares as a Series 5 card (easily replaceable with Vision). It leverages Zabu for added flexibility compared to traditional move cards.
- Zabu
- Zero
- Armor
- Lizard
- Sauron
- Starbrand
- Shuri
- Ares
- Enchantress
- Typhoid Mary
- Red Skull
- Taskmaster [Click here to copy this list from Untapped.]
This deck's strategy is familiar: neutralize the negative effects of Ongoing cards with Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress; boost a lane with Shuri into a high-power card like Red Skull; and finally, copy that power with Taskmaster. Zabu offers an advantage over the traditional Ebony Maw inclusion, allowing for more flexible turn-ending plays with Shuri, Starbrand, or Ares. Starbrand's opponent-buffing effect is less impactful when playing this tall, and Enchantress can negate it entirely.
Surtur Deck
This deck is more expensive, featuring four Series 5 cards. Sam Wilson and Cull Obsidian synergize well, while Surtur and Ares are crucial components.
- Zabu
- Zero
- Armor
- Sam Wilson
- Captain America
- Cosmo
- Surtur
- Starbrand
- Ares
- Attuma
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Skaar [Click here to copy this list from Untapped.]
Starbrand allows for efficient curve plays, potentially reducing Skaar's cost to 1 by turn 5. Zero mitigates the drawbacks of Starbrand and Attuma. However, mastering the timing of Starbrand's play is crucial, often saving him for the final turn alongside Zero and Skaar.
Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
Starbrand's viability is still uncertain. Recent power spikes from cards like Agamotto and Eson have significantly altered the meta. The effectiveness of Shuri Sauron and Surtur decks remains to be seen. Consider waiting a few days to observe his performance before investing resources.
Marvel Snap is available now.
