
The Marvel universe boasts a plethora of powerful, Hulk-esque characters, and now, Starbrand joins the ranks of 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, decks utilizing Starbrand often incorporate cards like Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress to mitigate the downside.
Shang-Chi single-handedly counters Starbrand, while synergies with Surtur are particularly potent. However, his 3-cost placement can be awkward, often competing with Surtur or Sauron for a spot in your deck.
Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
Starbrand integrates well into existing deck archetypes, namely Shuri Sauron and Surtur decks. Let's examine how he impacts these strategies:
Shuri Sauron Deck
Here's a sample decklist:
Zabu, Zero, Armor, Lizard, Sauron, Starbrand, Shuri, Ares, Enchantress, Typhoid Mary, Red Skull, Taskmaster [Click here to copy this list from Untapped.]
This budget-friendly deck (Ares is the only Series 5 card, easily replaceable with Vision) leverages Zabu's ability effectively. The strategy remains consistent: neutralize negative Ongoing effects with Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress; boost a lane with Shuri and a high-power card like Red Skull; and finally, copy that high power using Taskmaster. Zabu replaces Ebony Maw, offering more flexibility in playing Shuri alongside Starbrand or Ares on later turns. Starbrand's opponent power buff is less impactful given the high power plays, and Enchantress can negate it entirely.
Surtur Deck
Here's a sample decklist:
Zabu, Zero, Armor, Sam Wilson, Captain America, Cosmo, Surtur, Starbrand, Ares, Attuma, Crossbones, Cull Obsidian, Skaar [Click here to copy this list from Untapped.]
This deck is more expensive, featuring four Series 5 cards. Sam Wilson and Cull Obsidian synergize well, while Surtur and Ares are crucial for deck performance. Starbrand enables getting Skaar to 1 cost by playing him alongside Ares, Attuma, and Crossbones on turns 4 and 5. Zero mitigates the drawbacks of Starbrand and Attuma. The challenge lies in optimizing Starbrand's placement; ideally, play Surtur first and save Starbrand for a final turn alongside Zero and Skaar, although this isn't always feasible.
Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
Starbrand's viability remains uncertain given recent meta shifts with Agamotto and Eson. The effectiveness of Shuri Sauron and Surtur decks, even with Starbrand, needs further evaluation. Consider waiting a few days to observe his impact before investing resources.
Marvel Snap is available now.