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SNAP's latest season, Dark Avengers, introduces Iron Patriot as the premium Season Pass card. This two-Cost, three-Power On Reveal card adds a high-Cost card to your hand, potentially with a discount. As his ability suggests, Iron Patriot fits seamlessly into the classic card-generation archetype, reminiscent of the strategies that once propelled Devil Dino to the top of the meta. Here's the best deck to maximize Iron Patriot's potential in Marvel SNAP's current metagame.
Iron Patriot (2–3)
On Reveal: Add a random 4, 5, or 6-Cost card to your hand. If you’re winning here after the next turn, give it -4 Cost.
Series: Season Pass
Season: Dark Avengers
Release: January 7, 2025
The Best Deck for Iron Patriot
Iron Patriot shines in the card-generation archetype when paired with a Devil Dino and Victoria Hand deck. To replicate this synergy, team up the trio of Iron Patriot, Dino, and Victoria with these supporting cards: Sentinel, Quinjet, Valentina, Mirage, Frigga, Mobius M. Mobius, Moon Girl, Agent Coulson, and Kate Bishop.
| Card | Cost | Power |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Patriot | 2 | 3 |
| Devil Dino | 5 | 3 |
| Victoria Hand | 2 | 3 |
| Mobius M. Mobius | 3 | 3 |
| Sentinel | 2 | 3 |
| Quinjet | 1 | 2 |
| Moon Girl | 4 | 5 |
| Valentina | 2 | 3 |
| Agent Coulson | 3 | 4 |
| Mirage | 2 | 2 |
| Kate Bishop | 2 | 3 |
| Frigga | 3 | 4 |
You can replace Frigga with Cosmo if you're worried about the enemy's counterattacks.
Iron Patriot Deck Synergies
- Iron Patriot adds a discounted high-Cost card to your hand, fueling your strategy.
- Valentina, Sentinel, Mirage, Agent Coulson, Moon Girl, and Kate Bishop generate cards, helping to trigger Victoria Hand’s ability.
- Quinjet discounts the generated cards, making them easier to play.
- Frigga copies one of your cards, activating Victoria’s effect while potentially doubling a key ability like Iron Patriot’s.
- Mobius M. Mobius is a tech card that prevents opponents from altering your cards’ Costs.
- Devil Dino is the win condition, leveraging the cards in your hand to deliver powerful buffs.
How to Play Iron Patriot Effectively
Here are some tips to maximize Iron Patriot's potential:
- Play Iron Patriot to a surprise lane: Iron Patriot's discount activates only if you win his location on the following turn. Drop him in a lane your opponent is unlikely to contest early. Alternatively, combos like Ebony Maw + War Machine can secure his lane, though this might risk over-committing resources.
- Manage your hand size: If Devil Dinosaur is your win condition, carefully control your hand size. Play card generators only when your hand can accommodate their additions. For instance, avoid using Agent Coulson if your hand is already full.
- Focus on discounted duplicates: When using duplication effects like Moon Girl, aim to play her after benefiting from Iron Patriot's discount or other cost-reduction effects to maximize the value of the duplicates.
How to Counter Iron Patriot
Strategy-wise, you have two ways to respond to an Iron Patriot deck: Cost-manipulation and clog. Iron Patriot players need Energy and space (both in hand and on the board) to play effectively. Any card that interferes with these aspects of the gameplay will counter it.
Some good options to counter Iron Patriot are US Agent, Cosmo, Iceman, Wave, Sandman, and Shadow King. But you could also use the junk archetype’s cards, like Green Goblin and Hobgoblin, to disrupt the opponent’s strategy.
Given that most Iron Patriot decks utilize Victoria Hand, you could also go for a cheeky response with Valkyrie, which can remove the enemy’s critical buffs in one lane.
Is Iron Patriot Worth It?
Iron Patriot won’t redefine the meta like Arishem, but it’s a solid addition worth considering. Competitive players will find value in including Iron Patriot in their decks. However, it’s not the kind of card that justifies buying SNAP’s premium pass. F2P players can safely skip it and focus on Victoria Hand instead, as she enables the same card-generation archetype without depending on Iron Patriot.
