The Marvel universe is no stranger to powerful, Hulk-like characters, and the latest addition to *Marvel Snap* is Starbrand. Here's a detailed look at the best Starbrand decks for players eager to harness his power.
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 formidable 3-cost, 10-power card with an ongoing ability that reads: "Ongoing: Your opponent has +3 Power at each other location." Unlike cards like Mister Fantastic, which only affect adjacent locations, Starbrand impacts all other locations, presenting a unique challenge. To counter this, players often pair Starbrand with cards like Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress to mitigate the power boost to the opponent.
While Starbrand can be hard-countered by Shang-Chi, he synergizes well with Surtur. However, fitting him into decks at the 3-cost slot can be tricky, as players might prefer Surtur or Sauron instead.
Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
Starbrand seamlessly integrates into two established deck types: Shuri Sauron and Surtur. Although Shuri Sauron has seen a dip in popularity, Starbrand might just be the catalyst to bring it back into the meta:
Shuri Sauron Deck:
- 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, with Ares as the only Series 5 card, can be adjusted by swapping Ares for Vision. Utilizing Zabu's ability, the deck removes negative effects from Ongoing cards using Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress, then buffs another lane with Shuri into cards like Red Skull. Taskmaster copies the high power, securing the win. Starbrand's drawback is less impactful in this tall strategy, and Enchantress can neutralize his effect while potentially hitting an opponent's Ongoing card.
Surtur Deck:
- Zabu
- Zero
- Armor
- Sam Wilson
- Captain America
- Cosmo
- Surtur
- Starbrand
- Ares
- Attuma
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Skaar
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This deck is more costly, featuring four Series 5 cards. The synergy between Sam Wilson and Cull Obsidian, combined with the power of Surtur and Ares, drives its effectiveness. Starbrand enables a 1-cost Skaar by turn 6, following plays with Ares, Attuma, and Crossbones. Zero helps mitigate Starbrand's and Attuma's downsides. The key to success is timing Starbrand's play, ideally after Surtur and alongside Zero and Skaar on the final turn.
Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
Starbrand's viability in the current meta, with powerful additions like Agamotto and Eson, remains uncertain. The Shuri Sauron deck might struggle to compete, and the Surtur deck's place in the meta is questionable after recent nerfs to Aero and Skaar. It's advisable to wait a few days to see how Starbrand impacts the meta before investing your Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens.
And those are the best Starbrand decks in Marvel Snap.
Marvel Snap is available to play now.
