Marvel Snap introduces players to a brand-new mobile card game that features all of their favorite characters, items, and machines from the Marvel universe. With an intricate system of combined mechanics, Marvel Snap is particularly intriguing to a range of players from casual to competitive. The ranked system also allows players to climb through different levels. This system features 11 ranks: Recruit, Agent, Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Vibranium, Omega, Galactic, and finally Infinite.
The game features a "Snap" mechanic allowing players to gamble their points and double the amount they may win or lose. Understanding this mechanic is a large part of succeeding in the ranked system, but doesn't actually affect how players may play the game. This guide will give players a better understanding of how they may reach the top rank of Infinite whilst fully understanding the complicated web of mechanics that are at play.
Become Familiar With Key Mechanics
Marvel Snap features a range of mechanics that the player must learn and master if they hope to reach the level of Infinite. It's likely that by the time players hit gold/platinum, they will be able to understand and utilize all the key mechanics. These include:
- Destroy
- Discard
- Move
- Ongoing
- On Reveal
- Power and Energy
- Locations
Although some of these seem fairly obvious, as players move into pools 3 and 4, mechanics such as "move" become a lot more prevalent and can become a real challenge to overcome when first faced with cards such as Dagger and Heimdall. As well as this, locations feature their own mechanics, and new ones are introduced to the game regularly. After a small break, there may be a few that seem unfamiliar. Thus, it's crucial for players to keep updated with the changes.
Master Pool 1, 2, and 3 Cards
Marvel Snap uses card pools to introduce the player to new cards over time. In total, there are now five pools of cards for players to unlock as they move through the collector levels. Pools 1 and 2 are the initial cards that players will use to build their deck. As players reach pool 3, the roster of cards available becomes much more complex and the endless combination of cards starts to become far more obvious.
After pools 1,2 and 3, the mechanics of the game become less defined. A meta has not yet been solidified among the cards in pools 4, 5, and 6. This means players must become familiar with the cards in the lower pools, and begin predicting combinations and plays that the enemy may utilize to break down their deck.Without this base knowledge and understanding, it will be extremely difficult to begin mastery of the higher pools.
Perfect And Personalize A Deck
Many players will create a new deck of amazing cards and wonder why it isn't working for them. A far better approach to the game is to become comfortable with a deck and slowly replace cards when necessary.
By playing with the same cards repeatedly, the player will slowly learn which combinations work well (and which ones don't). The synergy between cards is a large part of what makes Marvel Snap a unique experience, and learning these mechanics organically is usually a more effective way of getting to know the game.
It may be tempting to copy a deck online, but be aware that there may be a lot of intricacies that make each deck work. When starting out with an entirely new deck, the player will be unaware of this and may find it frustrating. In the long run, sticking with a deck that works for the player is more beneficial. They can then slowly replace cards as they unlock them and figure out which new cards work well with their preferences.
Know When To Snap
As mentioned before, the "Snap" mechanic in the game is arguably the central feature that makes Marvel Snap stand out from other games in the genre. By including this mechanic, players can determine how much they want to invest in each game.
Knowing when to Snap is crucial for progressing through the ranked system. If both players snap at some point in the game, they may win or lose 8 points. This is almost an entire rank (10 points). Players should only snap if they are certain their cards will win two locations, rather than snapping on a whim.
This is the main reason that players trying to progress to Infinite are struggling. Although this method may mean players progress much slower through the ranks, it will make de-ranks much less likely.
Know When To Retreat
Alongside snapping comes retreating. Although it may seem like a loss when retreating, it can save players from losing a large number of points when unnecessary. If the opponent plays are card and snap, it's likely they are certain of a win. This is especially noticeable at higher ranks when players are more clued into key mechanics.
Essentially, retreating is not bad. Knowing when to snap and retreat is crucial, and combining knowledge here will put the player in a great position for rising to Infinite.
Play A Selfish Game
As the player learns and adapts their deck, it becomes apparent which cards work well together to give the highest score at two locations. This means the player should always play to the strength of their hand, rather than reacting and biting on the enemy's moves.
The enemy likely has their own game plan in mind, and reacting to their moves may show flaws in the player's own game. Try not to retaliate against the enemy's moves if the plan is working. They may have a final move such as a Hulk or Shang-Chi that will make the retaliation play worthless.
Check Homepage For Featured Locations
Finally, players should keep an eye on the home page as there are some crucial announcements here that can affect the way players set up their deck. Featured locations are changed out every few days - these are usually new locations but can sometimes be old ones.
Before jumping into a match, check to see if there is a featured location and cater the deck to make the most out of this location. For example, if the featured location is the Gamma Labs, bringing a few one-cost cards and Iron Man can almost guarantee an easy win here.
Ultimately, practice makes perfect in most circumstances - the same can be said about Marvel Snap. Players who are used to card games similar to Snap may take less time to reach the top ranks. However, for those who are new to fast-paced card games, there will likely be a slight learning curve.
Marvel Snap is available on iOS, Android, and PC.