War Machine is an On Reveal card with a base Cost of four and a Power of six. In Marvel Snap, his unique ability protects against any restriction for one round. In other words, when he’s on the board, nothing can stop you from playing any card to any location—provided that you have enough Energy. In this guide, you learn how to play James Rhodes effectively and how to build the best deck for War Machine, his superhero alter ego.

cannonball card in marvel snap.
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The Best Deck for War Machine

best cards for war machine decks in marvel snap.

Based on its lockdown-escaping powers, War Machine works best in a Giganto-Crossbones lineup backed with The Infinaut & Black Knight duo. You can replicate this setup by uniting War Machine with the following cards: Zabu, Blade, Caiera, Jeff, Giganto, Crossbones, Ebony Maw, Lady Sif, The Infinaut, and Cull Obsidian.

Card

Cost

Power

War Machine

4

6

Giganto

6

14

Crossbones

4

8

The Infinaut

6

20

Cull Obsidian

4

10

Ebony Maw

1

7

Zabu

2

2

Black Knight

1

2

Lady Sif

3

5

Blade

1

3

Caiera

3

4

Jeff

2

3

Explore the deck synergies here:

  • War Machine allows you to play restrictive cards with no restrictions. After placing him on the board, you are good to drop Ebony Maw, The Infinaut, Cull Obsidian, Giganto, or Crossbones.
  • Blade and Lady Sif help create a backup plan by discarding one of the big cards (Giganto or The Infinaut) so Black Knight can absorb the Power.
  • Zabu discounts four-Cost cards’, allowing you to drop War Machine early.
  • Caiera protects your deck’s one-Cost and six-Cost attackers.
  • Jeff is a Joker card you can move at will to rearrange the board.

How to Play War Machine

war machine in marvel comics.

War Machine allows you to bypass location and card restrictions. Ideally, you use him to evade the limitations imposed by your own cards. For instance, deploying War Machine enables you to play Ebony Maw, Crossbones, or The Infinaut without adhering to their text limitations.

Here are some ideas for playing War Machine effectively:

  • War Machine into Infinaut: Normally, you must skip the fifth round to play The Infinaut. But that’s not the case if you drop War Machine in advance.
  • War Machine into Giganto or Crossbones: Giganto must be played to the left lane, and Crossbones must be played to the winning location. But with War Machine on the board, you can play them anywhere.
  • War Machine into Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian: War Machine allows Ebony and Obsidian to play together, irrespective of their text restrictions. So, with this trio, you can end the fifth round with 17 Power.

How to Counter War Machine

cosmo venomized variant in marvel snap.

War Machine can be countered with Cosmo. However, from a strategic standpoint, you can mitigate its effect by employing a clog or control strategy. By clogging your opponent’s lanes before they deploy War Machine, you limit their response options. Additionally, by manipulating their card positioning with a control lineup, you can disrupt their strategy before the final round.

Is War Machine Worth It?

war machine variant in marvel snap.

War Machine didn’t live up to the pre-release hype, with many players expecting it to end an era for lockdown decks. However, early statistics indicate that War Machine could indeed prove to be a valuable card, especially when incorporated into offensive lineups rather than being relied upon as a lockdown breaker. With this in mind, it’s fair to say that most players would benefit from including War Machine in their decks.

If you’re a lockdown player, War Machine is the ideal card for you. It enables you to maximize your power by liberating you from the self-imposed limitations of your lockdown cards.