THENA

[kingts]

The mighty Eternals are almost here as June kicks off the inclusion of the gods in the marvel universe. We may see one day an Eternals 2, you never know with the MCU, for now lets get to the first spotlight cache for June. This tread like always is to discuss the cards. Keep it on topic.
Jun 4-11th

Again I warn not to go beyond 1-KEY as I always advice you should be stacking you keys to a minimum of 3-4 or higher. It is wise to let things settle before rushing in.

https://marvelsnapzone.com/cards/thena/

THENA-Very interesting dynamic, not a difficult one to pull off to get full advantage of +3 power each turn, if you plan right that on curve mechanic. This is right up Bounces alley, but can also fit several archetypes that ramp and allow multiple card usages in a turn. Thena like Angela, Bishop, and other can really force attention into the lane she moves into. You can even manipulate this further if the game is stretched to 7-turns. She is can continue even after Shadow King reduces her down if played on her too early. I tell why Thena will be dangerous, because she will have other support cards that can do the same thing in other lanes, were players will have to pick and choose their target lanes carefully. She is not a finisher. Lastly, +3 power is not something to sneeze at because she can make up the differentials in a lane due to the flooding of power cards placed in the game. Her drawback is simply bad deck constructs that out of sequence do not allow you to take advantage of multiple cards played in a turn. She could have great potential in this game as more cards are introduced to help her. A fine base card by Mello, and an additional variant by Tomaselli that is basically a portrait.

GLADIATOR-I have given my take on gladiator in past spotlights. One of the best 3-cost cards in the game, why, forget the ability, just 8 power at the 3-cost is difficult to deal with and even if he draws the big card, can be a huge advantage to early destruction to secure that lane. He also fits perfectly in Mill or recruit themes were you simply obliterate your opponents deck draw in six turns. That being all said, he is dropping in the Meta, and his win/rate is awful when drawn. He is about fitting the right structured archetype with a very thin line, whether Destroy, Recruit, Surfer, Loki, or whatever. With Yondu, Cable, and Zemo, a very dangerous deck construct, but I do not see him getting buffed, or becoming Meta prevalent unless he gets more support in the themes you see. He is simply not good late. There is simply too much power being dumped into the meta that negates his importance. Good card to get and try in your decks if you don't have him. A fine new Ryan Benjamin entry for a new Variant if you have him.

GRAND-MASTER-a major miss in my opinion that truly does not fit what that brand is. The ultimate game master is nothing of the sort with lousy stats even after his slight buff. He simply is not necessary in Meta deck constructs. You don't want to waste turns to double effects early that have no impact in the match and can kill you in the lane played for the cost differential switch. The corner plays in his mechanic never made any sense, and can be problematic moving what your On Reveal to the center. He is too niche, too situational, and boring. At 189 rank, with a lousy 47.9 % win/rate and terrible cube share. People just don't want to utilize him in any way and he kills you out of sequence. He also can be crippled by on board location effects. You get him in your one key, it is to collect him. He may improve with more low cost On reveal effects that come, but he should be a 1-cost with a solid power stat line that when replacing those corners helps, not hurts those lanes. A new variant by Ryan Benjamin to add to your collection.


I will be trying for Thena, simply to experiment with new deck constructs. if you do not have Gladiator, not a bad addition and I think Grand Master needs a rework. Be smart with your keys gang, some better options to come, but you do you.

Have a great week my comrades. Enjoy your Snapping. Cheers

[Lady MacBeth]

I too am thinking of opening for Thena. Though I prefer to open on weeks when I can get a second card, she looks too promising.

[Zlehtnoba]

Does she works on the turn you play her? She should.

Her biggest problem might be that you really want her on turn three. On five, she is at most 2/7, and turn six is often a single card. Or more than two.

Definitely an interesting card, I love that this offers new deckbuilding challenges and is not obviously broken.

[groovador]

pretty excited for all the cards this month, they all seem really fun imo.


thena seem insane to me. playing only 2 cards a turn isn't that restrictive and is very doable in those angela-esque decks that she'll probably go in. plus, the fact that you don't have to play those cards to her location makes it a lot easier.

[DiscoShark]

I'm skipping this entire month.

[groovador]

well damn, she took 4 keys from me.


i have 9 keys left and i really wanted all other cards this month. certainly i can make it, right? ... right?

[Si]

Originally posted by Zlehtnoba:

Does she works on the turn you play her? She should.

Her biggest problem might be that you really want her on turn three. On five, she is at most 2/7, and turn six is often a single card. Or more than two.

Definitely an interesting card, I love that this offers new deckbuilding challenges and is not obviously broken.

Yes she works on the turn you play her.

[Taweret]

Phastos looks like best card this season to me, but all these cards looks really generic and bland art direction wise, so im not very excited. arishem looks like fun design card, but im afraid he might be unplayable in this state, since you are going to play random junk. most of decks can fill whole board with consistent strategy and good cards in 6-7 turns, while hes going to fill your board with random crap that might even have anti-synergy like discard etc.
i dont think that even +2 energy would even save this card, i wonder if he was play tested or anything.

the next season hydra bob looks like a good spotlight to pick. thanos is good too but i own already him + cull. so my advice for new players, save your keys for next month.

next month ed-mcguinness variant of red hulk is awesome too, i wish they added lady liberators variants, from the same comic.

[Blind Reverend]

So far a very strong card. Got it to 10+ power in most of the games and with Ravonna it is a 1 cost card.

[Lady MacBeth]

Went ahead and rolled on her just now. Got her in the 2nd key. Got the modok variant first. Woulda preferred that grandmaster variant but obviously not spending keys on it. Just woulda been okay with it as a happy accident.

[kingts]

Yes she is pretty strong and flexible. Hope people got their target cards, including Gladiator. Small sample size, but see how she is in a week.

[Koori_89]

Thena is a really good card. With good deck building she can be amazing, if you draw her. The card plays the best when you can play decent cards with little to no gimmicks on each turn on the premise of 1+2 , 2+2, 3+1, 4+1, 5+1, 4+2 costs, the high tempo then allows Alioth to do what he does best, Hope and Kitty just slap with support. Its one way to look at this, I'm just sharing. Use whatever you want.

[Zlehtnoba]

Yes, a good card, she mostly gets to 10 power, which is a lot. I did have a few last turns where I wanted to play three cards but didn't because of her. Ravonna-Prof-Cannonball is even better now, with Thena to help with the locked location.

[kingts]

FInal review of Thena

She has dropped in the rankings to around 62 rank, but is a much better card than that rank.
A solid 55.9% win rate in very precise deck constructs. Thena kind of replaced Angela, but her cube share of .30 isn't great. Like Havok and Bishop she struggles to dominate her lane, but much easier to use than I thought she would be to activate her ability.

She is a card mechanic that we have seen before and may get better with more cards coming. She was to me the best Eternal so far with Arishem tbd. What was your take

[Zlehtnoba]

Good, marginally broken. Perhaps even a bit too strong, at least before the Angela nerf. Interesting card, making you plan your plays in advance, posing some interesting questions.