Marvel Snap has kicked off 2024 with a bang as its Planet Hulk season swiftly introduces two fresh cards. In the realm of Marvel Snap‘s Planet Hulk season, the Season Pass card spotlights Hulk’s offspring, Skaar, and his mother, Caiera, making their debut in tandem. Although these new additions bring intriguing abilities to the mobile card battler, there is a conspicuous counter within Marvel Snap that might prompt players to rethink incorporating Skaar into their deck. To navigate this potential challenge, a well-thought-out strategy becomes crucial to thwart opponents aiming to sideline Skaar.
In the tradition of Marvel Snap, new cards often debut with a hint of overpowering prowess, awaiting subsequent rebalancing by developer Second Dinner to align with the evolving meta. Notable Season Pass cards from recent times, such as Ms. Marvel and Elsa Bloodstone, emerged with formidable strength initially, necessitating significant adjustments post-launch. However, the latest Season Pass card appears to have a distinct counter, thanks to recent balance tweaks that strategically position a particular card to adeptly handle Skaar-centric decks.
Similar to his father, Skaar stands as a formidable 6-cost card boasting a Power of 11. His unique ability diminishes the card’s cost by 2 for every other card on the player’s side of the field with 10 or more Power. This designates Skaar as particularly advantageous in decks featuring other high-cost, high-power cards like Thanos, Giganto, or Magneto. However, embracing such a strategy exposes players to the potential threat posed by Marvel Snap‘s Shang-Chi, whose ability targets and obliterates all cards with 10 or more power at his location.
Despite the recent adjustment to Shang-Chi’s power threshold, increased from 9 to 10, Skaar and its associated cards remain vulnerable due to the inherent nature of Skaar’s ability. Players can employ various tactics to shield their 10+ Power cards from Shang-Chi’s assault, including the use of protective cards like Armor or Cosmo. Nevertheless, these defensive measures only extend to cards situated at a single location. Fortunately, Marvel Snap‘s Planet Hulk season introduces a card that seamlessly aligns with Skaar, offering the necessary protection to thwart Shang-Chi and safeguard a player’s strategic endeavors.
Caiera is a Must-Have Card for Protecting Skaar
It’s unsurprising that Caiera proves to be an excellent card for synergizing with her son, Skaar. Her Ongoing ability serves as a protective measure, preventing the destruction of all 1-Cost and 6-Cost cards on the player’s field. With a modest 3-Cost and 4-Power, Caiera’s ability becomes a valuable asset for decks facing threats from both Shang-Chi and Killmonger. Players aiming to incorporate Skaar into their decks would do well to secure Caiera from a Spotlight Cache, ensuring the additional protection required to handle opponents running Shang-Chi.
Another aspect to weigh when utilizing Skaar and Caiera is the anticipated role of Shuri decks in the current meta. Several key cards in Shuri decks, such as Typhoid Mary, Red Skull, and Attuma, boast a Power of 10 or more, creating a compatible pairing with Skaar in this deck archetype. However, given that most of these cards have Costs below 6, they won’t benefit from Caiera’s protective shield against destruction, leaving them susceptible to the threats posed by Shang-Chi.
