5 awesome cards to use at Marvel SNAP’s Featured Location, Altar of Death

Our exploration of Marvel SNAP‘s The Savage Land season continues with this week’s Featured Location, the Altar of Death. Featured Locations, for those unaware, typically change over on Tuesdays and make a specific location more likely to appear. They are usually worth some deck adjustments if you’re looking to win some matches. Let’s take a look at some great cards to use while Altar of Death is the Featured Location, though all of these cards will work to your benefit whenever you encounter Altar of Death in the future.

What is the Altar of Death? What’s the key to winning when the Altar of Death is up?

In Marvel Comics, the Altar of Death appeared in 1968’s Incredible Hulk #110. A run-in with the big green guy weakens Kazar to the point that the Swamp Men can capture him. They take him to the Altar of the Death to sacrifice him to their gods. Although it is called the Altar of Death, it couldn’t refer Lady Death as she wasn’t introduced until 1973. Kazar escapes and find a de-Hulked Bruce Banner who has been exposed to a lethal dose of radiation from Umbu, the Unliving. 

In Marvel SNAP, the Altar of Death functions like the Death’s Domain Location (When you play a card here, destroy it) except that Altar of Death gives +2 Energy bonus in return for destroying the cards. This provides a natural ramp component, letting you cheat out more expensive cards much earlier than normal. Many of same cards and strategies that we saw with Morag will again be useful here.

Great cards to use on Altar of Death

Deadpool

Altar of Death gives you a way to kill Deadpool over and over again. You will double his power and get +2 Energy each turn you play him on the Altar. The entire Destroy package works well with the Featured Location. Death (Costs 1 less for each card destroyed this game) gets her cost reduced by cards both players’ Destroy, and Knull (Ongoing: Has the combined Power of all cards destroyed this game) gets the power from both players’ destroyed cards. Winter Solider from Bucky (When this is destroyed, create the Winter Soldier in its place) will stick at Altar of Death, and Sabretooth (When this is destroyed, return it to your hand. It costs 0) gets the cost reduction.

Electro

Altar of Death let’s you keep the +1 Energy from Electro’s On Reveal, takes care of his downside, and gives you +2 Energy the next turn to boot. That’s a fantastic play. By turn three, you’ll know if you have Altar of Death in your Location pool and where it is. Psylocke works similarly, and grants you a total of +3 Energy (1 from her On Reveal and 2 from the Location). If you drop Psylocke on turn two, you can play a 6 Energy card on turn three. If you’re fortunate enough to have pulled Galactus, you can play him on turn three.

Jubilee

Jubilee is a great way to get some cards to stick at Altar of Death. You play Jubilee and Altar of Death will destroy her, but whatever card she summons will not get destroyed. In a similar way, Mister Sinister (On Reveal: Add a Sinister Clone to this location with the same Power) and Brood (On Reveal: Add 2 Broodlings to this location with the same Power) can help put some power into the Altar of Death lane. The card still gets the destroyed but the Sinister Clone or Broodlings summoned don’t.

Vision

Viz is a flexible card that can keep your opponent guessing. At some point, you can move him to Altar of Death to get 7 power into the lane. Barring something like the aforementioned Jubilee or Brood, it is going to be difficult for your opponent to counter. Captain Marvel (At the end of the game, move to a location that wins you the game. (If possible)) is a similar effect, but you don’t have control over her.

Armor

Armor is a great way to counter an opponent hoping to take advantage of the Location. Once Armor is in place, Altar of Death can’t destroy cards or give out bonus Energy. Since card effects fire before the Location, Armor will also protect itself from being Destroyed. Colossus (Ongoing: Can’t be destroyed, moved, or have its Power reduced) is another card that can’t be destroyed. He won’t stop your opponent from leveraging Altar of Death, but he can get you some power into the lane.

Others receiving votes:

• She-Hulk
  • She-Hulk is a great card in ramp decks, and with all the free Energy you’ll have from Altar of Death, she can hit the board even faster than normal
• Hood
  • You get rid of his -1 Power, get +2 Energy, plus you have the 6 Power Demon token in your hand. Use it wisely.
• Professor X
  • You can take advantage of the Ramp to get Professor X out early. He will shut down Altar of Death and prevent your opponent from playing any cards there. Just be sure you have you will have a lead because you won’t be able to play anymore cards there either.

What are your ideas?

Destruction and ramp are the name of the game with Altar of Death. Whether it is in your Location pool due to the event, or just one of the randomly chosen ones after the event, hopefully these cards and tips help you win! Keep in mind that even as the Featured Location, there will still be matches that you don’t see Altar of Death. Make sure your deck is flexible enough that you don’t have to retreat if you don’t get Altar of Death in your Location pool.

What other great cards have you used with Altar of Death? Let us know in the comments.