Marvel Snap Unleashes Valentina, the Mastermind Manipulator

Valentina, a manipulative member of the Thunderbolts faction, arrives in Marvel Snap with the ability to add a random 6-Cost card to your hand, reducing its cost by -2 and power by -3. While her general effect makes her a tech support card, it complements certain decks like Loki Collector, where she provides bonus units and supports Power-stacking abilities with cards like The Collector, Cable, and Shang-Chi. However, Cosmo can nullify her On Reveal ability, and cards that fill your hand with units like Master Mold and Black Widow can counter her effectiveness.

Marvel Snap Introduces Valentina, the Master Manipulator

April 30, 2023

In the ever-evolving landscape of Marvel Snap, the Thunderbolts season draws to a close with the arrival of Valentina, one of the faction's most cunning and influential members.

Valentina: Agent of Deception

Born Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine, Valentina possesses no superpowers, yet her charm and sarcasm mask an ability to expertly manipulate those around her. In Marvel Snap, this translates into a unique skill that can drastically alter the course of a game.

Valentina's ability reads: "On Reveal: Add a random 6-Cost card to your hand. Give it -2 Cost and -3 Power." This ability provides a potential game-winning card, but it comes with a slight setback. The random nature of the card can be unpredictable, and the reduction in Power may require strategic compensation. Nonetheless, in the right hands, Valentina can be a game-changer.

Acquiring Valentina

Valentina is a Series Five card, available for 6,000 Tokens in the Weekly Spotlight section of the Token Shop from April 30 to May 7. She is also part of the four-card pool in the Spotlight Caches rotation for that week.

Strategy and Combos for Valentina Decks

Valentina's versatile ability makes her a valuable tech support card rather than a primary finisher. However, certain cards synergize exceptionally well with her:

• The Collector: Gains +1 Power for each card drawn or played from outside one's deck, maximizing Valentina's random 6-Cost card.
• Quinjet: Reduces the cost of cards that did not start in one's deck, further enhancing Valentina's card.
• Mockingbird: Costs -1 for each card in play not originally in one's deck, synergizing with Valentina's ability.

Recommended Valentina Decks

Loki Collector

A long-standing meta deck, Loki Collector finds new life with Valentina. Loki's ability remains pivotal, while cards like Collector, Snowguard, Mirage, Cable, and Agent Coulson benefit from Valentina's bonuses. The deck's primary finishers are Devil Dinosaur (gains +2 Power for each card in hand) and Shang-Chi (destroys all cards with 10+ Power).

Aggro Loki Collector

This variation emphasizes aggression, featuring Angela (gains +2 Power for each card played at her location) and Kitty Pryde (bounces back to hand with +1 Power). Jeff the Baby Land Shark provides further support, potentially increasing Angela's Power and aiding in difficult board situations.

Control Loki

This deck employs control effects to manipulate the opponent's board while maintaining offensive potential. Cosmo (prevents On Reveal effects), Baron Zemo (recruits opponent's lowest-cost card), and Elsa Bloodstone (gains +2 Power for cards played to fill a location) enhance the deck's strategic flexibility.

Countering Valentina Decks

Valentina's On Reveal ability makes her susceptible to Cosmo, who negates her effect. Cards that add multiple units to one's hand can also hinder Valentina, such as Master Mold (creates two Sentinels), Black Widow (creates Widow's Bite), and Baron Mordo (draws a card and sets its cost to 6).

Is Valentina Worth Acquiring?

If acquired through Spotlight Keys, Valentina can be a valuable addition to one's collection. Her random 6-Cost card can significantly impact the game's outcome, despite the Power reduction. However, those with limited Tokens, Credits, or Spotlight Keys may wish to consider saving their resources for more impactful cards, as Valentina's current applications are relatively niche.