Marvel Snap: 7 important beginner tips

We'll help you understand Marvel Snap better so you can rank up faster

Marvel Snap is one of the best mobile card games on the market, with a huge player base and fast-paced gameplay, all packed with familiar characters from the Marvel Universe. You only use 12 cards to build a deck, but every game feels fresh and fun.

In this guide, we’re breaking down some essential beginner tips, including how to get the cards you need. There are five pools of card drops, and you can get all the cards from pools one to three, but you will need to save in-game currency to buy the cards from the top pools.

Don’t worry, you won’t need to spend any money if you don’t want to. This beginner's guide will help you understand the game better and achieve a higher rank while on the path to getting the best cards.

Master a deck

The Devil Dino deck :: Marvel / Nuverse

When you start the game you will be given a set of cards. Start playing games and your collection will increase, and then you will get new cards to play with. The moment you get Devil Dinosaur start using a deck with him. He is one of the strongest cards you will get at the beginning of the game, and it will get you up to pool three in no time.

Get to Pool Three as fast as possible

The game really kicks off when you hit collection level 486 :: Marvel / Nuverse

As previously mentioned, Marvel Snap has five pools of cards based on the collection level.

• Pool One – Collection Level 18 – 214
• Pool Two – Collection Level 222 – 474
• Pool Three – Collection Level 486+ (Uncommon cards)
• Pool Four – Collection Level 486+ (Rare cards)
• Pool Five – Collection Level 486+ (Ultra Rare cards)

The game really starts when you hit pool three, the decks become diverse, and the gameplay gets far more interesting. Once you reach pool three, you can start building decks to use in the upper tiers.

Pick the most versatile cards with your monthly free card

Doctor Doom, Mystique, Magik, She-Hulk, and Death are some of the most versatile cards in the game :: Marvel / Nuverse

Not all cards have the same impact, so when you have the chance to pick a new one, always look for the most versatile cards, such as Doctor Doom, Mystique, Magik, She-Hulk, and Death, or deck-defining cards like Patriot, Cerebro, Venom, and Shuri. 

Don’t be afraid to Snap

Don’t snap on turn six, though :: Marvel / Nuverse

Snap is a mechanic where you double the number of cubes you can win or lose at the end of the game, with a maximum of eight cubes. If neither player snaps by the end of the game, the winner gets only two cubes; one snap nets four cubes, and if both snap, you can get up to eight cubes. If you have a good opening hand with your most important cards, you can snap right away. Don’t snap on turn six, though, as foes will most likely retreat.

Get to know the meta decks

Knowing the current meta and popular decks you are likely to face at your level is key :: Marvel / Nuverse

You’ll get matched with people with a collection level similar to yours. Know what decks are popular at your level and assess whether it might be better to cut your losses and retreat. The meta changes every week, as do the most popular decks.

Winning lanes

When you're winning two lanes, focus on getting the third one too, as your opponent will try to snatch one of the other two :: Marvel / Nuverse

If you are winning two lanes by round six, focus on winning the third lane as your opponent will try to get one. If the points are close, try figuring out what cards they might use depending on the deck they are playing. When in doubt you can always Retreat Later.

Retreat if in doubt

Knowing when it's time to Retreat can be hard if you're new to Marvel Snap :: Marvel / Nuverse

If you want to get to higher ranks and into the leaderboard you will need to up your retreat game. There is no point in risking those precious cubes if you are not sure of the outcome. This might be the hardest tip to master, as you will need a lot of experience and knowledge to make the right choice. It’ll come with experience, just try to be as aware as possible of the latest meta changes so you can anticipate what your opponents will do.