We are starting to count down the days until the Snap.Fan World Championship, a $3000 prize pool tournament with 64 of the strongest players in Marvel Snap, is held on March 9 and 10. Each player has qualified for this tournament entirely on merit, winning or finishing highly in the SFWC tournaments held over the past year or finishing in the Top 5 for February.
The SFWC is absolutely the strongest tournament Marvel Snap has ever seen. I'm delighted to have the four SFWC ladder qualifiers, Crazy, Batman99, DottGeo, and comiz, with me for an interview to share their experiences as some of the final qualifiers for this tournament and what it took to triumph over the challenges of the ranked Ladder once there were actual, immense stakes on the line.
Adding direct qualification for the Top 5 of February allowed players who have never played an SFWC event before a chance to participate in the SFWC. How did you approach laddering in February when you learned of this new incentive?
Crazy: Playing Marvel Snap for a year now, I had no interest in tournaments. With the advent of the leaderboards, I finished in the Top 15 every season. The guys on my team tipped me off the day after the tournament was announced that I could get in. That day, I was in seventh position on the leaderboard. A day later, I was already in first place, and until March 1, I held this position steadily. I wanted to get to the tournament, and I did it.
Batman99: Most of my ladder sessions weren't affected by SFWC, as I didn't plan to finish in the Top 5 this season. I only considered joining SFWC after I naturally hit Rank 1.
DottGeo: I love to grind up the Ladder, and I think the competitive part of every card game is why my passion for the game will remain on fire. I wanted to join this tournament to meet the best players all over the world.
comiz: I learned about this tournament two weeks ago, so I tried to find out how to qualify. Then, I discovered this mode. From that day on, I started climbing the rankings again.
What were the laddering strategies you used? (i.e., how much would you play? How long? Did you set daily/weekly SP targets?) What decks did you frequently use, and did you often see played against you?
Crazy: In February, I played about three hours a day. I didn't set any goals; I play for fun, and Marvel Snap is like a drug. The decks come in a wide variety, such as Destroy, Negative, Tribunal, Thanos, and Bounce. In February, I mostly played Thanos. For me, this deck has been the most effective deck that has brought me to Top 1 (as of now).
Batman99: I mostly stuck with my most comfortable deck, which I also believed to be the best deck at the time. That was none other than Thanos Lockjaw, which I could snap and retreat aggressively. It had a great matchup spread throughout the meta and beat every meta deck I regularly faced, be it Hela, Loki, Anni Bounce, or Destroy.
I didn't set a target SP because I believe the variance can't be controlled, and unnecessary pressure may be associated with it. There are days when you will lose no matter what you do. I tried to capitalize on my winning days while mitigating my losing days by taking a break if necessary.
DottGeo: When I want to gain SP, the primary strategy for me is playing when I feel focused and stopping when I feel I can't think much, counting everything out, etc. This seems stupid, but it's not; many times, you may lose 50-100 SP playing badly and continue to gain them back. I love playing Bounce, and I hate playing Loki. The season I had Top 1, I went all in with Thanos and my Anni Bounce deck, my love. I am a very flexible player. I can play all the archetypes, always trying to master new decks.
comiz: Honestly, I've never had a precise strategy for the Ladder. I've always played when I had the chance and the time... the only precaution I've always taken is to play little on the days when there is the "Hot Location" (especially the incisive ones) because I don't like to get into situations where all the games will be the same after all the beauty of Marvel Snap is the variety given by the Locations. However, I play for 2 hours daily, broken up into the day (from morning to evening). My favorite deck is Loki because I consider it a beautiful and funny card. After all, all the games are different from each other. For this meta (which means a lot of Thanos and Hela), I played one list with Morph, and I think this is one of the most underrated cards in this game, but with a specified meta (like this), it is a really good card.
How did adding actual stakes for the Ranked Ladder change how the games felt for you? How was the experience during the last few hectic hours of the laddering portion?
Crazy: On the last day, the Ladder went crazy. I had been Rank 1 for a few days now, and many players were stepping on my toes, which forced me to keep playing. I was unlucky and lost position at one point, but I got back up. It turns out I could have taken it easy. No one was able to beat my SP total that day.
Batman99: Even though most of my ladder sessions weren't affected by SFWC qualifications, the stakes and pressure could be felt when I decided to go for qualifications in the last few days. It was a challenging experience, and the qualification felt earned. I could tell it was the same for other competitors who fought for the SFWC qualification just from looking at the numbers on the leaderboard in the last few days.
DottGeo: It would be very good for the game if something were important for the Ladder. Gold, prizes, or anything else? I still don't know why there isn't any yet. Speaking about the last week of February, the Top 5 was close. Every Top 10 player wanted that qualification. It felt like the end of the season when everyone was trying hard for the final ladder position.
comiz: I've been very excited about this global ranking on the Ladder since the beginning. In fact, in the first season since it was introduced, I finished in the Top 5. However, enthusiasm has decreased over time due to the lack of prizes. The possibility of accessing this tournament has given me back this stimulus that I had lost a bit.
How does it feel to be a qualifier for the SFWC, which I personally believe to be the strongest Marvel Snap tournament we've had so far in terms of the participants playing?
Crazy: Like everyone else, I think this is probably the biggest tournament, with many strong players. I think I deserve it.
Batman99: Joining SFWC as my first tournament is something. I am excited to play against some of the best players in the world and will try my best to win.
DottGeo: It feels fantastic. I can't wait to play. This is important because global matchmaking isn't there yet, and everyone knows each other by name and some tournament winnings. This would be an incredible occasion to meet the greatest, even if they are not on your server.
comiz: I'm thrilled to have qualified for this fantastic tournament, mainly because the pool of qualified players is very high. I'm happy to compete with high-level people to test myself constantly.
What are your thoughts on the competitive scene in Marvel Snap? What would you like to see for more competitive Marvel Snap in the future?
Crazy: I would like more tournaments from the developers to support veterans and attract new players.
Batman99: I don't have an opinion on it yet, as SFWC is my introduction to the competitive scene in Marvel Snap. All I can say is having an official competitive scene would be exciting and something to look forward to.
DottGeo: I think every card game without the competitive part will dry soon. Fortunately, the Marvel Snap community is exceptionally good at organizing it by itself. Second Dinner is way too slow.
comiz: As for the competitive scene in Snap, I think it's still in its infancy. That is, it can still improve a lot. I have already participated in numerous tournaments, and I have noticed that the level continues to rise and the organization of the tournaments to improve... But what I would also like would be tournaments organized by the Second Dinner themselves. I believe that Marvel Snap is a game with a very high potential and can improve a lot from a competitive point of view.
Any tips or tricks you would have for anyone looking to emulate your success on the Ranked Ladder?
Crazy: You need to adjust to the meta. Watch what other players are playing and improve your deck to win the most. Get less distracted and think carefully about your future moves. And most importantly, I love this game.
Batman99: It may sound cliche, but snapping and retreating are undoubtedly the most critical parts of the game, no matter what deck you play. You need to be able to determine your good hands and capitalize on them while being able to move on from your losses, even if you snap beforehand. This is undoubtedly the key to success.
I recommend finding one deck you are comfortable with, preferably a competitive one where you know when to retreat and snap efficiently and stick with it. Having a good understanding of your deck gives you an edge in a match while changing decks when you are losing is a sign that you are lost and desperate.
DottGeo: Enjoy the game, and don't flame RNG. Always have good vibes, even when the game is scamming you. Always try new decks. I improved significantly when I mastered Bounce, even if the archetype is nearly dead now. Mastering Bounce more than any deck allows you to predict almost any opponent out on Turn 6, count the points, and make the moves.
comiz: I want to advise everyone to climb the Ladder, not to feel compelled to play the "top tier" decks, but to play what you like and enjoy the most. To scale, having a deck that is the same as the others is unnecessary. The important thing is the management of the cubes and the knowledge of the deck you use, so know all the possible interactions between the cards, especially with the Locations, which are a significant variable in this game.
Bonus: What is your favorite Marvel Snap card? What is a card would you like to see competitively viable that has been absent from competitive play?
Crazy: Galactus is probably my favorite card. When he appeared in the game, I dreamed about him very much. He has undergone many changes and doesn't perform as well as he used to; it's frustrating. He has, by far, the best animation in the game. I want Adam Warlock to find his place one day.
Batman99: My answer may change depending on the day, but if you ask me today, I would say Thanos just due to the flexibility his stones provided. I would love to see Legion making a return. I missed the extra layer of location scam and mind games he provide.
DottGeo: My favorite card is Nico Minoru. She is way too strong and flexible. (I have an insane split, too.)
comiz: My favorite card in this game is Kitty Pride. I've played Kitty Pryde a lot in the past, and I was a Bounce lover with Hit Monkey, Angela, Bishop... And I'm hoping for a potential buff to this archetype that has lost so much over time due to the release of new cards that have boosted other archetypes and the numerous nerfs received. Speaking of a card I've been loving lately is, as mentioned above, Morph because, thanks to its unpredictability, it can solve difficult situations.