Scarlet Spider is the last card to join Marvel Snap in The Amazing Spider-Season. He is an Activate character with the ability to create an exact clone of himself in one of the other two locations.
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Arana is Marvel Snap’s latest Activate card, which can help build up substantial power by buffing and moving other cards in this movement deck.
While Scarlet Spider may not be a META-shaking addition, he introduces interesting synergies that, while not overly effective, can be enjoyable to play. He has also revitalized Namora, an often-overlooked Power booster in Marvel Snap with significant potential. Here’s a sample deck for Scarlet Spider that leverages the fun of playing him while maintaining consistent performance.
Scarlet Spider (4–5)
Activate
: Add an exact clone of this to another location.Series
: Five (Ultra Rare)Release Date
: Sep 24, 2024Season
: The Amazing Spider-Season
The Best Deck for Scarlet Spider
In the current metagame, Scarlet Spider is a practical addition to a buff-oriented Namora-Gwenpool deck. To replicate this setup, combine this trio (Scarlet Spider, Namora, and Gwenpool) with the following cards: Shuri, Wong, Odin, Zabu, Forge, Phastos, Arana, Hulkbuster, and Symbiote Spider-Man.
Card | Cost | Power |
|---|---|---|
Scarlet Spider | 4 | 5 |
Nomara | 5 | 6 |
Gwenpool | 4 | 6 |
Shuri | 4 | 1 |
Wong | 4 | 3 |
Odin | 6 | 8 |
Symbiote Spider-Man | 4 | 7 |
Zabu | 2 | 3 |
Forge | 2 | 2 |
Phastos | 3 | 3 |
Arana | 1 | 1 |
Hulkbuster | 2 | 3 |
The goal in this deck is to hit Scarlet Spider with Shuri, Namora, Gwenpool, Forge, Arana, or Phastos buffs while maximizing these boosts with Wong, Odin, and Symbiote Spider-Man combos.
The Synergies of the Scarlet Spider Deck
- Namora and Gwenpool are the primary sources of buffs. If you use these cards on Scarlet Spider, you could potentially generate up to 32 Power on the board. (That is if Gwenpool targets Scarlet Spider three times.)
- Shuri, Forge, Phastos, and Arana function as support buff cards. In an ideal scenario, they can provide Scarlet Spider with additional Power before you activate him.
- Symbiote Spider-Man serves dual purposes: he merges into one card, freeing up space on the board, and retriggers one of the buff effects.
- Hulkbuster is included to prevent lane clogging. Since clone-based decks can be vulnerable to running out of space, he helps mitigate that issue.
- Zabu ensures that you can play multiple four-cost cards, as several key players in the deck cost four.
- Wong and Odin are included to double On Reveal effects and maximize the buffs from your cards.
How to Play Scarlet Spider Effectively
Scarlet Spider’s effect is quite similar to Mister Sinister’s. The only difference is that you get to decide when to summon or activate the clone, and—unlike Mister Sinister—Scarlet Spider’s clone goes to one of the other two locations.
A reliable strategy for Scarlet Spider is a buff-oriented play. You want to hit this card with as many Power boosters like Forge, Gwenpool, and Namora as possible so that his clone is a formidable spawn.
When playing Scarlet Spider, keep these important points in mind:
- Scarlet Spider’s Activate effect cannot be duplicated. A common mistake is trying to combine Symbiote Spider-Man with Scarlet Spider in hopes of doubling his effect. However, as noted by the developers, there’s currently no way to retrigger an Activate text.
- The Scarlet Spider clone will never spawn in the location of the base card. You cannot predict which lane the clone will land in unless one of the other two locations is already clogged.
- Scarlet Spider is not a reliable win condition. It’s wise not to invest all your Power in him, as he functions better as a backup card rather than a primary powerhouse.
How to Counter Scarlet Spider
The ultimate counter to Scarlet Spider is Shadow King. Additionally, you can neutralize his effect with Red Guardian, provided there aren’t any weaker enemy cards in his lane. Another potential counterplay is Shang-Chi, as he is likely to exceed ten power in most decks.
- Shadow King: Removes Scarlet Spider’s buff, keeping him a potential 4-10 drop.
- Red Guardian: Can remove Scarlet Spider’s text if he is the lowest-Power card in a lane.
- Shang-Chi: Could destroy Spider Scarlet when he has ten Power or more.
Is Scarlet Spider Worth It?
While not an essential card, Scarlet Spider is a worthwhile investment as he fits into multiple archetypes. Currently, his main drawback is being limited to only one clone, but this can be overcome by buffing him multiple times or hitting him with Arnim Zola.
One reviewer noted, “[Scarlet Spider] is solid; he’s mid-range. He is probably going to work in a lot of METAs. I also see a good and bright future for him.” Scarlet Spider could become one of the most sought-after cards if a card similar to Odin is introduced to double Activate effects. Nevertheless, even without such additions, he remains a consistent and practical choice in the current metagame.
