Marvel Snap: Mastering Joaquin Torres's Deck Potential

Until recently, Joaquin Torres Falcon was a mystery to me too. But discovering his unique origins—a falcon-human hybrid from experimental tampering—along with his impressive healing and mental link to Sam Wilson via Redwing, instantly grabbed my attention.

While we won't delve into his full backstory here, you're probably more interested in whether he's worth your spotlight keys. Let's cut to the chase!

Table of Contents

• What Does He Do?
• What Are the Best 1-Cost Cards to Pair with Torres?
  • Tier 1 – Top Choices
  • Tier 2 – Solid Options
  • Tier 3 – Less Effective
  • Special Cases
• How Should We Use Him?
• Day One Decks to Try
  • Falcon's Power
  • Diamondback
  • Time to Mill
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What Does He Do?

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Torres' ability is straightforward and effective: he doubles the effect of all 1-cost cards with "On Reveal" abilities. Think of him as a Wong, but exclusively for 1-cost cards.

What Are the Best 1-Cost Cards to Pair with Torres?

There are currently 23 1-cost cards with On Reveal effects. Here's a tiered list for pairing them with Torres:

Tier 1 – Top Choices

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Cards like Blade and Yondu have specific uses, and doubling their effects can be game-changing. These cards offer immense power, especially when combined with another Falcon to bounce them back to your hand.

Tier 2 – Solid Options

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These cards are strong additions, though perhaps not as impactful as Tier 1. Collector gets massively buffed, Devil Dinosaur grows larger with Agent 13 or Maria Hill, and Mantis shines. America Chavez isn't guaranteed, but remains viable.

Tier 3 – Less Effective

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Cards like Squirrel Girl might fill lanes late-game, but generally don't synergize well with Torres' strategy. Overloading the board isn't ideal.

Special Cases

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Nico Minoru's powerful On Reveal is incredible doubled, but not always consistent. Basic Arrow is strong with Torres, but requires multiple steps, making it less reliable. Thanos, while not 1-cost, introduces six 1-cost cards (five with On Reveals), offering interesting possibilities.

How Should We Use Him?

Discussions around 1-cost cards often focus on Bounce mechanics—Torres' strength. He shines in bounce decks. Applications outside of bounce are more limited. While established lists may not have space, consider him in Discard or Mill decks for extra discards/mill effects with Yondu.

Combining him with a Moonstone/Victoria Hand hand-generation deck could also be effective, boosting Collector significantly with just one Agent 13 or Maria Hill.

Day One Decks to Try

Falcon's Power

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This straightforward Bounce deck uses Torres to power up 1-cost cards like Rocket and Hawkeye. Since he excels as a bounce card, replaying him isn't necessary. The deck is slightly top-heavy with 3-cost cards, but Torres adds excitement and high-roll potential.

Diamondback

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Korg pairs exceptionally well with Torres to grow Darkhawk. Supporting characters like Zabu, Ares, Cassandra, and Rockslide enhance this strong lineup.

Time to Mill

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While Mill is currently popular, Torres adds an edge, especially late-game. Playing him on turn 3 might weaken the deck, delaying key plays like Yondu to turn 4 or Iceman to turn 5. Experimentation is worthwhile.

Understanding Torres' abilities and strategic pairings unlocks his full potential in Marvel Snap. Whether through Bounce mechanics or other strategies, he offers exciting competitive options.