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A proper Discard Deck in Marvel Snap takes the right cards, and Apocalypse forms one of the strongest anchors for this archetype together with a ramping Power boosting effect that meshes well with other heroes and villains in this strategy card game. Apocalypse is a six Energy cost card that has 8 Power found in the Pool 1 Collection Level of Mystery Cards, being a useful play on turn 6 through its natural bulk regardless of its ability. However, the true strength in Apocalypse comes from the ive effect, which returns it to the owner's hand when discarded with +4 Power each time, an ability that can be stacked any number of times for a truly monstrous value.
A good Apocalypse deck works best with cards such as Lady Sif, Sword Master, Blade, and Morbius from Pools 1 and 2. Players may also want to use Wolverine and Swarm to add extra utility around their deck instead of relying on just the anchor. Should players work through the highest levels and obtain more cards in Marvel Snap all the way to Pool 3, Moon Knight, Gambit, and Hell Cow are absolutely necessary additions to a good Apocalypse deck, with Ghost Rider filling in the gaps in certain situations. Locations such as Bar Sinister, Kamar-Taj, and Sinister London combine really well with the effects of these cards, most of which fall under the "On Reveal" category when played.
Build Apocalypse's Power with Lady Sif, Sword Master, and Blade
As mentioned before, once Apocalypse has been discarded, he immediately returns to the hand with 4 additional Power. Lady Sif's On Reveal effect discards the highest cost card in the player's hand, which would certainly mean Apocalypse if he remains the only 6 Energy cost card in the deck. Although this does require Apocalypse to be in hand to properly combo, Lady Sif remains a 3 Energy Cost 4 Power card, decent enough to cover the Locations of Marvel Snap during the third turn if the player needs it.
Sword Master and Blade, on the other hand, have effects similar to each other, randomly discarding a card from the player's hand when activating On Reveal. The primary utility of these cards comes from a high base Power, with Blade being a 1 Energy Cost and 3 Power and Sword Master having 6 Power for a measly 3 Energy cost. Ordinarily, it would be a gamble for players to gain quick Power at a Location, but with Apocalypse in hand, the potential of skyrocketing his Power makes playing these cards worth it.
Back Up Apocalypse by Discarding Wolverine and Swarm
Despite Wolverine being applicable while Deckbuilding in Marvel Snap with an emphasis on destruction rather than discarding, his effect allows the staple of the X-Men to reappear in a random location after being destroyed in any way. If players are forced to use cards like Blade and Sword Master without Apocalypse in hand, Wolverine serves as a great alternative to keep in hand. In the same vein, Swarm also provides a fantastic effect to balance an Apocalypse deck, adding two copies of himself in the player's hand when discarded for 0 Energy cost. Guaranteeing two 0 Cost 3 Power cards can be crucial for players in Marvel Snap, securing locations by bolstering their Power during the early turns or in a clutch endgame play.
Turn Losses Into Gain with Morbius
Arguably one of the best cards in Marvel Snap when included in a pure Discard deck with Apocalypse, Morbius has the Ongoing effect to add +2 Power to himself for each card the player discards. Despite being a card later acquired in Pool 2 like Swarm, Morbius capitalizes off the natural tendencies of an Apocalypse deck, matching his increase in Power with their ability when played early. Costing 2 Energy and having 0 Power to start, Morbius is an investment that sees great return as the game continues, and can loop into incredible Power when effects of Lady Sif or fellow Midnight Son Blade activate.
Maximize Apocalypse's Potential Through Pool 3 Cards
Once players have leveled up fast enough in Marvel Snap to have access to Pool 3 at Collection Level 475, cards such as Hell Cow and Gambit accentuate the strategies involving Apocalypse that applied to the previous decks. Moon Cow is a 4 Energy cost and 6 Power card that discards 2 random cards in the player's hand, which could be applied to Apocalypse twice if he is the only card in hand, granting an easily received +8 Power instantly. Gambit has a similar effect to Sword Master, discarding a card in hand as well, but also allowing the player to destroy any one card of the opponent's in exchange, only leading to benefits if players have Wolverine, Swarm, or Apocalypse in hand.
Both Gambit and Moonknight have the same Energy cost at 3, but Moon Knight's ability discards a card from both players' hands On Reveal, another tool for boosting Apocalypse at the risk of the opponent who has also ed Marvel Snap and uses a Discard deck. The one issue a Discard deck has with Apocalypse is that the player accidentally removes cards that would otherwise have been useful, especially some 5 Energy cost cards that are harder to play until later turns. Ghost Rider, a 4 Energy cost 3 Power card, mitigates this risk by bringing back a discarded card to his location On Reveal, a useful recovery ability that covers issues the player might inevitably run into. In spite of the specific circumstantial requirements, the strategies behind an Apocalypse deck in Marvel Snap are incredibly fun to use, as players get to watch the evolved mutant grow far beyond even 20 total Power to dominate crucial Locations.
