Understanding Card Abilities (On Reveal vs. Ongoing)

Understanding Card Abilities (On Reveal vs. Ongoing)

Marvel Snap features two primary types of card abilities: "On Reveal" and "Ongoing." Understanding the fundamental differences between these two is crucial for effective deck building and strategic play, directly impacting how you "Tailor Your Deck" and execute your game plan.

On Reveal Abilities:

These abilities trigger the moment a card is played onto a location. They are a one-time effect that happens immediately. This makes them excellent for immediate impact, surprise plays, or manipulating the board state quickly. Cards with On Reveal abilities are often used to:

• Gain power at a specific location (e.g., Ironheart, White Tiger).
• Destroy or move other cards (e.g., Shang-Chi, Enchantress, Spider-Woman).
• Add cards to your hand or deck (e.g., White Queen, Nick Fury).
• Change the properties of locations (e.g., Storm, Professor X).

The key to On Reveal cards is timing. Playing them at the right moment, especially in conjunction with other cards that benefit from their effects (like Wong or Odin), can lead to significant advantages. Remember the advice to "Don't Overcommit On A Location Early" – On Reveal cards can be powerful tools to achieve this by providing immediate value without needing to stay on the board.

Ongoing Abilities:

These abilities are persistent effects that remain active as long as the card is on the board. They provide continuous benefits or drawbacks to the location they are played at, or to your overall game state. Ongoing cards are excellent for building a strong, consistent presence and creating powerful synergies over multiple turns.

• Power Boosts: Cards like Spectrum, Captain America, and Ant-Man provide ongoing power buffs to adjacent cards or the entire location.
• Disruption: Cards like Cosmo can prevent On Reveal abilities, while cards like Typhoid Mary can negatively impact your own side.
• Resource Generation: Cards like Patriot can boost cards with no ability text.

The strength of Ongoing cards lies in their permanence. However, they are vulnerable to cards that can remove or disable Ongoing effects, such as Enchantress or Rogue. When building an Ongoing deck, focus on stacking these effects and protecting your key Ongoing cards. Conversely, if you're facing an Ongoing deck, consider including cards that can counter their persistent abilities.

Mastering the interplay between On Reveal and Ongoing abilities is fundamental to understanding Marvel Snap's strategic landscape.