Deck Guide: crushing the meta with Destroy

Looking to reach Infinite? Learn the ins and outs of Destroy decks.

Deck Guide: crushing the meta with Destroy
Do not index
Do not index
Welcome to another Deck Guide article, the series where we break down the data behind some of Marvel SNAP’s top decks and archetypes.
 
Today, we’re going to review what the current version of Destroy looks like, the cards you need to make it work, and the matchups you’re hoping to see (or avoid) to find success playing it yourself. Here’s a look at the most popular Destroy list at the moment in ranks 70-99.
 
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Key Cards

The deck revolves around getting increasing value from destroying low-Energy cards like Deadpool, X-23, and Wolverine to power up your big late game plays like Knull and Death, which oftentimes will cost zero by the last turn.
There’s a wide selection of cards that are also auto-include in Destroy decks. As you can see in the deck above, Destroy decks often contain activators like Carnage, Venom, Killmonger, and Deathlok to help you destroy the aforementioned low-cost cards.
 
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The most common way this deck is played is by playing Deadpool on turn 1, attaching Hulkbuster to it, and start doubling its power with Carnage, Killmonger, Venom, etc to then drop a powered-up Knull and a free Death on turn six. An early X-23 can also do wonders by accelerating your Energy curve and overall output.
The other great thing about Destroy is that most of the cards you need are all from Series 3 or below. You definitely don’t need all of these cards to make a competitive Destroy deck. If you’re missing some of the Series 4 or Series 5 cards like Nico Minoru or Knull, you can achieve similar results with alternative cards such as Nova and Arnim Zola.
 

The Raw Data

With +0.41 average cube rate, 53.8% winrate, and 6.1% popularity at Ranks 70-99, Destroy finds itself in the middle of Tier C. This puts it side-by-side other mainstay archetypes such as Discard and Ramp. Its position in the Tier List is deceptively low and is mainly driven by its bad matchup against Arishem (more on this below).
 
Good and Bad Matchups
The two most common matchups you will face when playing Destroy are Arishem, which you should be unfavored against, and Surfer, which is a toss up. On the other hand, Destroy performs particularly well against Galactus and Negative decks, sporting a 62.4% and 55.3% winrate against them, respectively, on ranks 70-99.
 
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Remember that these stats may change over time, so make sure to visit the Meta Page to see how Destroy’s position in the meta has evolved.
 

Best Destroy Decks

Highest average cubes is the preferred metric to measure a deck’s success if your goal is to climb the ranked ladder, so let’s take a look at some of the top Destroy decklists in the meta right now with at least 1k games.
 
These decks are almost identical, with the only difference being the 12th card which sometimes is a tech card like Shang-Chi and Lady Deathstrike, or a card to double down on your own deck synergy with the likes of Arnim Zola and Gwenpool.
All of these lists should be great choices currently, but if none of them fit your play style or collection, don’t worry! You can find dozens of different Destroy decks in our decks page.
 

Tips and Final Thoughts

Destroy is one of the most tried and true decks in Marvel SNAP’s history. At times it’s been too oppressive, and sometimes has not found a place in the meta. Right now, although Destroy decks are sitting in the middle of the pack, it should still be able to get you to Infinite if you learn how to pilot it, navigate the tough matchups, and make smart decisions on when to snap or retreat.
 
But what do you think? Let us know your thoughts over at @UntappedSNAP on Twitter/X or in our Discord Server, and make sure to check back soon for more Deck Guides, Card Reviews, and everything else you need to know about Marvel SNAP!