Marvel SNAP: Is Laufey the New King of Affliction Decks?

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Laufey joins the roster of Marvel SNAP‘s affliction-themed characters, boasting an overwhelming power that saps energy from all cards within his lane.

Laufey’s arrival significantly boosts the current game meta because his presence has reignited passion for affliction decks, which was further fueled by Diamondback’s recent introduction. His influence encourages even more players to delve into this deck archetype. However, is he a powerful card? And if yes, what’s the optimal Marvel SNAP deck to utilize him in? Keep reading for the answer.

Laufey (4 – 5)

On Reveal: Steal one Power from each other card here.

Series: Four (Rare)

Season: Brave New World

Release: February 25, 2025

How to Get: Sanctum Showdown Event

The Best Laufey Deck

At present, the optimal configuration for Laufey involves an affliction setup, partnered with Ajax. To replicate this team, pair Laufey and Ajax with these cards: Lasher, Diamondback, Zabu, Hazmat, Malekith, Man-Thing, U.S. Agent, Cassandra Nova, Luke Cage, and Absorbing Man.

Card Cost Power
Laufey 4 5
Cassandra Nova 3 0
Diamondback 3 3
Luke Cage 3 2
Absorbing Man 4 4
U.S. Agent 2 3
Lasher 2 2
Zabu 1 2
Hazmat 2 2
Malekith 4 6
Man-Thing 4 7
Ajax 5 7

You can also leverage Laufey’s ability in a toxic Annihilus deck.

Laufey Deck Synergies

  • Laufey, Lasher, Hazmat, Man-Thing, U.S. Agent, Diamondback, and Cassandra Nova form the deck’s core affliction cards, each capable of stealing or reducing the enemy’s Power.
  • Luke Cage is the deck’s tech piece, preventing opponents from afflicting negative Power while also shielding your own cards from Hazmat’s effect.
  • Malekith provides an extra play while keeping the card hidden until the game ends—Hazmat and Luke Cage are particularly strong targets for this effect.
  • Absorbing Man replicates Laufey’s ability, further amplifying the deck’s affliction damage.
  • Zabu reduces the Cost of four-Cost cards, balancing the deck’s Cost-Energy ratio.
  • Ajax is the primary win condition, gaining Power each time a card is afflicted with negative Power.

How to Play Laufey Effectively

Keep these tips in mind:

  1. Copy Laufey’s effect in another lane. Duplicating Laufey in a different lane can be overwhelming for opponents, especially if they aren’t running Luke Cage.
  2. Keep Luke Cage hidden. Use cards like Invisible Woman or Malekith to conceal him, catching your opponent off guard with his final-turn effect.
  3. Use friendly cards to buff Ajax. If the enemy cards are protected, Hazmat can help by affecting your own side. This can make Ajax strong enough to secure another location—assuming you’ve already taken control of one.

How to Counter Laufey

Luke Cage serves as an effective barrier against Laufey because he nullifies the adverse effects that Laufey inflicts. However, it’s important to note that Luke Cage doesn’t diminish Laufey’s strength. If you aim to directly counteract Laufey, Shadow King would be the optimal pick as he restores all cards’ powers to their original levels. Cosmo is another option, but it requires precise timing because he needs to be deployed before Laufey is unveiled.

Is Laufey a Good Card?

Out of the three fresh cards in Sanctum Showdown, it’s clear that Laufey is the most powerful one. He works incredibly well with cards that inflict negative effects, and this compatibility is particularly notable given the increasing use of such cards due to Diamondback’s recent rise in popularity.

In essence, it’s important to note that Laufey may restrict the versatility of your deck due to his skill needing cards such as Ajax or Luke Cage. This means you might be compelled to build your deck in a particular way, which is a point worth pondering before deciding on him.

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2025-03-03 07:05