Marvel Snap: Mastering Joaquin Torres's Power

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. We won't delve into his full backstory here; you're probably more interested in whether he's worth your spotlight keys. Let's find out!

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
• Comments

What Does He Do?

Torres' ability is straightforward and efficient: he duplicates the effect of all 1-cost cards with an "On Reveal" effect. Think of him as a Wong, but only 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 with Torres:

Tier 1 – Top Choices

Cards like Blade and Yondu have highly specific uses, and doubling their effects can be game-changing. These cards generally offer huge power boosts, especially if you can use another Falcon to bounce them back to your hand for another play in the Torres lane.

Tier 2 – Solid Options

These cards aren't as impactful as Tier 1, but still provide significant benefits. Collector gets massively buffed, Devil Dinosaur grows huge with Agent 13 or Maria Hill, and Mantis shines. America Chavez isn't guaranteed card play, but remains viable. These are worth considering in a Torres deck.

Tier 3 – Less Effective

Cards like Squirrel Girl might be late-game lane fillers, but don't synergize well with Torres' strategy. Overloading your board isn't usually ideal.

Special Cases

Nico Minoru's powerful On Reveal could be incredible doubled, though not always feasible. Basic Arrow is a strong 1-cost with Torres, but requires multiple steps, making it less reliable. Thanos, while not 1-cost, introduces six 1-costs, five with On Reveals. Experimenting with Thanos and Torres could be interesting.

How Should We Use Him?

Discussions around 1-cost cards often revolve around Bounce mechanics, where Torres excels. Utilize him in bounce decks to maximize your 1-cost cards. His applications outside bounce are more limited. While established lists may lack space for Torres, consider him in Discard or Mill decks for extra discards or mill effects with Yondu.

Combining him with a Moonstone/Victoria Hand hand-generation deck could also be effective, letting Collector grow significantly off a single Agent 13 or Maria Hill when everything is doubled.

Day One Decks to Try

Falcon's Power

This straightforward Bounce list aims to leverage Torres for massive 1-cost cards like Rocket and Hawkeye. Since Torres excels as a bounce card, replaying him isn't necessary, letting him stay on the board. A few 3-cost cards make the deck slightly top-heavy, but Torres adds excitement and high-roll potential.

Diamondback

Korg pairs excellently with Torres to grow Darkhawk. Supporting characters like Zabu, Ares, Cassandra, and Rockslide enhance this strong lineup, creating great synergy.

Time to Mill

Mill is currently popular, and Torres adds an annoying edge, especially late-game. Playing him on turn 3 might weaken the deck compared to current versions, delaying key plays like Yondu to turn 4 or Iceman to turn 5. Still worth experimenting with.

By understanding Torres' abilities and strategic pairings, you can unlock his full potential in Marvel Snap. Whether through Bounce mechanics or alternative strategies, Torres offers exciting possibilities for competitive play.