Unlocking Lasher in Marvel Snap: Is He Worth the Grind?

The Marvel Rivals season in Marvel Snap is winding down, but a free reward awaits those willing to tackle the returning High Voltage game mode: Lasher, a symbiote from October's We Are Venom season. But is this new addition worth the effort?

Lasher's Capabilities

Lasher is a 2-power, 2-cost card with the ability: "Activate: Afflict an enemy card here with negative Power equal to this card’s Power." Essentially, he inflicts -2 power on an opponent's card unless boosted. However, Marvel Snap's buffing options significantly enhance Lasher's potential, surpassing free cards like Agony and King Etri.

For example, Namora can transform Lasher into a 7-power card, or even a 12-power card with Wong or Odin, resulting in a -14 or -24 power swing. He synergizes particularly well with the season pass card, Galacta. Remember, as an Activate card, playing Lasher by turn 5 maximizes his effect.

Optimal Lasher Decks

While Lasher's optimal place in the meta is still developing, he shines in buff-heavy decks, especially Silver Surfer decks. Here's an example:

Nova, Forge, Lasher, Okoye, Brood, Silver Surfer, Killmonger, Nakia, Red Guardian, Sebastian Shaw, Copycat, Galacta. (Copyable from Untapped)

This deck features expensive Series 5 cards (Red Guardian, Sebastian Shaw, Copycat, Galacta), but substitutes like Juggernaut or Polaris can replace most except Galacta. Lasher serves as a third target for Forge, often saved for Brood or Sebastian Shaw. After playing Galacta on turn 4, Lasher becomes crucial, effectively becoming a 10-power card (-5 power affliction from a 5-power Lasher boosted by Galacta) without extra energy cost on the final turn.

Another deck showcasing Lasher's potential, albeit very expensive, is:

Agony, Zabu, Lasher, Psylocke, Hulk Buster, Jeff!, Captain Marvel, Scarlet Spider, Galacta, Gwenpool, Symbiote Spider-Man, Namora. (Copyable from Untapped)

This deck relies heavily on Galacta, Gwenpool, and Namora to buff Lasher and Scarlet Spider, spreading power across the board. Zabu and Psylocke accelerate 4-cost card deployment, Symbiote Spider-Man reactivates Namora, and Jeff! and Hulk Buster provide backup.

Is the High Voltage Grind Worth It?

Given Marvel Snap's increasing cost, Lasher is a worthwhile acquisition if you have the time to grind High Voltage. The mode offers various rewards before unlocking Lasher, making the effort worthwhile. While not a guaranteed meta staple, Lasher, like Agony, will likely find a niche in several meta-relevant decks.