MARVEL SNAP Balance Update – January 29, 2026

The January 29 MARVEL SNAP OTA reins in Shou Lao, Maverick, Merlin, Deafening Chord, and Spider Ham while handing out targeted buffs to Colonel America, Doom 2099, Lin Lie Iron Fist, and Topaz ahead of the Guardians of the Galaxy season.

Second Dinner's January 29, 2026 MARVEL SNAP OTA trims several outliers led by Shou Lao while buffing underperformers and giving the Move archetype another nudge. Developers say more changes are on the way ahead of the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy season.

Nerfs: Shou Lao, Maverick, Merlin, Spider Ham

• Shou Lao — [Old] 5/8 – On Reveal: Give the last character you played +3 Power for each turn you played 2 or more cards. (+0) [Change] 5/8 > 5/6
• Maverick — [Old] 3/3 – Activate: Give the next card you play Power equal to this card's Power. [Change] 3/3 > 3/2
• Merlin's Omniversal Presence — [Old] On Reveal: Replace this location with a new one and give Merlin +2 Power. [Change] +2 Power > +1 Power
• Spider Ham — [Old] 1/2 – Activate: Replace the text of a random character in your opponent's hand with "oink!" [Change] 1/2 > 1/1

Developers explained Shou Lao has been one of the highest-played, highest-winning cards since release; rather than weaken its payoff, they pulled two base Power to curb its two-location pressure. Maverick's ability to multiply buffs has overperformed, Merlin continues to receive small tweaks, and Spider Ham is being trimmed because the team doesn't love text-replacement effects dominating win rates.

Rework: Deafening Chord

• Deafening Chord — [Old] On Reveal: Afflict an enemy character here that costs 3 or less with -1 Power and remove its text. [New] On Reveal: Remove the text of an enemy 3-Cost or lower character here.

The -1 Power affliction is removed. Developers kept it at launch due to the strength of targets like Merlin, Victoria Hand, Human Torch, and Maverick, but with those outliers addressed, the extra Power penalty is no longer needed.

Buffs: Colonel America, Doom 2099, Lin Lie, Topaz

• Colonel America — [Old] 3/3 – Ongoing: Your other cards here have +1 Power for each turn you've discarded a card. [Change] 3/3 > 3/4
• Doom 2099 — [Old] 4/5 – End of Turn: Add a DoomBot 2099 to a random location if you played (exactly) 1 card. [Change] 4/5 > 4/6
• Lin Lie Iron Fist — [Old] 2/2 – On Reveal: Add the Sword of Fu Xi to another location. [Change] 2/2 > 2/3
• Sword of Fu Xi — [Old] Ongoing: If Lin Lie Iron Fist is here, he has +7 Power. [New] Ongoing: If Lin Lie Iron Fist is here, he has +8 Power.
• Topaz — [Old] 3/5 – After you play a card here, move it to the middle location. [Change] 3/5 > 2/3

Doom 2099 gains an extra Power ahead of Moondragon's release. Lin Lie nets two additional total Power when he reaches his Sword's location. Topaz drops to a cheaper 2-cost enabler to give Move decks another multi-moving tool in the wake of Human Torch's nerf.

What This Means for MARVEL SNAP Players

Shou Lao's nerf is modest but meaningful, while Maverick and Merlin continue on a slow correction curve. Move players get fresh tools via Topaz and Multiple Man synergies, and Lin Lie finally becomes a more tempting inclusion. Developers teased "more changes coming shortly" heading into the Guardians of the Galaxy season.