Archangel: Horseman of Death arrived in Marvel Snap with a relatively easy destroy objective. I hoped it could help bring Destroy into the new meta. My early answer is garbage, but the label needs context. Archangel is a meaningful upgrade for classic, traditional Destroy. It just did not deliver the wider payoff I was chasing.
The Targeted-Revive Ideas Fell Short
I went looking for something more abstract than classic Destroy. Air Walker Moon Girl shenanigans were part of that search, including an attempt to use Archangel to revive Moon Girl. It did not get there.
The Moon Girl, Victoria Hand, Death combo was not pushed over the top, and the Air Walker Moon Girl attempt failed outright. After eight games, it felt like I was trying too hard to force a result that was not there. Archangel did not do what I expected for those kinds of Destroy shells.
The exciting promise was not simply another Destroy card. It was the possibility of targeted revives opening up unusual lines. In my first pass, those lines gave me very little.
Classic Destroy Has the Best Reason to Play Archangel
Traditional Destroy is where Archangel earned its place for me. I want to destroy my destroyers, then have Archangel bring one back so it can create another round of destruction.
Killilmonger, Venom, and Death Lock are the cards I was looking to destroy and return for that second destruction. Deadpool, X23, and Wolverine do not go to the graveyard, so they are not the targets I am trying to bring back in this line. Archangel bringing back a specific card is what makes the sequence appealing.
Once I approached the deck that way, it worked. I was no longer destroying just to leave cards in the graveyard. I was destroying to keep as much power on the board as possible.
That felt like a genuine upgrade to straight classic Destroy. Players who already enjoy the archetype have a reason to look at Archangel.
The Dormamu Variation Was My Favorite Build
The Dormamu variation was my favorite build, though it takes some learning.
Weapon X was a novelty addition, but I liked it when extra destruction rounds came together. Sholo also helped Headpool because it comes back to hand when destroyed, leaving a one-drop play for the final turn even if Death is not ready. Null is still a workable alternative if I am not playing Sholo.
Archangel's main contribution in this version was reviving Killilmonger so it could go multiple times for X23. I found that useful for getting Death down more and more.
Morgan Lefay Still Has Something to Explore
I don't think this specific combination is the final answer, and I felt like I was destroying too much. The Morgan Lefay combination I tried felt like it was on the right track, even though it did not quite get there.
There is something worth testing in the Morgan Lefay space, but I do not think I found it yet. If you enjoy tinkering with Morgan Lefay and Phantom X-style Destroy ideas, Archangel gives you a lead to investigate.
A Traditional Destroy Upgrade Is Still a Narrow Verdict
Archangel is, for now, just a Destroy card. It is an actual upgrade for classic, traditional Destroy, and I even think it can be better than Morgan Lefay in many instances. Traditional Destroy wants it more than any other deck I tried.
For players outside that lane, I still put Archangel in garbage. There are better and more consistent things to do, and I found it a little more difficult than I wanted when I was trying to make it do what I wanted it to do. I like the card. I just do not see enough beyond traditional Destroy yet to move the verdict.
Watch the full discussion: the original episode.
