Art is subjective. Or at least the quality and value of it is.
That said, this is an authoritative and objective (clearly not just my personal favorites) list of the best Marvel Snap Card Variants. And they are awesome.
For some context, I should note that the best kinds of Marvel Snap variants fulfill one or more of the following categories of awesomeness:
1) They look silly and/or subvert the seriousness of a killer villain or hero by having them look or do something bizarre and amazing.
2) The art is subjectively gorgeous and I want to add them to my decks just so I can see them every time I play.
3) They look truly, and utterly, bad. ass. As in, Heavy Metal Magazine front cover, air-brushed boardwalk t-shirts, badass. This is a universal characteristic and easy for the trained eye to spot.
So strap in and save up your gold because this is the Top 15 Marvel Snap Best Variant Cards That Look Awesome and there will be no debate. I am the law.
15. Giulio Rincione Death
Death is one of the most sought-after Pool 3 cards, and for good reason. But besides her useful ability and integral place in the wildly popular Death Wave meta deck, Death also looks cool.
This variant of Death, however, is even more badass looking. This is a sinister gothic painting of the indomitable force, birthed at the origin of the universe.
It looks like a stunning piece of traditional tattoo art, replete with nun’s habit-esque garb and a death mask skull for a face.
This portrait of death could just as easily be the cover of a midwest metal band’s debut record as it could be framed in the corner of a spooky and reclusive university student’s dorm room.
It’s beautiful, painterly and a stirring piece of art I would love to add to my collection.
14. Summer Vacation Mantis
And taking an abrupt left turn from the epic-ness of goth Death is this absolutely preposterous Mantis. In the reality of this variant, when she isn’t using her powerful pathokinesis abilities, Mantis roller-skates on the Venice Beach boardwalk to pass the time.
Not only that, she is doing tricks and having the time of her life. This is the reality I want to believe exists when the world doesn’t need saving. Superheroes (and maybe villains too!) taking up obscure 60s hobbies and amusing themselves with very human pursuits.
13. Super Rare Pool Psylocke
This picturesque portrait captures Psylocke at her most anime. It’s giving samurai vibes, anime vibes and features a watercolor style that I haven’t seen in any other variants.
Between her wistful gaze into the distance and the tasteful use of a more pastel palette, this Psylocke variant feels like art with a capital A. Not just a nice frame from a comic, but an actual, honest-to-goodness painting. But thankfully it's a painting that allows you to cheat out Jessica Jones on turn 3.
12. Band “Sax” Morph
Just in case you’re worried that this list will become only the most tasteful and gorgeous art variants, here comes Morph with a dang saxophone.
While the value of any Morph variant is extremely suspect, since you will only see it for a brief moment before his skill turns him into another card, this is the one to buy if you’re going to buy any of them.
Let’s recap what’s going on here. This mutant, who could look like literally anyone in this world or infinite others, has opted instead to play the saxophone. And what’s going on with his lower hand? Is his hand the saxophone or is he playing the lower keys with saxophone-colored tendrils? I’m not sure it matters because it’s hilarious and it’s perfect.
If I had this Morph variant I’d be tempted to play him on Knowhere (where On Reveal skills don’t trigger) just so my opponent and I could enjoy the view.
11. Artgerm Scarlet Witch
While I have a fondness for the art on the base Scarlet Witch card, especially as I’ve used her in more than a few decks, there is something hauntingly ethereal about this Artgerm variant.
The hazy shininess that seems to emanate from her casting hand, the framing, and just about every aspect of this piece is incredible. It is a prepossessing portrait that somehow greatly improves upon an already agreeable base card. There isn’t much else to say about this other than it looks great and would compliment just about any deck in need of a 2-cost disruption factor.
10. Winter Vacation Devil Dinosaur
Ahhh, finally back to the unhinged variants. This is another great example of the juxtaposition between a beast of a powerful card set against a super cute presentation.
When you play Devil Dinosaur, he stomps into a location, often bringing with him at least 13 power. The effect is devastating and so satisfying. But if he’s played against you, how could you stay mad at this variant when he has those little t-rex arms and he’s joyfully skating with his best friend, Moongirl?
This variant takes the concept from gracefully gliding Mantis and ups the absurdity level by putting a dinosaur on ice skates. It’s dichotomous perfection, pairing one of nature’s most fearsome predators with one of winter’s most elegant sports.
9. Savage Lands Sabretooth
This Sabretooth variant lands solidly in the metal AF, absolute badass category.
I always thought the 90s X-Men cartoon Sabretooth looked mean, but not very intimidating. He kind of lacked a unique identity and aped Wolverine’s style.
But this Sabretooth, with his glowing undead eyes, giant skull pauldron and teeth necklace, fully realizes the prehistoric hunter aesthetic I didn’t even know I wanted until now. He would look equally at home on an 80s metal album cover or your cool uncle’s air-brushed van.
8. Sports Zero
Remember back in school when you were picked last or there was an odd number of kids for whatever game you were playing? Maybe you weren’t of the gym kind and always volunteered for any form of gameskeeper role that could give you a break from dodging balls and missing free throws.
Whether it was his first choice or he picked the shortest straw, I adore this bizarre circumstance where a superhero with godlike teleportation power is forced to sit on the side lines and keep score.
And based on the scorecard, I’m willing to bet that Zero is at least a little bitter that he finds himself benched on superhero sports day. Why else would he score such a one-sided decision? That said, it's hard to tell from the expression on his face if that is a spiteful or purely rational decision. What isn’t up for debate is that this variant is a genuine conversation starter and just plain good.
7. Flaviano Infinaut
This version of the turn 6 power god is my all time favorite because it looks like a blacklight poster.
If you’re not familiar - or, like me, you’re too young - in the 70s and 80s, teens who hung out in basements bought colorful and trippy posters that looked pretty neat in daylight but absolutely dynamic when you turned the lights out and turned on a blacklight bulb.
As Marie Kondo would put it, the sheer amount of color bursting out of this variant ‘sparks joy’.
If you’re going to skip turn 5, why not slam down an Infinaut that will put a little salve on the sting of your opponent's loss. You can both enjoy the sight of this psychedelic, interdimensional time-traveling giant for a few seconds before you click through for your rewards.
6. Baby Magneto
This Magneto variant seizes that tried and tested approach of a true inversion of nature.
In nearly all presentations, Magento is a self-serious, incredibly intimidating, all-powerful epitome of the super villain. He is vengeful. He is brooding. And he is never, ever cute. Which is what makes this depiction so exciting and hilarious.
His helmet is spoons! He’s eating cereal! He looks seriously depressed! I don’t know if I’ve ever identified more with Magneto.
5. Super Rare Pool Jessica Jones
In much the same way that I loved the Artgerm Scarlet Witch for being a striking piece of design, this Jessica Jones variant is a wonderous rendition of the super-powered hard-boiled detective.
Whereas some variants play with a lot of color, it’s actually the restraint in this portrait that makes it so eye-catching. Like a lot of great art pieces, I like just looking at it and I’m sure I’m not the only one.
4. Dan Hipp Killmonger
The utility of Killmonger as a card was never in dispute but there is something about the base card’s style that just didn’t vibe with me. It looks good, don’t get me wrong, but the artistic direction just doesn’t excite me. All that in spite of how much fun he is to play.
Dan Hipp’s variant on the other hand, goes hard. This Killmonger looks a lot more cartoony, while bursting out of a fireball and incorporating so many shades of yellow, orange and red that it positively glows, even in static images.
This is yet another variant that, were I more of a comic nerd in university, I would have proudly hung on my wall.
3. Venomized Cosmo
Venomized Cosmo is one of my favorite Snap cards because it straddles the line between absolutely badass, downright silly and metal AF.
The venom symbiote-infected version of Cosmo looks incredibly intense but you can still tell that your good-boy best friend is in there and ready to protect your cards from nasty On Reveal surprises.
There are a lot of good Cosmo variants but this one tops the list because of the wild look in his eye, the aggressive jump at the camera and the beautiful color choices. This variant is just *chefs kiss* lovely.
2. Alex Ross Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange is a bedrock staple of move decks but the base variant of him looks, well, pretty plain.
Of course it evokes the traditional presentation of Doctor Strange with his swirling mystical powers but something about it just feels boring.
Now, the Alex Ross variant, on the other hand, depicts Doctor Strange in the only way I want to see him in from now on: played by the imitable Vincent Price. Take another look at this card and try to tell me isn't a dead ringer for the Merchant of Menace.
On top of that, it places him in a setting that looks like a 60s horror movie but colorized and with modern special effects.
I would never in a million years think to commission this version of Doctor Strange but now I can’t live without it. It’s so good that I may actually play a move deck again. Maybe.
1. Super Rare “Champ” Venom
For anyone who knows me, the top spot in this list will come as no surprise. Just like the Venomized Cosmo variant, Champ Venom combines intensity and badassness in equal measure. And on top of that, it also incorporates my favorite pseudo-sporting tradition: pro wrestling.
While I have an extremely soft spot for Baby Venom, this variant will top my “to-buy” list if and when I’m lucky enough to pull Venom from my caches.
It has it all: a fantastic art style, pro wrestling, a championship title held aloft and a beastly muscled Venom. It's like Brock Lesnar meets The Crow. Just equisite.
