MARVEL SNAP Explained: Who Is M.O.D.O.K.?

MARVEL SNAP’s Into the Quantum Realm season has officially kicked off! While there are several new cards set to drop this month, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, AKA M.O.D.O.K., is definitely the star of the show right now, and the game’s version of him has some deep roots in the comics. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know about playing M.O.D.O.K. in MARVEL SNAP and how his card draws from the comics.

Playing M.O.D.O.K. in MARVEL SNAP

A 5-Cost, 8-Power card, M.O.D.O.K. has an On Reveal ability that causes his player to discard their hand. Although that might not seem advantageous at first glance, that ability can take discard effects-based decks to the next level when synergized properly.

There are a few key combinations that really take advantage of M.O.D.O.K.’s On Reveal effect. The first is Morbius, whose Ongoing ability gives him 2-Power for each of his player’s discarded cards. This synergy can be improved by pairing the duo with other cards that take advantage of discard effects, such as Swarm, Apocalypse, and Dracula.

Another potent combination is M.O.D.O.K. and Hela, a 6-Cost, 6-Power card with an On Reveal effect puts all cards her player has discarded back onto the board at random locations. Those choosing to use this combination will likely want to stack their deck with powerful 6-Cost cards, as that can allow the player to bring a ton of Power to the board very suddenly.

One potential wrinkle in this plan is that it requires the player to draw Hela in the short window between when M.O.D.O.K. is played on turn 5 and turn 6. However, Invisible Woman is a great way to get around that. A 2-Cost, 2-Power card, Invisible Woman has an Ongoing effect that keeps a player’s cards put on a location after her from being revealed until the end of the game. That means M.O.D.O.K.’s effect won’t trigger until after the player has had a chance to put Hela down.

In terms of locations, M.O.D.O.K. benefits from any place that enhances his On Reveal effect, such as Kamar-Taj. Additionally, Dark Dimension, which doesn’t allow cards played at a location to be revealed until the end of the game, can also substitute for Invisible Woman in the above strategy.

Despite M.O.D.O.K.’s high potential, there are a few cards that can really cause trouble for him. Cosmo is a 3-Cost card with an Ongoing ability that prevents On Reveal effects from happening at the location he’s played. If played right, Cosmo can prevent M.O.D.O.K. and Hela’s abilities from triggering entirely. Rogue and Enchantress can also stymie Ongoing abilities, keeping Morbius from benefiting from M.O.D.O.K.’s effect or Invisible Woman from making his partnership with Hela work easily.

There are also a few locations that can cause trouble for M.O.D.O.K.. Knowhere and Deep Space prevent On Reveal effects from happening, so M.O.D.O.K. absolutely shouldn’t be played there. Sakaar can also really mess a player’s strategy up by bringing M.O.D.O.K. out too soon, which could completely undermine the player’s strategy and leave them with a lack of cards at the exact wrong time.

M.O.D.O.K. in the Comics

Also known as George Tarleton, M.O.D.O.K. debuted in TALES OF SUSPENSE (1959) #94, by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and has a long history in the comics. Originally, Tarleton worked for Advanced Idea Mechanics, AKA A.I.M., who forced him to undergo a radical procedure to enhance his mind. Soon after his transformation, Tarleton killed his creators and named himself M.O.D.O.K..

The MARVEL SNAP card itself prominently features M.O.D.O.K. in his Doomsday Chair, a technologically advanced hoverchair that he’s used since his debut because his head is too heavy for his body to support. The card also shows M.O.D.O.K.’s headband lighting up, and his animation upon being played has him firing a beam. This reflects M.O.D.O.K.’s psionic abilities and how he can create energy blasts with them. M.O.D.O.K.’s psionic abilities combined with his incredible intelligence have allowed him to stand toe-to-toe with some of Marvel’s heaviest hitters, including the Hulk, whom Tarleton fought during the Fall of the Hulks and World War Hulks crossovers.

M.O.D.O.K.’s function in MARVEL SNAP fits in perfectly with his character. After killing his creators, M.O.D.O.K. took over A.I.M., and has over the years lost and regained control again on numerous occasions. The villain has never been particularly loyal to his followers, sacrificing them when and where he’s deemed necessary. One particularly notable power struggle took place between M.O.D.O.K. and Scientist Supreme Monica Rappaccini in the pages of SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP/M.O.D.O.K.’S 11 (2007), which showcased just how brutal and clever Tarleton could be. In general, though, M.O.D.O.K. helps himself first – and everyone else, even his allies, last.

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