Dominate Sanctum Showdown Surge

They went and supercharged Sanctum Showdown! The new Sanctum Showdown Surge will run from May 14-21 and features more Energy, more points, and quicker games! Come along and surge towards a free Ikari! For info on the Economy of this mode, check out Lauren's guide!

Sanctum Showdown Surge Economy Guide - May ’26

Everything there is to know about the Sanctum Showdown Surge economy!

Fourth LocationLaurenWhatevs

How Does the New Mode Work?

A random location is designated as the Sanctum and is worth more points and a snap adds 1 point to the Sanctum. The game ends when someone reaches at least 16 points. However, there are several differences from the base version of Sanctum Showdown. You start with 4 Energy, which is going to turn the format on its head and give major importance to certain cards. The Sanctum scoring starts on the first Turn, instead of Turn 3 and the non-Sanctum locations are worth 1 point on the first Turn and 2 points thereafter.

• The Game Ends when one Player reaches at least 16 Points.
• You Start with 4 Energy and 4 cards in hand.
• The Sanctum is worth 2 points on Turn 1, 3 points on Turn 2, and 5+ points from Turn 3 on.
• Non-Sanctum locations are worth 1 point on Turn 1 and 2 points from Turn 2 onward.
• Starting on Turn 3, players can Snap to add 1 point to the Sanctum.

The general strategy for this mode is to spread bodies as fast as you can and then find ways to boost them or back them up with big Power. Games are going to go fast. Expect most games to end by Turn 4 or 5. 

Cards to Dominate the Mode

The cards that will be best in this mode will be ones that can spread bodies, can move, or have great raw Power/Cost ratios. If Drax is your favorite MCU character, I have good news!

Shanna seems like the card most ready for a Sanctum glow-up. Starting with four Energy, she's one of the only ways (hello, Squirrel Girl) to get bodies in multiple lanes on the first Turn. Vision is going to be a mode staple as the extra Energy means you can move 9 Power around the board every Turn – like a better WWBN! Leader seems especially spicy as a way to win 2 points in an off lane, while still adding power to the Sanctum. We start with 4 Energy, so 4-Cost cards take on added importance. The biggest Power with the smallest downside we can put out on the first turn is with Ares, if he hits, or classic Drax. Cull Obsidian is banned, Crossbones needs help, and Typhoid Mary seems like a risky proposition outside of decks attempting to end the game in three Turns, though she'll be great in Techno-Organic lists. Galacta and Gwenpool seem like solid 4-Cost cards to play into off lanes, while there are plenty of powerful 5-Cost cards like Gamora, Darkhawk, Ronin, and Klaw.

Take a Flyer

These cards might have a place in Sanctum Showdown Surge, but aren’t sure things like the cards above. These are the cards I might tinker with as I try to figure out the depth and breadth of the mode, while the cards above will have great win rates right out the gates.

Banned Cards

The key bans to note are Wiccan and Galactus First Steps, who are newly added, and Martyr, Werewolf By Night, Negasonic, and Green Goblin among cards that remain banned that would be especially good in this new version.

Deck to Dominate SSS

Future Zoo SSS

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Ares Power SSS

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Major Victory Guardians SSS

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Move/Remove SSS

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Panther Zola SSS

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Final Thoughts

This mode is going to be fast and fierce. I expect the best decks in the hands of the best players to be able to win in 3 Turns until the meta stabilizes. Sanctum Showdown is my favorite LTGM so I’m nervous about the HV-ification of the mode, but the decks and strategies are attractive and I get to show off my Vision splits. 

I’ve tucked 7 more decks with powerful strategies below the paywall, including the one I'm planning to start with and the Ikari deck I want to play in the mode! If you want to dominate this mode or are just a fan of our ad free Snap content, consider joining today! And come to the Discord for more Sanctum Showdown Surge conversation!