The Zombie Apocalypse Arrives on the Digital Battlefield: New ‘Horde’ Mechanic Promises a Meta-Shaking October

In a thrilling move timed perfectly for Halloween, Second Dinner’s MARVEL SNAP is fully embracing the horrifying universe of Marvel Zombies with its latest seasonal content drop, officially titled the Undead Horde Season. Kicking off on October 7th and running until November 4th, 2025, this season is more than just a cosmetic overhaul; it introduces a completely new keyword and a swarm-based archetype that veterans and new players alike will need to master to secure those crucial Cosmic Cubes.

The tie-in comes hot on the heels of the new Marvel Zombies miniseries release on Disney+, making this one of the most significant and well-coordinated cross-platform events in the game’s history. This is a crucial moment for the digital collectible card game (CCG) as it injects a fresh, disruptive mechanic designed to completely re-wire the current ranked ladder meta.

Introducing the ‘Horde’ Keyword: The Core of the Zombie Swarm

The headline feature of the Undead Horde Season is the debut of the ‘Horde’ keyword. This mechanic is built around a persistent, escalating threat on the board, fundamentally changing how players approach lane management and late-game strategy.

• What is Horde?: When a card with the ‘Horde’ keyword is played, it either creates a Zombie Horde token at another location (if one doesn’t exist) or, more importantly, it gives Power to your existing Zombie Horde.
• The Goal: The primary goal of the new archetype is to play multiple ‘Horde’ cards to quickly ramp up the Power of the Zombie Horde token, transforming a seemingly weak token into an overwhelming, lane-winning presence by turns 5 and 6. This creates a powerful new snowball effect that rivals classic strategies.

This aggressive, token-focused mechanic forces players to choose between dedicating resources to destroy the token early (often difficult) or racing to out-power the growing zombie threat in the other two lanes. This strategic pressure is a key differentiator from previous seasons, promising a high-skill, cube-earning environment.

New Zombified Cards: The Roster of the Undead Horde

The season pass and weekly Snap Packs are full of zombified versions of fan-favorite heroes, each designed to synergize with the new keyword and existing archetypes like Discard and Move.

Season Pass Card: Zombie Scarlet Witch

The Premium Season Pass introduces Zombie Scarlet Witch (3-Cost, 2-Power): “After you play a card here, Horde +2.”

This card is the engine of the new archetype, effectively functioning as a superior, if delayed, version of an early-game ramp card like Angela, but instead of buffing herself, she buffs the Zombie Horde token elsewhere on the board. This card is a must-have for those looking to climb the Infinite rank this season.

Key Series 5 and 4 Releases: Building the Deck

The roster of new cards available through the Super Premium Pass, Snap Packs, and the Token Shop are designed to provide the necessary tools for the ‘Horde’ strategy:

• Zombie Giant-Man (5-Cost, 3-Power): “On Reveal: Horde +1, then this gains Power equal to your Zombie Horde.” (Series 4) – The big finisher that capitalizes on a large Horde token.
• Zombie Mister Fantastic (2-Cost, 2-Power): “On Reveal: Horde +2. Activate: Give 4 of your created cards +1 Power.” (Series 5) – A low-cost enabler that quickly boosts the Horde and provides extra utility.
• Zombie Captain Marvel (4-Cost, 3-Power): “Activate: Destroy your other cards here to get +3 Power for each. Move to a location you’re losing.” (Series 5) – An interesting tech card that offers a powerful power-swing and a last-minute lane move. This card has high competitive play potential.
• Colonel America (3-Cost, 3-Power): “Ongoing: Your other cards here have +1 Power for each turn you’ve discarded a card.” (Series 5) – A new piece for the Discard archetype that benefits from the popular Hela or Apocalypse strategies, providing cross-archetype value.

Limited-Time Events and Exclusive Cosmetics: High-Value Rewards

The season is packed with incentives, offering a host of exclusive rewards and the return of fan-favorite limited-time game modes.

• New Locations: Two new locations will enter the rotation: The Deadlands (End of Turn: Horde +1) and Survivors’ Camp (After turn 4, draw if you’re winning here. If not, Horde +2). These promise to intensify the ‘Horde’ focus and create new challenges.
• Returning Game Modes: The popular Sanctum Showdown (Oct 15–22) and Grand Arena (Oct 27–Nov 3) will return, giving players more avenues to earn in-game currency and climb the event reward tracks, including the new Zombie Sentry card.
• Exclusive Variants & Albums: Expect a torrent of new cosmetic items, including a terrifying Tarot-themed Variant Album (inspired by Marvel’s Midnight Suns), a Cyberpunk Album, and the highly sought-after Headpool card and variant within the Super Premium Pass, solidifying this season as a major win for collectors.

The Undead Horde Season is shaping up to be one of Marvel Snap’s most exciting updates of 2025. It’s an essential period for players who enjoy competitive deck-building and are chasing those high-value card unlocks and exclusive cosmetic rewards.