Mortals, the OG God of War is in Marvel Snap

Ares' Descent into the Marvel Universe: A Marvel Snap Analysis

Ares, the God of War, unexpectedly joins the Avengers under Norman Osborn's leadership following the Secret Invasion. This raises questions: why would a war god align with an evil leader? The answer lies in Ares' allegiance – not to a specific side, but to war itself. This perfectly mirrors his Marvel Snap card, where his strength lies in powerful, high-cost cards.

Image: ensigame.com

Optimizing Ares in Marvel Snap

Unlike cards with readily apparent synergies, Ares demands a strategic approach. His effectiveness hinges on utilizing high-power cards. Pairing him with on-reveal cards like Grandmaster or Odin can create cunning plays. While a 12-power, 4-energy card is decent, a 21-power, 6-energy card is far more desirable. Repeating his ability is key to maximizing his potential outside of Surtur decks.

Image: ensigame.com

Protecting Ares from threats like Shang-Chi and Shadow King is crucial. Cards like Cosmo or Armor offer valuable shielding.

Image: ensigame.com

Ares: Not a Top-Tier Threat (Yet?)

While Ares lacks a direct equivalent to a 4/12 card, similar power levels can be achieved. However, the rise of control decks presents a challenge. Building a deck solely around power is risky, necessitating disruption strategies. Outperforming the currently underperforming Surtur deck is essential for Ares to thrive.

The Surtur 10-power archetype boasts a mediocre win rate (around 51.5% at high levels), highlighting the difficulty of relying solely on high power. Ares' effectiveness is heavily dependent on deck composition. A 4/6 card is generally weak, while a 4/12 is exceptional.

Image: ensigame.com

Strategies like Mill can significantly boost Ares' value, turning him into a game-changer against opponents lacking card draw. However, compared to cards enabling energy manipulation or widespread power boosts, Ares' impact is often limited.

Image: ensigame.com

A simple coin flip scenario arises when playing Ares strategically, depending on the power curve and opponent's cards. Disruptive strategies using cards like Alioth, Cosmo, Man-Thing, and Red Guardian can be effective.

Image: ensigame.com

Conclusion: A Risky Play

Ares is currently considered a weaker card. His susceptibility to counters and the current meta favor energy manipulation and field-wide power boosts. His success is heavily reliant on specific deck construction, making him a risky choice. While a 4/12 card is powerful, a 4/6 is underwhelming. Careful consideration is needed before including him in your deck.