Mortals, the OG God of War is in Marvel Snap

Ares, the God of War, descends upon the mortal realm of Marvel Snap, aiming to conquer and revitalize underperforming archetypes. But how did this deity end up among the Avengers, supporting the villainous Norman Osborn?

Following the Secret Invasion, with Osborn at the helm of the Avengers, Ares and Sentry are the only remaining Avengers. Sentry's allegiance is attributed to his insanity, but Ares's loyalty to the clearly evil Osborn is perplexing. The answer lies in Ares's devotion not to a specific side, but to war itself. This perfectly aligns with his Marvel Snap card's characteristics: a preference for large-scale conflicts and powerful allies.

Image: ensigame.com

Strategic Synergies:

Unlike cards with readily apparent synergies, Ares demands a unique approach. His high-power, high-cost nature necessitates decks packed with powerful cards. Cards like Grandmaster and Odin, with their on-reveal effects, offer cunning strategic options. While a 12-power, 4-energy card is decent, a 21-power, 6-energy card is significantly more impactful. Repeating his ability is key to maximizing his effectiveness outside of Surtur decks.

Image: ensigame.com

Protective measures are also advisable. Despite Ares' disdain for weaker opponents, shielding him with cards like Cosmo or Armor is strategically sound.

Image: ensigame.com

Ares: Not a Top-Tier Threat:

While Ares lacks a direct equivalent to a 4/12 card in the game, comparable high-power cards exist. However, the rise of control decks like Mill and Wiccan Control highlights Ares' vulnerability to disruption. This necessitates a highly specific deck construction, making a purely power-based strategy impractical. Outperforming the currently underperforming Surtur deck is crucial for Ares' success.

The Surtur 10-Power archetype boasts a mediocre win rate (around 51.5% at high levels of play), indicating Ares' uphill battle. Matchups heavily depend on card distribution and the presence of disruptive strategies.

Image: ensigame.com

The Mill archetype can significantly enhance Ares' value, turning him into a formidable force against opponents depleted of cards. However, even with these strategies, Ares' overall effectiveness remains questionable, particularly when compared to cards offering energy manipulation or widespread power boosts.

Image: ensigame.com

Conclusion:

Ares' high cost and susceptibility to counter-strategies make him a less-than-ideal card. His reliance on a specific deck build and the current meta make him a risky inclusion. Unless paired with exceptional synergies, a 4/6 card is underwhelming, even if a 4/12 is highly desirable. Ultimately, Ares is likely a skip for most players.

Image: ensigame.com