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 does this deity of conflict find himself among the Avengers, a team typically dedicated to thwarting evil?

Following the Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn assumes leadership of the Avengers, leaving Ares and Sentry as his only remaining allies. Sentry's allegiance stems from his deliberate insanity, but Ares's support for the clearly villainous Osborn seems paradoxical. The answer lies in Ares's true loyalty: not to any particular faction, but to war itself. This perfectly aligns his Marvel Comics persona with his Marvel Snap card. Ares thrives on large-scale conflict, preferring the company of powerful individuals.

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Strategic Deployment of Ares in Marvel Snap

Unlike cards with readily apparent synergies, Ares necessitates a unique strategic approach. His effectiveness hinges on utilizing high-power cards. Cards like Grandmaster or Odin, with their on-reveal effects, can enhance his capabilities. While a 4-energy, 12-power card is decent, a 6-energy, 21-power card is significantly more impactful. Repeating his ability is key to maximizing his potential beyond Surtur decks.

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Despite his disdain for weaker opponents, consider protecting Ares with cards like Cosmo or Armor.

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Ares: A Surprisingly Weak Link?

While Ares boasts impressive power, his lack of inherent synergy and vulnerability to counter-strategies, particularly from control decks, limit his overall effectiveness. His reliance on high-power cards makes deck construction crucial; a deck solely focused on power is usually unsustainable. He often needs to outperform Surtur, an archetype already struggling for competitiveness. The Surtur 10-Power archetype currently boasts a meager win rate, hovering around 51.5% at high levels of play.

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Furthermore, cards like Death offer superior power-to-cost ratios, making Ares seem outdated. His success relies heavily on winning the wager and adapting to the power curve. However, his value extends beyond raw power; he serves as a valuable source of information about the opponent's hand.

Image: ensigame.com

Image: ensigame.com

Conclusion: A Skippable Card?

Ultimately, Ares often proves too easily countered compared to cards that manipulate energy or grant widespread power boosts. His high-risk, high-reward nature, coupled with his demanding deck-building requirements, makes him a less-than-ideal choice in many situations. While a 4/12 card is powerful, a 4/6 card is generally underwhelming, highlighting the importance of strategic card placement and synergy. In conclusion, Ares is arguably the least desirable card of the season.