Mortals, the OG God of War is in Marvel Snap

Ares, 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 amidst the superheroics of the Avengers?

Following the Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn assumes leadership of the Avengers, leaving Ares and Sentry as his sole companions. Sentry's allegiance stems from his deliberate insanity, but Ares' support for the clearly villainous Osborn is perplexing. After all, isn't he an Avenger? Shouldn't Avengers oppose evil?

Image: ensigame.com

The answer lies in Ares' unwavering loyalty to war itself, not to any specific faction. This perfectly aligns his Marvel Comics persona with his Marvel Snap card. Ares thrives in large-scale conflicts, preferring the company of powerful individuals. He's essentially a powerful, yet somewhat dull, brute.

Table of Contents

• Best Cards to Team Up With Ares
• Ares Isn't a Top-Tier Threat (Sadly)
• Conclusion

Best Cards to Team Up With Ares

Unlike cards with readily apparent synergies (e.g., Bullseye, Swarm, and Scorn), Ares requires a unique strategic approach. His strength lies in decks featuring high-power cards. Cards with "on reveal" abilities, combined with Grandmaster or Odin, offer cunning tactical options. While a 4-energy, 12-power card is decent, a 6-energy, 21-power card is far more desirable. Repeating his ability is key to maximizing his effectiveness outside of Surtur decks.

Image: ensigame.com

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

Image: ensigame.com

Ares Isn't a Top-Tier Threat (Sadly)

While a direct 4/12 card equivalent doesn't exist, cards like Gwenpool and Galactus offer comparable power. The rise of control decks (Mill and Wiccan Control) highlights the need for specific deck construction to utilize Ares effectively. A power-focused deck alone is insufficient, requiring disruption tactics for an advantage. Ares needs to surpass Surtur's performance to be truly competitive.

The current Surtur 10-Power archetype boasts a mediocre win rate (around 51.5% at high levels of play, dropping to 48% below). A comparison against a Rock-heavy opponent's top three cards (3 vs. 2) reveals Darkhawk's lack of strong synergies in this context. Mill decks transform Ares into a formidable force when the opponent is low on cards.

Image: ensigame.com

However, Death (12 power, lower energy cost) currently outperforms Ares. While intriguing, Ares' current viability is questionable. His value lies not just in raw power but also as a source of strategic information.

Image: ensigame.com

Ares' perceived weakness makes him a risky card. His effectiveness hinges on a successful wager and favorable power curve matchups. Strategic card play is crucial for victory.

Image: ensigame.com

Disruptive strategies using cards like Alioth, Cosmo, Man-Thing, and Red Guardian can enhance Ares' effectiveness.

Conclusion

Ares is arguably the least desirable card this season. His susceptibility to counter-strategies, compared to energy-cheating (Wiccan) and widespread power-granting cards (Galactus), diminishes his appeal. Consistent victory requires highly specific deck construction. A 4/6 card is generally weak, even if a 4/12 card is powerful. Ares' high power comes at the cost of strategic limitations.