Mortals, the OG God of War is in Marvel Snap

Ares, the God of War, descends upon the mortal realm of Marvel Snap, challenging the meta and reviving forgotten archetypes. His unexpected appearance as an Avenger under Norman Osborn, following the Secret Invasion, raises questions. How can a god of war align with such an antagonist?

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The answer lies in Ares' allegiance: he's loyal to war itself, not any specific faction. This perfectly mirrors his Marvel Snap card. Ares thrives in powerful, large-scale conflicts, preferring the company of strong individuals. He's essentially a powerful, yet somewhat dull, brute.

Table of Contents

• Best Cards to Team Up With Ares
• Ares Isn't a "Big Bad," Sadly
• Conclusion

Best Cards to Team Up With Ares

Unlike cards with readily apparent synergies, Ares necessitates a unique deck-building approach. He excels in decks packed with high-power cards. His "on reveal" ability synergizes well with cards like Grandmaster or Odin, allowing for strategic manipulation. 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.

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

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Ares Isn't a "Big Bad," Sadly

While a raw 4/12 card is absent from the game, equivalents exist. However, the rise of control decks like Mill and Wiccan Control, designed to counter high-power cards, presents a challenge. Ares demands a highly specific deck construction, unlike the flexible decks currently dominating the meta.

Relying solely on power is usually unsustainable unless your wager significantly outweighs your opponent's (which is unlikely). Even Move decks, known for accumulating power, employ disruption for an advantage. Ares needs to outperform Surtur decks, which are currently struggling to maintain competitiveness. Surtur decks, focusing on 10-power archetypes, boast a mediocre win rate (around 51.5% at higher levels).

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The matchup against Rock-heavy decks is also problematic. Mill decks can make Ares exceptionally powerful (a 10000% increase in effectiveness), but this scenario is highly specific. Compared to Death, a 12-power card with lower energy cost, Ares falls short.

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Ares's apparent weakness stems from his reliance on a coin flip-style gamble. His effectiveness hinges on winning the wager and having a favorable power curve. Successful utilization requires careful deck construction and strategic play.

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However, incorporating disruptive strategies with cards like Alioth, Cosmo, Man-Thing, or Red Guardian can significantly improve his effectiveness.

Conclusion

Ares is arguably the weakest card of the season. His vulnerability to counter strategies and the current meta's shift away from pure power archetypes make him less appealing. His success depends heavily on a very specific deck build, making him a risky choice compared to cards that offer energy manipulation or widespread power boosts. While a 4/12 card is inherently strong, a 4/6 card, without a powerful ability, is significantly less effective.