Mortals, the OG God of War is in Marvel Snap

Ares, the God of War, makes a bold entrance into the mortal realm with a mission to conquer and revive long-forgotten archetypes that have slipped from the top win rates. But how did this deity find himself in the pages of comics?

In the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, when Norman Osborne steps up to lead the Avengers, replacing Tony Stark, the team undergoes a significant transformation. None of the original Avengers stick around, except for Ares and Sentry. While Sentry's decision to stay is influenced by his own unique brand of insanity, Ares' allegiance raises eyebrows. As an Avenger, isn't he supposed to combat evil?

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The truth is, Ares' loyalty lies with the concept of war itself, not with any particular side. This trait perfectly aligns with his portrayal in Marvel Comics and his card in Marvel Snap. He thrives in the midst of conflict, favoring large and powerful allies, and often comes off as a rather unlikable character.

Best Cards to Team Up with Ares

Unlike other characters with clear synergies, such as Bullseye and Swarm, or Victoria Hand and Moonstone with Wiccan, Ares doesn't have an obvious partner. He must carve his own path, often relying on decks filled with hefty cards. One exciting pairing is with Grandmaster or Odin, both of which can trigger on-reveal effects, allowing for strategic plays. While a 4-energy card with 12 power is decent, a 6-energy card with 21 power is even better. Utilizing Ares' ability repeatedly, perhaps outside of Surtur decks, could be key.

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Despite Ares' disdain for smaller foes like Shang Chi and Shadow King, protecting him with cards like Cosmo, Armor, or even a Russian dog could be wise, even if Ares would scoff at the idea.

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Ares is Not a Big Bad, Sadly

While there isn't a straightforward [4/12] card in the Snap pool, similar power levels can be reached with cards like Gwenpool and Galacta. With the rise of Control decks such as Mill and Wiccan Control, Ares needs specific deck construction to counter threats like Shang-Chi's rings. Building a deck solely on power isn't viable unless you're outdoing Mister Negative. Even Move decks, which can accumulate significant power, often incorporate disruption strategies. Ares might need to outshine Surtur to be competitive, as Surtur decks currently struggle with a 51.5% win rate and a dismal .15 cube average at Infinity levels.

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In certain matchups, Ares can become a formidable [4/12] against Mill decks when your opponent runs out of cards. However, compared to Death, which offers 12 power for typically less than four energy, Ares feels outdated. Yet, he provides more than just raw power; he's also a valuable source of information.

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Ares might be the weakest card of the season, but he can still turn the tables with a well-timed play. Using him on a curve can lead to a classic coin flip, allowing you to gauge the power curve and numbers, and adjust your strategy accordingly to secure a win.

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Armed with this knowledge, you can deploy disruptive strategies using cards like Alioth, Cosmo, Man-Thing, and Red Guardian to outmaneuver your opponents.

Concluding

Overall, Ares might be the card to skip this month. The 10 Power archetype has lost its charm, particularly when compared to cards that enable energy cheating, like Wiccan, or those that distribute power across the field, like Galacta. Ares demands a very specific deck build to win consistently, and even then, a [4/6] card is underwhelming without a remarkable ability attached.