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 iconic figure from mythology find himself entangled in the world of comic book strategy? When Norman Osborn usurps Tony Stark as the Avengers' leader following Secret Invasion, most Avengers abandon him. However, Ares and Sentry remain, the latter due to his intentional insanity. But why would Ares, seemingly an Avenger dedicated to fighting evil, support the clearly villainous Osborn?

The answer lies in Ares' unwavering loyalty to war itself, not to any specific side. This perfectly aligns with his Marvel Snap card's flavor. Ares thrives in large-scale conflicts, preferring powerful companions and disdaining weaker opponents. He's essentially a powerful, yet somewhat dull, force of nature.

Best Cards to Team Up With Ares

Unlike some cards with readily apparent synergies, Ares requires a different approach. He excels in decks packed with high-power cards. One exciting pairing is with cards featuring "on reveal" abilities, allowing for strategic plays alongside Grandmaster or Odin. While a 12-power, 4-energy card is decent, a 21-power, 6-energy card is far more preferable. The key to using Ares effectively, outside of Surtur decks, is to leverage his ability repeatedly.

Despite his disdain for weaker foes like Shang-Chi and Shadow King, consider protecting Ares with cards like Cosmo or Armor. (Though, Ares would likely scoff at the idea of being shielded by a Russian dog or Japanese teenager.)

Ares: Not So Big Bad After All

While a raw 4/12 card doesn't exist in Marvel Snap, equivalents like Gwenpool and Galactus can achieve similar power levels. The rise of control decks like Mill and Wiccan Control, designed to counter Shang-Chi, highlights the need for a specific deck build to support Ares. A deck solely based on power is unlikely to succeed, requiring disruption and strategic maneuvering to gain an advantage. Ares likely needs to outperform Surtur decks, which currently underperform.

Surtur 10-power archetypes average around a 51.5% win rate at high levels of play, dropping to 48% at lower levels. While a 3 vs. 2 scenario favors Ares against opponents with only one rock in their top three cards, Darkhawk's lack of strong archetypes limits this advantage. Mill decks can significantly enhance Ares' effectiveness, but his overall performance remains questionable compared to cards like Death, a more efficient 12-power option.

Ares' current weakness stems from his vulnerability to counters and the decreasing popularity of high-power archetypes. His success hinges on a very specific deck construction and a favorable wager. Simply playing him on a curve is a gamble.

Employing disruptive strategies with cards like Alioth, Cosmo, Man-Thing, and Red Guardian can maximize Ares' potential.

Concluding Thoughts

Ares, in my opinion, is a skippable card this season. His counterability and the shift away from high-power archetypes make him less appealing than energy-cheating cards (like Wiccan) or widespread power-granting cards (like Galactus). His consistent success requires a highly specialized deck, and even a 4/12 card is underwhelming without a powerful ability. A 4/6 card, without a compelling ability, is simply poor.