Ares, the God of War, descends upon the mortal realm of Marvel Snap, aiming to conquer and revitalize underperforming archetypes. But how did this Olympian deity end up amongst the Avengers, and more importantly, how effective is he in the game?
Norman Osborn's unexpected Avengers leadership, following the Secret Invasion, leaves him with a rather unconventional team: Ares and Sentry. While Sentry's allegiance stems from his intentional insanity, Ares' motives are more nuanced. His loyalty lies not with any specific faction, but with war itself. This inherent neutrality perfectly mirrors his Marvel Snap card's design and playstyle. Ares thrives in large-scale conflicts, preferring the company of powerful entities.
Image: ensigame.com
Strategic Deployment of Ares
Unlike cards with readily apparent synergies, Ares demands a unique strategic approach. His strength lies in high-power cards. Cards like Grandmaster or Odin, with their on-reveal effects, can be cleverly combined with Ares to maximize his potential. While a 12-power, 4-energy card is decent, a 21-power, 6-energy card significantly enhances his impact. Repeating his ability is key to unlocking his full potential beyond Surtur decks.
Image: ensigame.com
Despite his disdain for weaker opponents, protecting Ares with cards like Cosmo or Armor is crucial.
Image: ensigame.com
Ares: Not a Game-Changer
While Ares boasts impressive power (analogous to Gwenpool or Galactus), his effectiveness is limited by the current meta. The rise of control decks like Mill and Wiccan Control, coupled with the threat of Shang-Chi, necessitates a carefully constructed deck to support him. Reliance solely on power is often insufficient, and Ares struggles to outperform established archetypes like Surtur. Surtur decks, for instance, currently boast a win rate around 51.5% at high levels of play.
Image: ensigame.com
Ares' effectiveness is further hampered by the lack of a strong supporting archetype. Mill decks can enhance his value, but his overall impact remains debatable. His high cost and vulnerability make him a risky investment, often resulting in a coin-flip scenario.
Image: ensigame.com
Conclusion: A Risky Play
In conclusion, Ares is arguably the weakest card of the season. His high power is offset by his susceptibility to counter-strategies and the lack of a robust supporting archetype. His success hinges on a very specific deck build, making him a high-risk, low-reward card in the current Marvel Snap meta. While his power is undeniable, his overall impact falls short compared to cards offering energy manipulation or widespread power boosts.
Image: ensigame.com
