Ares, the God of War, made his way into the Marvel Comics universe with a unique perspective on conflict and loyalty, which is reflected in both his comic book appearances and his Marvel Snap card. When Norman Osborne took over the Avengers following the events of Secret Invasion, Ares joined him, not out of allegiance to Osborne's morality, but due to his affinity for war itself. This trait is mirrored in his Marvel Snap card, where he enjoys the company of large, powerful entities and thrives in high-stakes, aggressive gameplay scenarios.
In Marvel Snap, Ares doesn't immediately fit into established synergies like those of Bullseye and Swarm or Victoria Hand and Moonstone. Instead, he functions best in decks packed with high-power cards. One effective strategy involves pairing him with cards like Grandmaster or Odin, leveraging their on-reveal abilities to maximize Ares' potential. A 4-energy card with 12 power is impressive, but a 6-energy card with 21 power is even more formidable, suggesting that repeating Ares' ability could be key, especially outside of Surtur decks.
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Despite his disdain for smaller foes like Shang Chi and Shadow King, protecting Ares with cards like Cosmo or Armor can be beneficial. These cards can shield him from disruptions, ensuring his power remains intact throughout the game.
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While Ares isn't considered a "Big Bad" in the Snap card pool, his power level can be matched by cards like Gwenpool or Galacta. However, the current meta favors flexible decks, and Ares requires specific deck construction to be effective. Simply focusing on power alone might not suffice unless your strategy outshines that of Mister Negative.
The Surtur archetype, which Ares could potentially enhance, has an average win rate of about 51.5% at Infinity levels, but struggles at lower levels. Ares could be a game-changer in Mill decks, where his power can reach astronomical levels when an opponent runs out of cards.
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However, with cards like Death offering similar power at a lower energy cost, Ares might seem outdated. Yet, his ability to provide valuable information about the opponent's power curve can be a strategic advantage. This insight allows players to use cards like Alioth, Cosmo, Man-Thing, and Red Guardian to disrupt opponents effectively.
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Despite these potential strategies, Ares appears to be one of the weaker cards of the season. His effectiveness often hinges on a coin flip, requiring players to play their cards right to secure a win.
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In conclusion, while Ares can be a powerful addition to specific decks, his overall appeal is diminished by the ease of countering him compared to other cards that offer more versatile power boosts or energy manipulation. To make Ares work, players need to craft their decks carefully, suggesting that he might be a skip for many this month.
