The God of War descends upon Earth, seeking domination and the revival of long-forgotten battle archetypes that have fallen from meta dominance. But how did this mythical warlord find his way into comic book lore?
Following the events of Secret Invasion, when Norman Osborn usurps Tony Stark's position as leader of the Avengers, no original members remain—save for two unlikely allies: Ares and Sentry. While Sentry's participation stems from his inherent instability, why would Ares, supposedly an Avenger, align with such a clearly villainous figure?
War Above All Allegiances
Ares' loyalty isn't to heroes or villains—it's to conflict itself. This perfectly aligns with his Marvel Comics persona and translates seamlessly to his Marvel Snap card design. The warmongering deity thrives in battle, surrounding himself only with the mightiest warriors while dismissing weaker foes with contempt.
Optimal Card Synergies
Unlike Bullseye's natural Swarm combos or Wiccan's Moonstone synergy, Ares requires more specialized deckbuilding. The warlord excels in decks dominated by high-power units. One particularly promising combination involves triggering his On Reveal ability multiple times using Grandmaster or Odin—transforming his base 4/12 statline into a devastating 6/21 powerhouse when played optimally.
While Ares scoffs at threats like Shang-Chi, strategic protection from Cosmo or Armor becomes crucial to maintain his battlefield presence—an irony given his disdain for "inferior" protectors.
The Power Paradox
While Ares' raw 4/12 stats impress, they pale compared to contemporary powerhouses like Death or Galacta in the current meta. The resurgence of control decks further complicates his viability, demanding extremely specialized builds to succeed—especially compared to more flexible archetypes.
The Surtur archetype illustrates this struggle, maintaining just a 51.5% win rate in high-level play with minimal cube gains. Even in ideal Mill scenarios where Ares achieves his full potential, alternative win conditions often prove more reliable.
Alternative Strategies
Ares' true value may lie in information warfare. His predictable power spikes enable calculated bluffs and strategic disruptions when combined with cards like Alioth or Man-Thing. This transforms him into more than just a beatstick—he becomes a psychological weapon that can dictate the flow of battle.
The Verdict
Ares ultimately represents a high-risk, situational pick in the current meta. While his potential power ceiling is impressive, the required deck constraints and prevalent counters make him difficult to justify compared to more versatile options. For most players, the God of War may best serve as a knowledge tool rather than a cornerstone card—teaching valuable lessons about power management and tactical betting without consistently delivering victories.
