Ares, the God of War, finds himself in the Marvel Comics universe with a unique perspective on conflict and loyalty. In the aftermath of the Secret Invasion storyline, when Norman Osborn takes over the Avengers, Ares remains one of the few original members to stay by his side, alongside the Sentry. Unlike the Sentry, who aligns with Osborn due to his own psychological complexities, Ares' loyalty is not to individuals but to the concept of war itself. This aligns perfectly with his portrayal in both Marvel Comics and his card in Marvel Snap, where he embodies the essence of conflict, preferring to be surrounded by strength and power.

Image: ensigame.com

In Marvel Snap, Ares' card reflects his affinity for war and power. He is best utilized in decks that feature large, powerful cards. A strategic move involves pairing Ares with cards like Grandmaster or Odin, leveraging their on-reveal abilities to amplify Ares' impact on the battlefield. For instance, using Ares in a deck with cards that can reach or exceed his 12 power at 4 energy cost, or even pushing towards a 21 power at 6 energy, can be highly effective. Repeating his ability, especially outside of Surtur decks, could be a key strategy.

Image: ensigame.com

Despite his disdain for smaller opponents like Shang-Chi and Shadow King, Ares can be protected by cards such as Cosmo or Armor, adding a layer of defense to his otherwise aggressive playstyle.

Image: ensigame.com

However, Ares faces challenges in the current meta. While he is a formidable card with 12 power at 4 energy, the game's environment has shifted towards more flexible and control-oriented decks. Ares requires specific deck construction to be effective, often needing to outperform established archetypes like Surtur, which has seen declining competitive performance.

Image: ensigame.com

In matchups against decks like Mill, Ares can become exceptionally powerful, but the overall meta leans towards cards that offer more versatility and disruption, such as Death, which often provides similar power at a lower cost. Ares can still be a valuable asset for gathering information and executing disruptive strategies, but his effectiveness is highly dependent on the opponent's deck composition.

Image: ensigame.com

Ultimately, Ares may be considered the weakest card of the season due to his specific requirements and the ease with which he can be countered. His success hinges on a coin flip of power distribution, making him a risky choice compared to more universally applicable cards.

Image: ensigame.com

In conclusion, while Ares brings a unique flavor to Marvel Snap with his war-centric approach, his effectiveness is limited by the current meta. Players may find more success with cards that offer broader strategic options and are less susceptible to specific counters.