Marvel Strike Force Ares Guide - Theria Games

Introduction to Ares

Ares, the God of War, stands as a powerful standalone character, not tied to any specific team, which grants players incredible flexibility when building their rosters. His classification as a Villain, Global, Mystic, and Protector character allows him to be incorporated into various team compositions without being restricted to a particular faction or affiliation. In this Marvel Strike Force Ares Guide, players can explore the many ways this versatile character can be utilized effectively across different game modes, making him an invaluable asset to any team.

While Ares was initially designed with a focus on excelling in Alliance War, his abilities extend far beyond that mode, making him a versatile asset in a wide range of game types. His skillset revolves around the unique ability to turn enemy strengths against them, transforming their advantages into his own, which significantly boosts his effectiveness in combat. This makes him a formidable presence on the battlefield, whether facing off against high-powered teams or tackling specific challenges that require adaptability.

One of Ares’ standout features is his role as a plug-and-play character. This means that he can be easily integrated into nearly any team setup, even those without specialized synergies, and still perform at a high level. His design allows him to complement a broad array of strategies, making him a valuable addition regardless of the team’s composition. Moreover, Ares benefits from the game’s recent “great reset” of character stats, where there has been a greater emphasis placed on base stats, providing a solid foundation for his power.

This reset not only enhances his performance but also elevates his overall presence in the game, ensuring that he remains a potent character capable of impacting various gameplay modes. With his versatility, adaptability, and potent ability set, Ares stands as a powerful and reliable character who can fit into virtually any team, making him an excellent choice for players looking to strengthen their roster.

How to Obtain Ares

Ares is primarily obtained through the Battle Pass, where he is available in both the premium and standard (free) tracks. Players who purchase the premium Battle Pass can immediately unlock Ares, while free-to-play players will need to complete three battle passes to unlock him. Ares’ Red Stars are earned through the Drums of War Milestone event, which runs alongside all six Battle Pass seasons. To unlock a 7 Red Star Ares for free, players must complete all six seasons of the free Battle Pass track. In addition, Diamonds and Red Stars for Ares may eventually become available in the Elite Store, likely after all six seasons have passed.

The Battle Pass featuring Ares rotates every two weeks, and it takes two and a half passes to collect enough shards to unlock Ares for free. This means that free-to-play players will likely be able to unlock Ares by the last week of August. Helm of Aries tokens, which are earned through the Battle Pass, can be used to acquire Red Stars for Ares, further enhancing his power. This system allows players to work toward unlocking and upgrading Ares while participating in the Battle Pass content and events.

Ares’ Abilities

Ares’ abilities are designed to make him a powerful force on the battlefield, with a kit focused on manipulating enemy buffs and controlling the flow of combat. His abilities include both regular and awakened versions, with the awakened versions being stronger and more impactful. A breakdown of his abilities is as follows:

God of War

Level: 1

Gain Speed Bar: 20

Sundering Strike

Level: 1

Damage: 50

Wrath of Mars

Level: 1

Damage: 80

Furious Whirlwind

Level: 1

Damage: 50

Passive – God of War
On spawn, Ares gains Safeguard for one turn. In War, after all other characters’ on-spawn effects, Ares will copy and clear all positive effects, charges, and revive once from all enemies. This effect cannot be resisted. When Ares has charge, he gains 20% speed bar and loses one charge. While charged, Ares cannot be stunned, and non-Mythic enemies cannot gain charge or immunity. Mythic characters, such as Apocalypse, Super Skrull, and Mephisto, are exempt from this effect. The Awakened Passive enhances his abilities further; at the start of any match, enemies cannot spawn with Safeguard, and Ares gains Safeguard for two turns, applying in all game modes, not just War.

Basic – Sundering Strike
Ares’ basic attack deals damage to the primary target and clears three positive effects. It then chains to two adjacent targets, dealing slightly less damage and clearing two positive effects. The Awakened Basic increases the damage slightly and applies one Immunity to Ares, enhancing his resilience.

Special – Wrath of Mars
Ares’ special attack clears all Barrier from the primary target, deals damage, and applies Stun and Disrupted for one turn. He gains one charge in the process. The Awakened Special clears Barrier from all enemies and applies Trauma to the primary target in War, further disrupting enemy defenses.

Ultimate – Furious Whirlwind
Ares’ ultimate attack hits the primary target with damage and drains 25% of the damage as health. It then attacks the primary and adjacent targets with piercing damage, draining 25%, applying Bleed for two turns, and Ability Block for one turn. Additionally, it flips one negative effect into a positive on Ares himself. This attack is unavoidable and cannot be blocked. The Awakened Ultimate further enhances the power of this attack by applying Ability Block for two turns and flipping three negative effects to positive on Ares.

Ares’ kit is built to disrupt enemy teams by removing their positive effects, controlling their abilities, and dealing significant damage. His passive ability plays a key role, especially in War, where he can copy and clear enemy buffs, making him a formidable force in any battle.

T4 and ISO-8 Recommendations

For Ares, focusing on the right T4 upgrades and ISO-8 class is key to maximizing his potential.

T4 Ability Prioritization:
The highest priority T4 upgrade is the Passive – God of War. The awakened version of this passive is extremely valuable, preventing enemies from spawning with Safeguard, which is particularly useful in Cosmic Crucible and War. The T4 upgrade to the regular passive also ensures that Ares cannot be stunned while charged, adding to his durability.
Next in priority is the Ultimate – Furious Whirlwind, which should be the second highest priority. The awakened version of this ability improves its effectiveness by applying Ability Block for two turns instead of one and flipping three negative effects to positive on Ares rather than just one. This upgrade significantly enhances Ares’ control over the battle.

The Special – Wrath of Mars is a solid T4 upgrade, though it’s less essential than the first two. The upgrade applies Disrupted to the primary target and the awakened version clears Barrier from all enemies and applies Trauma in War, making it a strong upgrade, especially in that mode.
Lastly, the Basic – Sundering Strike has the lowest priority for T4. While it increases damage and grants immunity to Ares in the awakened version, it doesn’t provide as much impact as the other upgrades.

ISO-8 Class Recommendations:
The recommended ISO-8 classes for Ares are Raider or Striker. Striker is slightly better because his Awakened Basic ability applies Immunity on his ISO-8 attack, and Striker benefits from Ares’ high damage and health stats, as Striker attacks scale with max health.
Raider is also a solid option, especially since Ares’ Ultimate is a multi-hit attack and his Basic hits multiple targets. Raider is particularly effective if Ares is stealing speed-up buffs and goes first in combat.
If you’re using Ares mainly for his passive or if he’s at a lower star level and needs extra survivability, Fortifier can be a good choice to help keep him alive longer.

Summary of T4 and ISO-8:
The recommended T4 upgrade order is Passive > Ultimate > Special > Basic.
For ISO-8, the best classes are Striker or Raider, depending on whether you prioritize his damage output or multi-target attacks.

Given that all of Ares’ abilities have awakened versions, investing in T4 for all of them is important to unlock his full potential. Prioritizing the Passive and Ultimate abilities first will ensure he is highly effective in a variety of game modes.

Ares’ Strengths and Synergies

Ares’s strengths lie in his ability to disrupt and control the battlefield, particularly in Alliance War, while his lack of team synergies makes him a flexible plug-and-play character. His kit is built to manipulate enemy buffs, control enemy abilities, and provide strong crowd control effects. Here’s a breakdown of his strengths and how he can be used:

Strengths:

Ares excels at buff manipulation, with his passive ability allowing him to copy and clear all positive effects, charges, and revive once from all enemies at the start of a match. This makes him especially effective against teams that rely on buffs to thrive, as the clear cannot be resisted. His awakened passive further boosts his utility by preventing enemies from spawning with Safeguard, which is valuable across all game modes, particularly against teams that heavily rely on this mechanic.

In terms of crowd control, Ares brings multiple abilities to the table. His special applies both stun and disrupted, while his ultimate applies ability block, bleed, and drains damage. These abilities allow Ares to control the flow of battle and limit enemy actions. Additionally, Ares has high base stats, including powerful health, damage, and armor, which make him one of the stronger characters statistically in the game. His speed bar manipulation is another notable strength; when charged, Ares gains 20% speed bar on turn, allowing him to act more frequently.

While charged, non-mythic enemies cannot gain charge or immunity, further disrupting opponents that rely on those mechanics. Ares’ ultimate attack is unavoidable and cannot be blocked, ensuring that it hits the target without fail. His versatility allows him to be a plug-and-play character, easily fitting into any team without needing specific synergies. He is particularly strong in War offense, where his abilities to clear buffs and prevent Safeguard are invaluable.

Synergies:

Ares does not belong to a specific team, making him a standalone character with the ability to be slotted into various team compositions. His primary use is in War offense, where his ability to clear buffs and prevent Safeguard from enemies is crucial. He is also a good choice for Cosmic Crucible, where his ability to stop Safeguard on spawn makes him an effective counter to teams like Infinity Watch. While Ares is not a standout character in Dark Dimension, he can still serve as a useful substitute, especially if a Mystic character is needed. However, he may not be as effective as other top-tier characters like Quicksilver or Nightcrawler.

How to Use Ares:

In War offense, Ares shines by disrupting enemy teams that rely on buffs and Safeguard. His ability to clear buffs and prevent Safeguard makes him a key asset in these battles. In Cosmic Crucible, Ares can be used to neutralize teams that depend on buffs or Safeguard, making him an excellent plug-and-play choice against such threats.

In Dark Dimension, while not the most optimal choice, Ares can still be used if you need a Mystic character or a versatile disruptor, but his lack of speed and reliance on awakened abilities may make him less effective than other options. As a plug-and-play character, Ares can be added to nearly any team to strengthen it, filling in for weaker characters as needed.

In summary, Ares is a powerful character with a unique kit designed to counter buff-heavy teams, especially in War and Cosmic Crucible. His flexibility, high stats, and disruptive abilities make him a valuable asset in various game modes, even though he doesn’t have specific team synergies.

Ares’ Weaknesses and Considerations

Ares, despite his many strengths, also has some weaknesses and considerations that players should keep in mind. Here’s a breakdown of his limitations:

Ares’s reliance on awakened abilities is one of his key weaknesses. A significant portion of his power is tied to these abilities, and without them, he is not as effective. His awakened passive, which prevents enemies from spawning with Safeguard, is particularly crucial for his utility across all game modes. While the awakened passive is free-to-play, the awakened ultimate and special abilities are often locked behind paywalls or offers, making them harder to access for some players. Another limitation is his speed; with a base speed of 118, Ares is relatively slow. Though his passive grants him a 20% speed bar when charged, he can still struggle to act first and get his buffs off before other teams.

Ares also suffers from limited team synergies. As a standalone character with no specific team allegiances, he doesn’t benefit from the team synergies or buffs that other characters may receive. This makes him a flexible plug-and-play option, but it also means he doesn’t have the support that some other characters might enjoy. Ares is not a carry character either—while his abilities are disruptive and provide control, he is more of a support character. He excels at doing the “dirty work” for the team but isn’t designed to single-handedly win battles.

He is also vulnerable to evasion. Since only his ultimate attack is unavoidable, Ares can struggle against teams with high evasion, where his other attacks might miss. His value in Dark Dimension is also limited; while usable, his reliance on his awakened abilities and lack of speed make him less effective compared to other options. The Safeguard prevention from his awakened passive, which is useful in the early stages of a match, doesn’t offer as much value in Dark Dimension. Additionally, Ares’s basic and special T4 upgrades are not essential, as they only increase damage or add a small effect, which might not justify the resource investment.

For players who are not heavily invested in War, Ares may be skippable. His main strengths shine in Alliance War, so players who don’t prioritize War may find that their resources would be better spent elsewhere.

Considerations:
Before investing in Ares, players should think about the resource commitment required to unlock his full potential, including T4 materials, ISO-8, gear, and red stars. Ares is most effective against teams that rely on positive effects, charges, or Safeguard, so his utility is limited against teams that don’t focus on these mechanics. He shines in Alliance War and Cosmic Crucible, but his value in other modes may be lower, especially if his awakened abilities are not unlocked.

Free-to-play players must be patient, as unlocking Ares and acquiring his seven red stars can take several weeks. Though Ares is a plug-and-play character, players should consider his weaknesses—particularly his speed and reliance on his passive—when building a team around him. Lastly, stats alone do not guarantee success; Ares may have high base stats, but he does not always function as a high-damage character in the game.

In summary, while Ares is a powerful character, players must carefully consider his weaknesses, such as his reliance on awakened abilities, slow speed, and lack of team synergies. He is most valuable in War and Cosmic Crucible, but players should be prepared to invest significant resources to unlock his full potential and optimize his use in these modes.

Gameplay and Strategy

Ares’s gameplay revolves around his ability to disrupt and control the battlefield, particularly in modes like Alliance War, where his buff removal and crowd control shine. His primary role is to neutralize enemy teams by removing buffs, charges, and preventing Safeguard. Ares’s passive ability is crucial for clearing enemy buffs on spawn, making him an excellent counter to teams that rely heavily on buffs. Additionally, his special ability allows for crowd control by stunning and applying disrupted, while his ultimate can deal significant damage and apply ability block and bleed. Despite being classified as a protector, Ares has a high damage stat, which makes him a considerable threat in battle, especially once his abilities are upgraded.

In terms of strategic use, Ares is especially effective in War offense, where he can clear buffs, prevent Safeguard on spawn, and disrupt enemies that rely on charges or revives. His ability to prevent Safeguard makes him a strong pick for Cosmic Crucible as well, particularly against teams like Infinity Watch and Annihilators. However, while Ares can be used in Dark Dimension, his lack of speed and reliance on his awakened abilities make him less optimal compared to other characters. He can also serve a role in Arena, but other characters may be more effective in that mode.

Ares’s plug-and-play nature allows him to fit into almost any team, especially when replacing a weaker character to boost the team’s overall strength. His lack of specific synergies means he won’t benefit from team buffs, but his versatility allows him to be paired with several different teams, including Cabal for War and New Warriors for Blitz battles. When using Ares, it’s important to consider his speed, as he is relatively slow and can benefit from being placed on teams with faster characters.

Ability usage is key to maximizing Ares’s effectiveness. His passive should be used against teams that rely on buffs, charges, or revives, as it will clear these on spawn, especially in War or when his awakened passive is unlocked. His special is useful for clearing barriers, stunning enemies, and applying disrupted, with an even greater benefit in War when his special is awakened to apply Trauma to the primary target.

The ultimate should be used for high damage and control, as it applies ability block and bleed while being unavoidable. His basic is primarily used for damage and clearing positive effects from both primary and secondary targets, and the awakened version also grants immunity to Ares, which is beneficial for his survivability.

Ares excels against specific characters, including Black Knight, Gladiator, and teams with Safeguard, as he can neutralize their buffs and prevent them from spawning with Safeguard. He is also a reliable counter to Infinity Watch because of his ability to deny Safeguard on spawn. When using Ares, it’s crucial to unlock his awakened passive, as this is essential for his utility across all game modes. T4 prioritization should focus on upgrading his passive and ultimate, as these provide the most significant benefits, while his basic and special T4 upgrades are less impactful. For ISO-8, consider Striker or Raider to maximize his offensive capabilities, particularly in terms of his high damage and crowd control.

Despite his high stats, Ares is not a solo character and should be viewed as a utility character rather than a carry character. He can make a significant impact, especially in War and Cosmic Crucible, but his effectiveness relies on his abilities being used strategically. Players who are not heavily invested in War may find Ares less essential, but his disruptive nature still makes him valuable across various game modes. Ultimately, Ares’s abilities and team composition are what define his effectiveness, so it’s important to use him in the right context to maximize his potential.

Conclusion

Ares is a complex character in Marvel Strike Force with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that should be carefully considered before investing resources. As a standalone, plug-and-play character, he lacks team synergies but offers flexibility in various team compositions. He is designed primarily as a disruptor and controller, not a damage dealer, and his abilities focus on disrupting enemies and controlling the battlefield.

Strengths include his powerful passive ability, which is particularly effective in War, where it allows Ares to clear all positive effects, charges, and revives from enemies on spawn. The awakened passive further enhances his utility by preventing enemies from spawning with Safeguard, making him a valuable asset in all game modes. Ares also boasts high base health and damage, making him a formidable presence on the battlefield. His abilities, such as applying stuns, ability blocks, bleeds, and disruptions, further enhance his role as a controller. Additionally, his versatility allows him to fit into many teams, even though he lacks specific team synergies.

However, Ares does have several weaknesses. A significant portion of his power is tied to his awakened abilities, particularly the passive, which is essential for his effectiveness in all game modes. His speed is also a limitation, with a base speed of 118, which can make him less effective at acting quickly in some situations. Because Ares is a standalone character, he does not benefit from team synergies or buffs that other characters might enjoy.

He is not a carry character and is more suited as a utility, providing disruption and control rather than high damage output. Ares is also vulnerable to evasion because most of his attacks are not unavoidable, which can be problematic against teams with high evasion. His effectiveness in Dark Dimension is limited, as his passive is only impactful at the start of the match, and his low speed further reduces his utility. Additionally, the T4 upgrades for his basic and special abilities are not essential, and for some players, Ares might be considered skippable if they are not heavily invested in War or Cosmic Crucible.

In terms of gameplay and strategy, Ares is most effective in War offense, where he can neutralize enemy buffs and prevent Safeguard from triggering. His ability to prevent Safeguard makes him a valuable counter against teams like Infinity Watch and Annihilators in Cosmic Crucible. Although Ares can be used in Dark Dimension, he is not an optimal choice compared to other characters.

His safeguard prevention can also be useful in Arena, but there may be more suitable options for that mode. As a plug-and-play character, Ares can replace weaker members of various teams, including Cabal, New Warriors, and Gamma, to enhance their effectiveness. When using Ares, prioritize upgrading his passive and ultimate abilities, as these provide the most significant benefits. For ISO-8, either the Striker or Raider class will maximize his offensive capabilities.

Ares is an effective counter to several characters, including Black Knight, Gladiator, and teams that rely on Safeguard, as his abilities can remove buffs and prevent them from spawning with Safeguard. He also counters Infinity Watch, making him a valuable asset in countering these meta teams.

Considerations when using Ares include the need for a significant resource investment in T4 materials, ISO-8, gear, and red stars. Ares is best used against teams that rely on positive effects, charges, or Safeguard, so players should evaluate his usefulness based on their playstyle and team composition. Free-to-play players should be patient, as unlocking Ares and acquiring his red stars can take time. Additionally, while Ares’s high stats make him a strong character, they do not guarantee success, and his abilities need to be used strategically to maximize his effectiveness.

In conclusion, Ares is a valuable character for players who are heavily invested in Alliance War and Cosmic Crucible, as his disruptive abilities and counters to key meta teams make him a formidable asset. However, to unlock his full potential, players must invest in his awakened abilities. For players who are not focused on these game modes, Ares may be a skippable character, and resources might be better spent elsewhere. Ares is a utility character rather than a carry, and his strategic placement and ability use are key to making the most of him.