Attention all *Marvel Snap* players, especially those who love discard decks: Khonshu, the God of the Moon, has entered the fray, and he's bringing a complex twist to the game. As one of the most intricate cards released by Second Dinner to date, let's delve into how Khonshu functions and explore his potential impact on your deck strategies.
How Khonshu Works in Marvel Snap
Khonshu is a 6-cost, 5-power card with an ability that reads: "When discarded, returns in its next phase. On Reveal: Resurrect a card you discarded to another location with its Power set to 5."
Khonshu's 'next phase' evolves him into a 6-cost, 8-power card with the ability: "When discarded, returns in its final phase. On Reveal: Resurrect a card you discarded to another location with its Power set to 8."
Finally, Khonshu's 'final phase' transforms him into a 6-cost, 12-power card with the ability: "On Reveal: Resurrect a card you discarded to another location with its Power set to 12."
As you can see, each time Khonshu is discarded, he returns to your hand and upgrades himself, making his On Reveal effect progressively stronger. This mechanic mirrors the gameplay of Apocalypse, offering a strategic edge to discard decks. The goal with Khonshu is often to discard him one or two times before playing him on the final turn, reviving a card that benefits from a power boost, such as Iron Man or Gorr the God Butcher. Although Khonshu can't revive a specific card, dropping a 12-power final phase Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a 1-cost, 12-power Meek can be a game-changer.
Best Day One Khonshu Decks in Marvel Snap
Finding the perfect deck for Khonshu will likely require extensive experimentation, as he might not fit seamlessly into traditional discard strategies. I envision him working well in a Darkhawk-style Stature deck, along with some alternative discard-type decks. Let's explore a potential Darkhawk-style deck:
- Korg
- Blade
- Fenris Wolf
- Juggernaut
- Moon Knight
- Lady Sif
- Rock Slide
- Silver Samurai
- Darkhawk
- Black Bolt
- Stature
- Khonshu
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
The only Series 5 card in this list is Fenris Wolf, which is essential as resurrecting an opponent's discarded card via Moon Knight, Silver Samurai, or Black Bolt can often be a winning move. The strategy involves filling your opponent's deck with rocks to bolster Darkhawk and maximizing Khonshu's discards. Key to this deck is timing your discards correctly; for example, ensuring Moon Knight targets Khonshu instead of Rock Slide. Play Stature early, then aim to play Darkhawk on turn 5 and Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a card with 8 to 12 power.
While Khonshu might not directly replace Apocalypse in traditional discard decks, there's room for experimentation. Here's a potential list incorporating both Khonshu and Apocalypse:
- Miek
- Scorn
- Blade
- Morbius
- Swarm
- Moon Knight
- Corvus Glaive
- Lady Sif
- Dracula
- MODOK
- Khonshu
- Apocalypse
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
This deck includes Scorn, the only Series 5 card, which can be replaced with other discard activators like Colleen Wing or X-23 for additional energy ramp. The strategy here revolves around utilizing Corvus Glaive on turn 3 to play Khonshu alongside other discard activators, enhancing Apocalypse and flooding the board. Whether this deck will outperform traditional discard lists without Khonshu remains to be seen, but with Moon Knight, Blade, and Lady Sif, you should have no trouble getting Khonshu to his final phase while keeping Apocalypse strong for Dracula.
Is Khonshu Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens?
Regardless of your affinity for discard decks, Khonshu's power and complexity make him a card worth considering. I believe he will become a staple in hybrid discard decks and could very well become meta-relevant. If you have the resources, picking up Khonshu could be a strategic move that pays off in the long run.
