Attention all *Marvel Snap* players who love discard decks: Khonshu, the God of the Moon, has now entered the fray, bringing a powerful new tool to the game. This card, introduced by Second Dinner, is not only one of the most complex they've released but also a game-changer for discard strategies. Let's delve into how Khonshu operates and how you can maximize his potential.
How Khonshu Works in Marvel Snap
Khonshu is a 6-cost, 5-power card with a unique ability: When discarded, he returns in his next phase. On Reveal, he resurrects a card you discarded to another location, setting its Power 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, he resurrects a discarded card to another location, setting its Power to 8.
Finally, Khonshu’s ‘final phase’ transforms him into a 6-cost, 12-power card. On Reveal, he resurrects a discarded card to another location, boosting its Power to 12.
Each time Khonshu is discarded, he upgrades, enhancing his On Reveal effect. This mechanic is reminiscent of Apocalypse's, but with a twist. The strategy with Khonshu typically involves discarding him one or two times before playing him on the final turn, ideally reviving a card that benefits from a power increase, such as Iron Man or Gorr the God Butcher.
Although Khonshu can't revive a specific card, playing his 12-power final phase on turn 6 to resurrect a 1-cost Meek with 12 power can often secure victory.
Best Day One Khonshu Decks in Marvel Snap
Determining the optimal deck for Khonshu will require some experimentation, as he might not seamlessly fit into traditional discard decks. Instead, I envision him fitting well into a Darkhawk-style Stature list, as well as alternative discard-type decks. Here's an example of the former:
- 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.
This deck includes only one Series 5 card, Fenris Wolf, which is crucial as resurrecting an opponent’s discarded card via Moon Knight, Silver Samurai, or Black Bolt can be a winning move.
The strategy is straightforward: fill your opponent’s deck with rocks to power up Darkhawk and aim to discard Khonshu as much as possible. Moon Knight, Silver Samurai, and Blade are key for hitting Khonshu repeatedly. The challenge lies in timing your discards correctly to ensure Moon Knight hits Khonshu rather than Rock Slide.
Play Stature early, then Darkhawk on turn 5 and Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a card with 8 to 12 power. Given the low power of the other cards, Khonshu significantly boosts them.
While Khonshu may not replace Apocalypse in traditional discard decks, there's room for experimentation. Pairing him with Apocalypse is tricky due to their high cost, but energy ramp from Corvus Glaive can help. Here's an alternative list:
- Miek
- Scorn
- Blade
- Morbius
- Swarm
- Moon Knight
- Corvus Glaive
- Lady Sif
- Dracula
- MODOK
- Khonshu
- Apocalypse
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
Scorn, the only Series 5 card here, can be replaced with other discard activators like Colleen Wing or X-23 for additional energy ramp.
This deck leans toward traditional discard but hinges on playing Corvus Glaive on turn 3 to enable dropping Khonshu alongside other discard activators. This setup aims to maximize Apocalypse's power and flood the board. Whether this outperforms traditional discard without Khonshu remains to be seen, but with Moon Knight, Blade, and Lady Sif, you should reach Khonshu's final phase while keeping Apocalypse strong for Dracula.
Is Khonshu Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens?
Whether you're a fan of discard decks or not, Khonshu's power and unique mechanics make him a compelling addition to Marvel Snap. He's likely to become a staple in hybrid discard lists and could very well become meta-relevant. If you have the resources, Khonshu is definitely worth investing in.
