Discard players, rejoice! Khonshu, the God of the Moon, has made his grand entrance into *Marvel Snap*, bringing with him a powerful tool for discard-focused decks. Given its complexity, let's delve into how Khonshu operates within the game.
How Khonshu Works in Marvel Snap
Khonshu is a 6-cost card with an initial power of 5. His ability 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' transforms 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."
In his 'final phase', Khonshu becomes 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."
Each time Khonshu is discarded, he returns to your hand with an upgraded version of himself, enhancing his On Reveal effect. This mechanic is reminiscent of how Apocalypse functions in the game. The strategy with Khonshu typically involves discarding him one or two times before playing him on the final turn to resurrect a card like Iron Man or Gorr the God Butcher, benefiting from the power boost. Although Khonshu can't revive a specific card, playing him in his 12-power final phase on turn 6 to resurrect a 1-cost, 12-power Meek can often lead to victory.
Best Day One Khonshu Decks in Marvel Snap
Experimentation will be key in finding the optimal deck for Khonshu, as he doesn't naturally fit into traditional discard decks. Initially, he seems to work well in a Darkhawk-style Stature list, as well as in 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.
The only Series 5 card in this deck is Fenris Wolf, which is crucial as resurrecting an opponent's discarded card from Moon Knight, Silver Samurai, or Black Bolt often secures a win. The strategy involves filling your opponent's deck with rocks to enhance Darkhawk's power and discarding Khonshu as frequently as possible. Key cards like Moon Knight and Blade will repeatedly target Khonshu, with the challenge being to time discards correctly. Play Stature early, then Darkhawk on turn 5, and Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a card with 8 to 12 power.
While Khonshu might not fit into traditional discard decks alongside Apocalypse due to his 6-cost, some energy ramp can make it work. Here's another list incorporating Corvus Glaive for this purpose:
- Miek
- Scorn
- Blade
- Morbius
- Swarm
- Moon Knight
- Corvus Glaive
- Lady Sif
- Dracula
- MODOK
- Khonshu
- Apocalypse
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
In this deck, Scorn is the only Series 5 card and can be replaced by Colleen Wing or X-23 for additional energy ramp. The strategy revolves around playing Corvus Glaive on turn 3 to enable the deployment of Khonshu and other discard activators, boosting Apocalypse and flooding the board. The effectiveness of this approach compared to traditional discard lists without Khonshu is yet to be determined, but it's clear that getting Khonshu to his final phase should be straightforward with cards like Moon Knight, Blade, and Lady Sif, all while maintaining Apocalypse's strength for Dracula to absorb.
Is Khonshu Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens?
Regardless of your preference for discard decks, Khonshu's intriguing mechanics and potential power make him a worthwhile addition. He's likely to feature prominently in hybrid discard lists and could become meta-relevant. If you have the resources, picking up Khonshu is definitely a smart move.
