Discard players, rejoice! Khonshu, the God of the Moon, has made his grand entrance into *Marvel Snap*, and he's bringing a game-changing twist to discard-centric decks. This card, introduced by Second Dinner, is one of the most intricate yet, so let's dive into how Khonshu functions and explore the best strategies to 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. His initial On Reveal effect allows him to resurrect a card you discarded to another location, setting its Power to 5.
Khonshu's 'next phase' transforms him into a 6-cost, 8-power card. When discarded again, he returns in his final phase. His On Reveal effect in this phase resurrects a discarded card to another location with its Power set to 8.
Khonshu's 'final phase' is a 6-cost, 12-power card. His On Reveal effect now resurrects a discarded card to another location with its Power boosted to 12.
Each time Khonshu is discarded, he upgrades, making his On Reveal effect increasingly powerful. This mechanic is reminiscent of Apocalypse, but with its own flair. The strategy typically involves discarding Khonshu one or two times before playing him on the final turn, ideally resurrecting a card like Iron Man or Gorr the God Butcher, which greatly benefits from a power boost.
While Khonshu can't revive a specific card, playing a 12-power final phase Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a 1-cost card like Meek, now with 12 power, can be a game-winning move.
Best Day One Khonshu Decks in *Marvel Snap*
Finding the perfect deck for Khonshu will require plenty of experimentation, as he may not be the best fit for traditional discard decks. I envision him excelling in a Darkhawk-style Stature list and some 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 from Moon Knight, Silver Samurai, or Black Bolt can be a win condition in itself.
The strategy with this deck is to fill your opponent’s deck with rocks to boost Darkhawk's power, while discarding Khonshu as often as possible. Key cards like Moon Knight, Silver Samurai, and Blade help achieve this, with the timing of your discards being critical. You'll want to play Stature early, followed by Darkhawk on turn 5, and then Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a card with 8-12 power. Since all these cards have less than 8 power, Khonshu directly enhances them.
Although Khonshu might not fit neatly into traditional discard decks alongside Apocalypse due to their shared cost, there's room for experimentation. Here's an alternative list that uses Corvus Glaive for energy ramp:
- Miek
- Scorn
- Blade
- Morbius
- Swarm
- Moon Knight
- Corvus Glaive
- Lady Sif
- Dracula
- MODOK
- Khonshu
- Apocalypse
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
The only Series 5 card here is Scorn, which can be substituted with another discard activator like Colleen Wing or X-23 for more energy ramp.
This deck aims to leverage Corvus Glaive's energy ramp on turn 3, allowing you to play Khonshu alongside other discard activators to buff Apocalypse and flood the board. While it's unclear if this will outperform traditional discard lists, you should find it easy to get Khonshu to his final phase with cards like Moon Knight, Blade, and Lady Sif, while keeping Apocalypse strong for Dracula to absorb.
Is Khonshu Worth Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector's Tokens?
Regardless of your preference for discard decks, Khonshu stands out as both a powerful and intriguing card. He's likely to become a staple in hybrid discard decks and could very well become meta-relevant. If you have the resources, Khonshu is definitely worth investing in. His unique mechanics and potential for game-changing plays make him a valuable addition to any Marvel Snap collection.
