Discard players, rejoice! Khonshu, the God of the Moon, has joined *Marvel Snap*, bringing an exciting new tool for discard-centric decks. This card, one of the most complex released by Second Dinner to date, deserves a closer look to understand how it works and its potential impact on the game.
How Khonshu Works in *Marvel Snap*
Khonshu is a 6-cost, 5-power card with a unique ability: When discarded, it returns in its next phase. On Reveal, it resurrects a card you discarded to another location with its Power set to 5.
Khonshu's 'next phase' transforms it into a 6-cost, 8-power card. When discarded again, it returns in its final phase. On Reveal, it resurrects a discarded card to another location with its Power set to 8.
Khonshu's 'final phase' is a 6-cost, 12-power card. On Reveal, it resurrects a discarded card to another location with its Power set to 12.
Each time Khonshu is discarded, it returns to your hand and upgrades itself, enhancing its On Reveal effect. This mechanic is similar to Apocalypse's, but with a unique twist. The strategy with Khonshu typically involves discarding him one or two times before playing him on the final turn, resurrecting a card that benefits from a power boost, such as Iron Man or Gorr the God Butcher.
While Khonshu can't revive a specific card, playing a 12-power final phase Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a 1-cost, 12-power Meek can often secure a win.
Best Day One Khonshu Decks in *Marvel Snap*
It will take some experimentation to find the best deck for Khonshu, as he may not fit well in traditional discard decks. I see him fitting into a Darkhawk-style Stature list, along with 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.
The only Series 5 card in this list is 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.
The strategy with this deck is to fill your opponent's deck with rocks to boost Darkhawk and discard Khonshu as much as possible. Moon Knight and Blade are key to hitting Khonshu repeatedly. The challenge lies in timing your discards correctly, ensuring Moon Knight hits Khonshu and not Rock Slide.
Play Stature early, then Darkhawk on turn 5, and Khonshu on turn 6 to revive a card with 8-12 power. As all these cards have less than 8 power, Khonshu directly buffs them.
While Khonshu may not fit into traditional discard decks over Apocalypse, there's room for experimentation. Here's a list that includes both Khonshu and Apocalypse, using 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 replaced with another discard activator like Colleen Wing or X-23 for more energy ramp.
This list is a traditional-style discard deck, but relies on playing Corvus Glaive on turn 3 to enable playing Khonshu alongside other discard activators. This strategy aims to buff Apocalypse and flood the board. Whether this will outperform traditional discard lists without Khonshu is yet to be seen, but with Moon Knight, Blade, and Lady Sif, getting Khonshu to his final phase should be achievable 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 is a powerful and intriguing card. It's likely to feature prominently in hybrid discard lists and could become meta-relevant. If you have the resources, it's worth picking up Khonshu for his potential impact on the game.
