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Benevolence
Glowing Emerald
Mana Potion
Healing Potion
Cloak of Meditation
1 Thebes
2 Witchblade
3 Relic Dagger
4 Void Stone
5 Max Compassion
6 Tyran Helm
Relic Dagger
Witchblade
Tyrannical Plate Helm
Compassion
Void Stone
Gauntlet of Thebes
Cloak of Meditation
Blink Rune
I tend to focus on flames and ults when I build up his skills. His protections buff I feel isn't always that great unless it’s a team fight.
Y
B
A
X
Tap each synergy level to view Ares’s synergies
Depends on who you face off against.
Contagion
Pestilence
Spectral Armor
Cursed Ankh
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In that support role, I wouldn't consider
So as a generic build, I'd suggest something like one of the following:
Sentinel's Gift -> 
Gauntlet of Thebes -> 
Sovereignty -> 
Heartward Amulet -> 
Relic Dagger / 
Pridwen -> 
Pridwen / 
Relic Dagger -> Situational / Counter
If you want to play a bit more aggressively, you can sub inI don't know that I'd consider playing with randoms a justifiable reason to get Meditation Cloak. IMO, to be justified it would then have to be a defining effect generating significantly higher success or being the difference in a win vs. a loss.
And if you're talking a team-based early item for Ares, I would also think
Granted, it looks like you've updated your build, and I see in your notes that Thebes is now the first suggested item (though the build order showing isn't reflective of that). I also see that you've added the "extended build" group of items...so it looks like you figured that out.
Actually, you shouldn't look at your blink / ult as a waste if they use beads. That is a core STRENGTH of Ares. If you pull your target(s), great, they're grouped up for your team to finish (if they are capable). But if you burn their beads, it means any other situations for the next 2 min or so are much more dangerous for them. Ares' ult is specifically known as a beads burner, and that is an accomplishment by itself.
I'm less concerned about the HP5 from Thebes. It's more about the combined protections the item provides, making it one of the highest effective HP items in the game.
I have a few critiques about this build. First and foremost is that while
On to the items you've listed:
The synergies section is meant to display what gods a particular god has good synergy with. Areas doesn't have good synergy with himself. I would list gods like
I realize you're going for an aura build, but this one has too many issues with it for me to recommend it. Sorry.
This is a significantly different type of early approach than you typically see on Ares. I can appreciate the thought process w/ getting
That said, I have some comments:
- Your skill leveling looks wacky. It's definitely not what I would suggest. Your highest damage potential is from
Shackles and it should usually be the skill you max first. You're not getting your last point in it until level 18, which is straight up hurting your damage potential.
Bolster Defenses to help teammates (I assume), 
Ares first job isn't to buff those teammates...it's to be a damage threat, and again, the way to do that is to prioritize 
Shackles followed by 
Searing Flesh.
- While I get the concept of
Jade Emperor's Crown as your first main item, I wonder why you don't have what will be the single strongest eHP item for Ares in his build. Yes, I'm talking about 
Gauntlet of Thebes, which, for your purposes, is also an aura item. Providing some health along with high amounts of both physical and magical protections, it's probably the strongest tank item he can get, and it's nowhere to be seen.
- Some people get hung up with focusing on
Ares' passive and prioritize aura items above all else. While it's good to get aura items, it's not the thing you should be focusing on IMO. You're skipping out on other items that can have great effect...potentially stronger effect, depending on the match and your counter potential.
- To that point, I really don't suggest Meditation Cloak. I know a lot of people continue to say this, that it's a "noob crutch." But especially in this case,
Ares can take special advantage out of 
Blink Rune. While you do suggest it 2nd, it's probably something you should consider 1st. And with that, one item Ares may like in particular is 
Relic Dagger. Sure, it doesn't have an aura, but its function can allow you to get significantly greater function out of your ult.
- Your build does have one counter item (
Witchblade), which is pretty much always useful in any match. That said, some consideration (as an option) should be given. I DO see that in some of your matches using 
Ares, you've picked up 
Pestilence, which is fine, though I think you should list it as a situational option in your build, at least as reference for people that might be trying your build. Other items like 
Spectral Armor, 
Contagion, etc., should probably also be listed.
TL;DR, overall your items are good, though I personally give less emphasis to items likeWhile it's nice you're putting some points into
And while your ult is pretty decent for damage, it isn't one of those skills you'd really really want to level when available. Typically I'd just suggest putting points into the ult at the very end.