As anticipation builds for Slay the Spire II, players find themselves reminiscing about the original game. They recall those fortuitous runs, exceptional card decks that synergized perfectly, and the intense calculations that accompanied each move.
When luck is in your favor, you’re met with fits of maniacal laughter as you conquer each Ascension challenge sequentially.
However, Slay the Spire isn’t devoid of hurdles. Very few players can claim victory over Ascension 20 with all four characters. What may appear to be a simple 80 runs often evolves into a significantly larger number.
Yet, with every play session, players naturally improve. Navigating the various paths will soon become intuitive, and understanding deck synergies will brighten your strategic outlook.
As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Slay the Spire 2, perhaps it’s time to revisit that challenging tower and finally conquer it once and for all.
Adapt & Overcome
While one might assert the existence of a “perfect” deck build, the reality is that achieving a flawless “God” build is highly unlikely. Slay The Spire fundamentally revolves around adaptability and patience.
A critical strategy is to focus on immediate needs rather than long-term planning. Is the Slime Boss imminent? Equip your deck with high-damage capabilities. Encountering an elite enemy? Opt for cards that complement your current abilities rather than seeking a long-term synergy without the necessary foundation.
The temptation to cling to a favored deck can lead to wasted opportunities. If key cards do not appear, passing up a potentially synergistic pick can halt your progress.
Tips & Tricks for The Long Climb
Before diving into card strategies, here are some essential tips that can smooth out your runs to Ascension 20:
- Avoid early question marks; prioritize securing strong staple cards from hallway encounters and defeating early elites to earn valuable relics.
- Don’t select cards with the mere hope of acquiring a specific relic later. The Necronomicon may not always make its appearance.
- Beware of assuming that acquiring gold equates to beneficial rare cards. Evaluate how well each card complements your existing deck. (With the exception of Offering, grab that whenever possible!).
- Steer clear of shops unless your gold count is around 250-300. Valuable relics like Brimstone and Runic Capacitor can significantly enhance your runs.
- Prepare for encounters with all three Act 3 bosses and maintain your health; the final stretch can be punishing.
- Invest in card upgrades early at campfires. Improved cards yield long-term benefits, and it’s better to sacrifice health early than face a tough Act 3 boss unprepared.
- Accept that failure is part of the journey; persistent deaths are integral to growth.
The Ironclad
The Ironclad stands out as one of the most accessible classes for reaching Ascension 20, thanks to its straightforward mechanics and playstyle.
Strength
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Inflame |
Gain 2/3 Strength |
|
Limit Break |
Deal 14 Damage. Strength affects this card 3/5 times |
|
Heavy Blade |
Double your Strength |
|
Reaper |
Deal 4/5 damage to all enemies. Heal HP equal to unblocked damage. |
Strong builds for the Ironclad include a traditional strength configuration. This strategy revolves around acquiring cards like Limit Break and Inflame to amplify strength while integrating high-damage attackers like Whirlwind and Heavy Blade.
Utilizing Flex in conjunction with an artifact allows you to obtain the strength bonus without the usual drawbacks.
An aggressive approach may prompt you to consider healing options like Reaper, which benefits from an amplified strength bonus, along with Thunderclap for potent AoE damage. Furthermore, prioritize cards like Brimstone or Offering when encountered.
During the initial stages, focus on high-damage cards like Twin Strikes to tackle Act 1 bosses and elites effectively. Consider optimizing your path to question marks in Act 2 for beneficial relics.
Corruption
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Corruption |
Skills cost 0. Whenever you play a Skill, Exhaust it. |
|
Dark Embrace |
Whenever a card is Exhausted, draw 1 card. |
|
Feel No Pain |
Whenever a card is Exhausted, gain 3/4 block. |
|
Body Slam |
Deal damage equal to your current block. |
Implement a skill-centric deck centered around Corruption, allowing for optimal damage output by transforming your block into offensive capability. Essential cards include Body Slam, Entrench, and Barricade. Utilize the Calipers for an additional edge.
Focus on cycling through cards efficiently to maximize your block and annihilate adversaries with a powerful Body Slam.
If presented with Dead Branch, consider a Fiend Fire combo for enhanced options.
In the initial acts, prioritize single-target damage and shift to AoE strategies for Act 2, culminating in refined adjustments for Act 3.
The Silent
Poison
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Corpse Explosion |
Apply 6/9 Poison. When the enemy dies, deal damage equal to its max HP to ALL enemies. |
|
Catalyst |
Double/Triple an enemy’s poison. |
|
Burst |
This turn, your next 1/2 Skill(s) is(are) played twice. |
|
Nightmare |
Choose a card. Next turn, add 3 copies of that card into your hand. |
|
Wraith Form |
Gain 2/3 Intangible. At the end of your turn, lose 1 Dexterity. |
The Silent presents a challenging experience, particularly at Ascension 20, where the early-game potential can be low.
With limited access to high-damage cards from the start, facing encounters against foes like Gremlin Nob and Lagavulin can become arduous. However, if players persevere through the initial Acts, The Silent can flourish and become a formidable opponent in late-game scenarios.
Among the most reliable builds, the poison/Wraith Form deck proved effective for me in conquering Ascension 20. This strategy focuses on managing damage while gradually applying poison to enemies. Nightmare and Wraith Form facilitate longer setups for potent poison combinations, which can be pivotal.
In terms of poison application, prioritize cards like Corpse Explosion and Crippling Cloud for reliable AoE bursts. Acquiring Burst and Catalyst offers immense single-target potential, with an upgraded Catalyst yielding damage outputs nearing 999.
Look for Snecko Skull or Specimen to amplify your strategy. This deck can thrive without needing to play many cards in a single turn, making it ideal against challenging bosses like the Time Eater.
While a Shiv deck is a viable alternative, it tends to be inconsistent at Ascension 20, requiring several pieces to work effectively and struggling significantly against foes such as the Time Eater and Corrupt Heart.
Regardless of your chosen strategy, cards like Piercing Wail and Malaise can significantly enhance your later runs by stripping enemy artifacts and clearing the path for poison application.
The Defect
Although The Defect may initially appear complicated, the numerous builds available make it one of the most versatile and enjoyable classes to engage with.
The first two builds I recommend leverage elemental powers to your benefit.
Frost
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Chill |
Channel 1 Frost for each enemy in combat. |
|
Barrage |
Deal 4/6 damage for each Channeled Orb. |
|
Defragment |
Gain 1/2 Focus. |
|
Biased Cognition |
Gain 4/5 Focus. At the start of each turn, lose 1 Focus. |
|
Core Surge |
Deal 11/15 damage. Gain 1 Artifact. |
This strategy revolves around building a fortified defense using frost orbs while increasing Focus for formidable damage output. With nine frost-orbs active, you become nearly invincible. Key cards like Glacier and Chill are essential, so aim for relics such as Inserter or Runic Capacitor.
Cards that enhance your Focus are crucial for The Defect; Defragment and Biased Cognition are notable examples. Additionally, obtaining artifacts like Core Surge can mitigate negative impacts, providing free focus boosts.
In terms of damage, avoid cards like Blizzard, which are typically slower. Instead, opt for Barrage or even Dark Orbs for supplementary late-game punch.
While cards like Hyper Beam may seem underwhelming, they’re valuable during multi-enemy encounters in Act 1 and 2.
Lightning
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Electrodynamics |
Lightning now hits all enemies. Channel 2/3 Lightning. |
|
Bullseye |
Deal 8/11 damage. Apply 2/3 Lock-On. |
|
Tempest |
Channel x(+1) Lightning. |
|
Reinforced Body |
Gain 7/9 Block x times. |
This build serves as an aggressive counterpart, focusing on a few key orbs to maximize damage from lightning orbs. Cards like Ball Lightning and Electrodynamics support a powerful AoE strategy. Bullseye significantly amplifies damage from your evokes.
Enhancing your energy can make Tempest incredibly effective against clusters of foes. Similarly, Thunder Strike can offer significant damage but risks causing brick scenarios if chosen prematurely.
Due to this aggressive orientation, health can dwindle rapidly; incorporate cards like Reinforced Body for protection. Adding Power cards can also bolster your defenses, including options like Self Repair for reliable durability.
Ensure to prioritize upgrades for Zap and Dual-cast early; these cards remain valuable throughout your journey, particularly when paired with cards like All For One.
Power
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Amplify |
This turn, your next 1/2 Power(s) is (are) played twice. |
|
Echo Form |
The first card you play each turn is played twice. |
|
Heatsink |
Whenever you play a Power card, draw 1/2 card(s). |
|
Equilibrium |
Gain 13/16 Block. Retain your hand this turn. |
This power-focused build has ascertained its efficacy in past runs at Ascension 20, often pushing players through the earlier acts. It emphasizes using Power cards in conjunction with Mummified Hand to stack benefits.
Key components for this strategy include Amplify and Heatsinks, enabling consistent draw speeds while maintaining diverse orb involvement. This approach is adaptable and can accommodate various Power cards based on your luck.
Power Cards like Echo Form and Creative AI ensure a sustainable card supply, while Equilibrium grants you control over your hand composition.
This deck can spiral out of control quickly if paired with the right cards. However, one boss – The Awakened One – poses a significant challenge to Power builds. If too many powers are stacked without effective defense or frost abilities, you’re likely to meet an untimely demise during the final encounter.
Beware of Reptomancer, who can disrupt your strategy early on; her swift assault can derail your run if you’re not adequately prepared with AoE cards.
The Watcher
Often regarded as one of the easiest classes within Slay The Spire, The Watcher excels due to her versatile abilities and card mechanics. The benefit of double damage in Wrath Stance is incredibly powerful, especially combined with cards like Scrawl+, which allow her to cycle through her deck at a rapid pace.
Ragnarok
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Ragnarok |
Deal 5/6 damage to a random enemy 5/6 times. |
|
Wreath of Flame |
Your next Attack deals 5/8 additional damage. |
|
Crush Joints |
Deal 8/10 damage. If the previous card played was a skill, apply 1/2 Vulnerable. |
One straightforward yet powerful construct is the Wrath/Ragnarok build, where players stack up buffs through Wreath of Flame to unleash devastating Ragnarok attacks later on. When combined with cards applying vulnerability, like Crush Joints, you are poised to deliver hefty damage outputs.
A single robust attack can often clear initial acts, frequently negating the need for extensive deck refinement.
Securing Divinity can essentially streamline hallway encounters; however, miscalculating damage can lead to abrupt losses—costly decisions to watch out for.
Moreover, relics enhancing strength synergize exceptionally well with Wrath Stance, amplifying damage efficacy.
Like Water
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Like Water |
At the end of your turn, if you are in Calm, gain 5/7 Block. |
|
Talk to the Hand |
Deal 5/7 damage. Whenever you attack this enemy, gain 2/3 Block. |
|
Mental Fortress |
Whenever you switch Stances, gain 4/6 Block. |
|
Spirit Shield |
Gain 3/4 Block for each card in your hand. |
Though it may not be immediately apparent, one of The Watcher’s strongest attributes is her defensive capabilities. Similar to Frost Orb builds of The Defect, The Watcher can generate substantial passive defensive power through cards such as Talk to the Hand, Like Water, and Mental Fortress.
Embrace card cycling and frequent stance switching to maximize the advantages of each approach. Transitioning to Calm provides energy while shifting to Wrath boosts damage output further. Utilize cards like Wallop for both offense and defense.
Vault epitomizes versatility, providing an extra turn in nearly any deck—an invaluable asset.
Exercise caution with cards like Wish. Although enticing, its complex decision-making can inadvertently sabotage your run; carefully consider options to avoid costly mistakes.
Infinite
|
Key Cards |
Effect |
|---|---|
|
Rushdown |
Whenever you enter Wrath, draw 2 cards. |
|
Fear no Evil |
Deal 8/11 damage. If the enemy intends to Attack, enter Calm. |
|
Eruption |
Deal 9 damage. Enter Wrath. |
Although infinite loops are often shunned, The Watcher’s version is remarkably straightforward, allowing for compelling gameplay without pushing for complexity. The key lies in maintaining a lean deck and eliminating unnecessary basic cards.
Rushdown is pivotal to this strategy; each transition into Wrath form leads to card draws, promoting rapid cycling through your deck. With this set-up, switching to Calm and back not only restores your hand but also keeps the action alive. This seamless synergy is both exhilarating and somewhat cheeky.
This build can adeptly handle almost every fight, but be wary of the Time Eater. His card play limit can disrupt your strategy if you’re not careful.
Incorporating Runic Pyramid or Mental Fortress can enhance survivability as you establish your combo.
One of the most exciting aspects of Slay The Spire is its replayability; while the cards may have similarities, each playthrough feels distinct due to variations in builds, events, and relics. Even after conquering Ascension 20, it’s not unusual for players to find themselves drawn back for another round in the Spire.
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