Slay the Spire 2 Builds
The main archetypes for every character, ranked from S (strongest) to C. Each build lists the cards it needs, the relics that push it over the top, and what changed between game versions.
Rankings weigh how quickly each build comes together, how far it scales and how well it holds up at high Ascension, checked against the current game data. Early Access balance changes often, so watch the version notes.
Ironclad Builds
- S
Exhaust Engine
Exhaust your weakest cards every turn and turn each one into Block, card draw and damage.
- A
Strength Scaling
Stack Strength early and cash it in with multi-hit attacks that add it to every hit.
- A
Block / Body Slam
Pile up Block that never expires, then turn it into damage with Body Slam and Juggernaut.
- B
Vulnerable
Keep enemies Vulnerable at all times and stack cards that multiply or reward it.
- B
Self-Damage
Lose HP on purpose and turn it into Strength, damage and Energy.
Silent Builds
- S
Poison
Pile Poison onto every enemy and stay alive while it does the work.
- A
Sly Discard
Discard Sly cards to get their effects for free and turn card draw into damage, Block and Energy.
- A
Shiv
Fill your hand with 0-cost Shiv cards, then scale each one and every relic that counts attacks.
- B
Dexterity Block
Stack Dexterity and efficient Block to stay safe, then win slowly with whatever damage you have.
- B
Draw Tempo
Draw and play lots of cards every turn so Speedster and Serpent Form deal damage on the side.
Defect Builds
- S
Frost Focus Orbs
Stack Focus and extra Orb Slots so your Frost orbs hand out enough Block to outlast anything.
- A
Claw Zero-Cost
Spam 0-cost attacks, led by Claw, whose damage grows every time any Claw is played.
- B
Lightning Power Engine
Channel a steady stream of Lightning, largely by playing Powers, and let passives and Evokes grind enemies down.
- B
Dark Orb Burst
Charge Dark orbs over several turns, then Evoke them for one enormous hit.
- C
Status Engine
Fill your deck with Status cards on purpose and turn each one into orbs, draw or damage.
Regent Builds
- S
Star Engine
Stockpile Stars with cheap generators, then cash them in on star-cost cards for big damage and Block.
- A
Alignment Loop
Shrink the deck to a handful of cards so Glow and Alignment can be cycled over and over for near-endless Stars, Energy and draw.
- B
Sovereign Blade Forge
Keep Forge-ing the retained Sovereign Blade until it lands one huge hit, ideally on every enemy.
- B
Void Form
Spend one turn on Void Form, then play the first two cards of every turn for free.
- C
Card Creation
Create random Colorless cards every turn and scale off each one with Arsenal and Pillar of Creation.
Necrobinder Builds
- S
Soul Cycle
Fill your Draw Pile with Soul cards, draw through them, and make every one you play hurt.
- A
Doom Execute
Pile Doom on enemies until it matches their HP, so they die at the end of their turn no matter their Block.
- A
Osty Summon
Grow Osty with Summon, let him soak hits, and chain his attacks for big damage.
- B
Ethereal
Play as many Ethereal cards as possible so your payoffs scale with the count.
- C
Reaper Big Hit
Set up Vulnerable and damage boosts, land oversized hits, and let Reaper Form turn that damage into Doom.
