🃏 Slay the Spire 2 builds and tactics
How each of the 5 characters' deck plans functions, with tactical advice. EA balance changes preferred plans: the guide emphasizes structure over unverified current numerical rankings.
🎯 Demon Form / Strength scaling
Use Demon Form to gain Strength each turn. Defend during setup, then exploit multi-hit attacks. This familiar, clear plan helps with learning.
🎯 Shiv volume / discard and Sly synergy
Strengthen 0-cost Shivs through Accuracy, or use Sly's discard interaction. High card volume and discard cycling can combine strongly. The source's early-EA assessment rated these plans highly; this is not a current-patch ranking.
🎯 Repeated Claw / Orbs and Focus scaling
Repeated 0-cost Claw in a lean deck offers one direction; Orbs and Focus scaling passive damage and Block offer another. Keeping the deck lean helps the Claw plan cycle.
🎯 Osty defense / Doom execution
Use Osty to absorb attacks while building Doom toward current enemy HP. Osty starts fragile, so protect and grow it early. The source's S-tier assessment is editorial and belongs to its EA snapshot.
🎯 Save Stars → Sovereign Blade burst
Save Stars across turns and strengthen Sovereign Blade through Forge. Prepare before committing the large attack. Slow setup can be vulnerable in fast Act 2 encounters.
Skipping cards is a valid default
Taking every card reward dilutes important draws. Keep a focused deck and skip cards unrelated to its plan.
When unsure, try Ironclad
Focus on Ironclad if the early hours are difficult. Post-combat healing provides room to learn enemies.
Draw a route before moving
Use map drawing to plan Rest Sites and Elites, managing HP and upgrades before committing. Unplanned paths can miss recovery opportunities.
Relics shape deck direction
Relics affect draw, Energy and specific mechanics. After gaining one, reconsider card picks and removals to support it.
Learn new-character systems first
Learn Osty/Doom for Necrobinder and Star generation/saving for Regent. Establish reliable resources and thresholds before adding damage cards indiscriminately.