Slay the Spire / Original game

178-Relic Index and Effects for 42 Key Relics

Classifies 178 regular relics. For 42 key relics, explains effects, acquisition pools, and prerequisites. Check what energy-granting boss relics take away and how they interact with the Heart's keys.

Scope: Original game, PC Steam App 646570; includes the V2.2 balance changes. The official announcement with a confirmed version number is V2.3.4 (2022-12-20). Checked: 2026-10-02. Ports, mods, II, and the board game are separate.

The 178 total and acquisition pools

Group	Types	Main sources
Starter	4	A character's starting relic. Consider the lost effect when swapping it in an event.
Common	36	Elites, normal chests, shops, and similar sources.
Uncommon	36	Elites, normal chests, shops, and similar sources.
Rare	34	Elites, normal chests, shops, and similar sources.
Boss	30	3 choices after the Act 1 and 2 bosses, or Neow's starting-relic swap.
Shop	20	The shop-exclusive pool, including character-specific relics.
Event	18	Obtained through choices or conditions in the relevant event.

Circlet and Red Circlet fallback slots and the 13 Endless-mode Blights are excluded from the regular 178. The retired Dodecahedron is not reinstated as a current obtainable relic.
The 178-entry index classifies acquisition; it does not explain every effect. Look for character-exclusive relics in that character's rewards and shops.

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Key effects and checks before choosing

Relic	Verified effect	Acquisition pool	Requirements and trade-offs
Burning Blood / バーニングブラッド	Heal 6 HP after combat	Ironclad start	Not once per run. Heals after each combat, but cannot prevent lethal damage during combat.
Ring of the Snake / 蛇の指輪	Draw 2 extra cards in your opening hand	Silent start	A normal 5-card hand becomes 7 on turn one. Does not add draw from turn two onward.
Cracked Core / ひび割れたコア	Channel 1 Lightning at the start of combat	Defect start	Also supplies the orb for an opening Dualcast.
Pure Water / 清水	Create 1 Miracle at the start of combat	Watcher start	Choose the turn to use Miracle. This does not directly increase starting energy.
Snecko Eye / スネッコアイ	Draw 2 extra cards each turn; gain Confused at the start of combat	Bosses	Drawn cards with normal costs vary from 0 to 3. Even a hand of cheap cards can become expensive.
Runic Dome / ルーニックドーム	+1 energy each turn; enemy intents are hidden	Bosses	Account for random as well as fixed actions. A large trade-off for a deck that defends by reading intents.
Sozu / ししおどし	+1 energy each turn; cannot obtain new potions	Bosses	You can use held potions, but cannot replace them. Decide how many to keep for the endpoint.
Astrolabe / アストロラーベ	Transform 3 selected cards, then upgrade the results	Bosses	You choose the original cards, not what they transform into.
Bag of Preparation / バックパック	Draw 2 extra cards in your opening hand	Common	Improves the chance of drawing setup cards in the opening hand. Does not continue on later turns.
Pen Nib / ペン先	Every 10th Attack played deals double damage	Common	Watch the counter so the intended next card is the 10th. Decide whether to consume the multiplier on a small attack.
Coffee Dripper / コーヒードリッパー	+1 energy each turn; cannot Rest at Rest Sites	Bosses	Does not also forbid Smithing. Choose based on current HP and other healing sources.
Fusion Hammer / 融合ハンマー	+1 energy each turn; cannot Smith at Rest Sites	Bosses	You can still Rest. Check whether important cost-reducing upgrades remain.
Busted Crown / 壊れた王冠	+1 energy each turn; card rewards offer 2 fewer choices	Bosses	Normally reduces 3 choices to 1. Losing options is costly while still looking for needed cards.
Ectoplasm / エクトプラズム	+1 energy each turn; no further gold gain	Bosses	You can spend existing gold. Check the budget for shops and removal first.
Cursed Key / 呪いの鍵	+1 energy each turn; opening a normal chest grants a Curse	Bosses	The cost also applies when opening a chest for the Sapphire Key. Plan Curse handling before taking the key.
Velvet Choker / ベルベットチョーカー	+1 energy each turn; at most 6 card plays per turn	Bosses	Shivs, generated cards, and 0-cost chains use the limit too. Compare it with your usual plays per turn.
Runic Pyramid / ルーニックピラミッド	Prevent the automatic end-of-turn discard of your hand	Bosses	Does not grant the Retain keyword. Unwanted cards stay too; handle them before reaching the 10-card limit.
Pandora's Box / パンドラの箱	Transform all Strikes and Defends	Bosses	Targets cards by name. Does not transform all other starting cards such as Bash.
Empty Cage / 空っぽの檻	Remove 2 cards from your deck	Bosses	Remove cards after other cards cover needed attack and defense. Select only removable targets.
Black Star / ブラックスター	Elites drop 1 extra relic	Bosses	Taking it does not immediately improve combat strength. You need HP and routes to fight later elites.
Slaver's Collar / スレイバーの首輪	+1 energy each turn only in elite and boss fights	Bosses	No increase in regular combat. Check whether 3 energy is enough for those fights.
Sacred Bark / 聖樹皮	Double potion effects	Bosses	Works according to potion type. Does not grant extra energy every turn.
Ice Cream / アイスクリーム	Conserve unused energy for the next turn	Rare	Doing nothing still exposes you to attacks. Defend first, then save surplus for X-cost cards or other uses.
Dead Branch / 古木の枝	Add a random card to your hand whenever you Exhaust a card	Rare	Cannot choose the generated card. Synergizes with Corruption, but added cards can also affect planned cycling.
Mummified Hand / ミイラの手	Playing a Power makes 1 random card in hand cost 0 for this turn	Uncommon	You cannot choose the target. Plan whether to play the Power before assembling high-cost cards in hand.
Kunai / クナイ	+1 Dexterity for every 3 Attacks played in the same turn	Uncommon	Count Attack cards such as Shivs. One Attack with 3 hits is not 3 cards.
Shuriken / 手裏剣	+1 Strength for every 3 Attacks played in the same turn	Uncommon	Counts cards, not hits. Progress toward the 3-card requirement does not carry into the next turn.
Tungsten Rod / タングステンの棒	Reduce each instance of HP loss by 1	Rare	Can reduce 1 HP loss to 0. Does not negate an entire large single hit.
Torii / 鳥居	Reduce Attack damage of 1–5 after Block to 1	Rare	Does not cover non-Attack HP loss. Helpful when Block reduces each hit of a multi-hit attack to 5 or less.
Membership Card / 会員カード	Halve shop prices for goods and removal	Shop	Also consider future purchases. Be careful if spending all your gold will not immediately improve combat.
Orange Pellets / オレンジ色の丸薬	Remove your debuffs after playing a Power, Attack, and Skill in the same turn	Shop	Check whether your hand can play all 3 types. Does not remove an enemy's Artifact.
Medical Kit / 医療キット	Allows playing Unplayable Status cards; Exhaust them when played	Shop	Does not make Curses playable. Used to clear draw disruption from your hand.
Chemical X / ケミカルX	+2 to the effect of X-cost cards	Shop	Requires a compatible card such as Whirlwind. It does not make the energy payment itself 2 cheaper.
Prismatic Shard / プリズムの破片	Mix other colors and Colorless cards into combat rewards	Shop	Does not necessarily apply the same rules to shops or every generation effect. Changes how you search for your own color's cards.
Frozen Eye / 凍った目	The draw pile display shows its actual order	Shop	Plan draw order from your current hand. Does not let you freely reorder the draw pile.
Preserved Insect / 昆虫標本	Elite enemies start with 25% less HP	Common	Does not apply to regular enemies or bosses. Also check the other buffs before taking on a buffed elite.
Anchor / 錨	Gain 10 Block at the start of combat	Common	Opening defense. Does not add the same amount on every later turn.
Happy Flower / ハッピーフラワー	Gain 1 energy every 3 turns	Common	Use the counter to plan turns for high-cost cards.
Pocketwatch / 懐中時計	Draw 3 extra cards after a turn with at most 3 cards played	Rare	Rewards fewer plays with more draw. If a fourth card is needed to block an attack, prioritize survival.
Incense Burner / 香炉	Gain 1 Intangible every 6 turns	Rare	Check which attack can align with the counter. Does not guarantee defense on every turn.
Calipers / カリパス	Lose only 15 Block at the start of your turn instead of all of it	Rare	Carries over Block above 15. Unlike Barricade, does not preserve all Block.
Nunchaku / ヌンチャク	Gain 1 energy after playing 10 Attacks	Common	Watch the card counter. Hits and total damage do not advance it separately.

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Calculate what energy relics take away

An extra energy does not make a relic correct for every deck. Compare your hand, healing, reward search, potions, and number of card plays.

Check which cards remain after spending 3 energy. Work out which actual attack or defense the extra 1 would enable.
For Coffee Dripper, check healing outside Rest; for Fusion Hammer, future Smithing; for Sozu, potions to retain.
Before Busted Crown, check whether you already have needed attack, defense, and scaling. Fewer reward choices make an unfinished deck harder to complete.
Velvet Choker limits heavy use of Shivs and 0-cost cards. Slaver's Collar does not increase resources in regular fights.
For a Heart run, check when to take the Sapphire Key. If opening an unopened chest with Cursed Key, plan the Curse cost too.

Compare by situation →

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Classification index for 178 regular relics

Search by English name, rarity, and character restriction. Read acquisition labels alongside the classification table above.

178 regular obtainable relics. Circlet fallback slots and Endless-mode Blights are separate.
Relic	Acquisition category	Character restriction
Burning BloodバーニングブラッドSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Starter	Ironclad
Cracked Coreひび割れたコアSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Starter	Defect
Pure Water清水See effects and trade-offs ↑	Starter	Watcher
Ring of the Snake蛇の指輪See effects and trade-offs ↑	Starter	Silent
Akabeko	Common	All characters
Anchor錨See effects and trade-offs ↑	Common	All characters
Ancient Tea Set	Common	All characters
Art of War	Common	All characters
Bag of Marbles	Common	All characters
Bag of PreparationバックパックSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Common	All characters
Blood Vial	Common	All characters
Bronze Scales	Common	All characters
Centennial Puzzle	Common	All characters
Ceramic Fish	Common	All characters
Damaru	Common	Watcher
Data Disk	Common	Defect
Dream Catcher	Common	All characters
Happy FlowerハッピーフラワーSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Common	All characters
Juzu Bracelet	Common	All characters
Lantern	Common	All characters
Maw Bank	Common	All characters
Meal Ticket	Common	All characters
NunchakuヌンチャクSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Common	All characters
Oddly Smooth Stone	Common	All characters
Omamori	Common	All characters
Orichalcum	Common	All characters
Pen Nibペン先See effects and trade-offs ↑	Common	All characters
Potion Belt	Common	All characters
Preserved Insect昆虫標本See effects and trade-offs ↑	Common	All characters
Red Skull	Common	Ironclad
Regal Pillow	Common	All characters
Smiling Mask	Common	All characters
Snecko Skull	Common	Silent
Strawberry	Common	All characters
The Boot	Common	All characters
Tiny Chest	Common	All characters
Toy Ornithopter	Common	All characters
Vajra	Common	All characters
War Paint	Common	All characters
Whetstone	Common	All characters
Blue Candle	Uncommon	All characters
Bottled Flame	Uncommon	All characters
Bottled Lightning	Uncommon	All characters
Bottled Tornado	Uncommon	All characters
Darkstone Periapt	Uncommon	All characters
Duality	Uncommon	Watcher
Eternal Feather	Uncommon	All characters
Frozen Egg	Uncommon	All characters
Gold-Plated Cables	Uncommon	Defect
Gremlin Horn	Uncommon	All characters
Horn Cleat	Uncommon	All characters
Ink Bottle	Uncommon	All characters
KunaiクナイSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Uncommon	All characters
Letter Opener	Uncommon	All characters
Matryoshka	Uncommon	All characters
Meat on the Bone	Uncommon	All characters
Mercury Hourglass	Uncommon	All characters
Molten Egg	Uncommon	All characters
Mummified Handミイラの手See effects and trade-offs ↑	Uncommon	All characters
Ninja Scroll	Uncommon	Silent
Ornamental Fan	Uncommon	All characters
Pantograph	Uncommon	All characters
Paper Krane	Uncommon	Silent
Paper Phrog	Uncommon	Ironclad
Pear	Uncommon	All characters
Question Card	Uncommon	All characters
Self-Forming Clay	Uncommon	Ironclad
Shuriken手裏剣See effects and trade-offs ↑	Uncommon	All characters
Singing Bowl	Uncommon	All characters
Strike Dummy	Uncommon	All characters
Sundial	Uncommon	All characters
Symbiotic Virus	Uncommon	Defect
Teardrop Locket	Uncommon	Watcher
The Courier	Uncommon	All characters
Toxic Egg	Uncommon	All characters
White Beast Statue	Uncommon	All characters
Bird-Faced Urn	Rare	All characters
CalipersカリパスSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Rare	All characters
Captain's Wheel	Rare	All characters
Champion Belt	Rare	Ironclad
Charon's Ashes	Rare	Ironclad
Cloak Clasp	Rare	Watcher
Dead Branch古木の枝See effects and trade-offs ↑	Rare	All characters
Du-Vu Doll	Rare	All characters
Emotion Chip	Rare	Defect
Fossilized Helix	Rare	All characters
Gambling Chip	Rare	All characters
Ginger	Rare	All characters
Girya	Rare	All characters
Golden Eye	Rare	Watcher
Ice CreamアイスクリームSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Rare	All characters
Incense Burner香炉See effects and trade-offs ↑	Rare	All characters
Lizard Tail	Rare	All characters
Magic Flower	Rare	Ironclad
Mango	Rare	All characters
Old Coin	Rare	All characters
Peace Pipe	Rare	All characters
Pocketwatch懐中時計See effects and trade-offs ↑	Rare	All characters
Prayer Wheel	Rare	All characters
Shovel	Rare	All characters
Stone Calendar	Rare	All characters
The Specimen	Rare	Silent
Thread and Needle	Rare	All characters
Tingsha	Rare	Silent
Torii鳥居See effects and trade-offs ↑	Rare	All characters
Tough Bandages	Rare	Silent
Tungsten Rodタングステンの棒See effects and trade-offs ↑	Rare	All characters
Turnip	Rare	All characters
Unceasing Top	Rare	All characters
Wing Boots	Rare	All characters
AstrolabeアストロラーベSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Black Blood	Boss	Ironclad
Black StarブラックスターSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Busted Crown壊れた王冠See effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Calling Bell	Boss	All characters
Coffee DripperコーヒードリッパーSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Cursed Key呪いの鍵See effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
EctoplasmエクトプラズムSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Empty Cage空っぽの檻See effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Frozen Core	Boss	Defect
Fusion Hammer融合ハンマーSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Holy Water	Boss	Watcher
Hovering Kite	Boss	Silent
Inserter	Boss	Defect
Mark of Pain	Boss	Ironclad
Nuclear Battery	Boss	Defect
Pandora's Boxパンドラの箱See effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Philosopher's Stone	Boss	All characters
Ring of the Serpent	Boss	Silent
Runic Cube	Boss	Ironclad
Runic DomeルーニックドームSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Runic PyramidルーニックピラミッドSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Sacred Bark聖樹皮See effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Slaver's Collarスレイバーの首輪See effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Snecko EyeスネッコアイSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
SozuししおどしSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Tiny House	Boss	All characters
Velvet ChokerベルベットチョーカーSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Boss	All characters
Violet Lotus	Boss	Watcher
Wrist Blade	Boss	Silent
Brimstone	Shop	Ironclad
Cauldron	Shop	All characters
Chemical XケミカルXSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Shop	All characters
Clockwork Souvenir	Shop	All characters
Dolly's Mirror	Shop	All characters
Frozen Eye凍った目See effects and trade-offs ↑	Shop	All characters
Hand Drill	Shop	All characters
Lee's Waffle	Shop	All characters
Medical Kit医療キットSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Shop	All characters
Melange	Shop	Watcher
Membership Card会員カードSee effects and trade-offs ↑	Shop	All characters
Orange Pelletsオレンジ色の丸薬See effects and trade-offs ↑	Shop	All characters
Orrery	Shop	All characters
Prismatic Shardプリズムの破片See effects and trade-offs ↑	Shop	All characters
Runic Capacitor	Shop	Defect
Sling of Courage	Shop	All characters
Strange Spoon	Shop	All characters
The Abacus	Shop	All characters
Toolbox	Shop	All characters
Twisted Funnel	Shop	Silent
Bloody Idol	Event	All characters
Cultist Headpiece	Event	All characters
Enchiridion	Event	All characters
Face of Cleric	Event	All characters
Golden Idol	Event	All characters
Gremlin Visage	Event	All characters
Mark of the Bloom	Event	All characters
Mutagenic Strength	Event	All characters
N'loth's Gift	Event	All characters
N'loth's Hungry Face	Event	All characters
Necronomicon	Event	All characters
Neow's Lament	Event	All characters
Nilry's Codex	Event	All characters
Odd Mushroom	Event	All characters
Red Mask	Event	All characters
Spirit Poop	Event	All characters
Ssserpent Head	Event	All characters
Warped Tongs	Event	All characters

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178-Relic Index and Effects for 42 Key Relics

The 178 total and acquisition pools

Key effects and checks before choosing

Calculate what energy relics take away

Classification index for 178 regular relics

Article FAQ