Slay the Spire 2 — Ironclad Builds Guide

Core Cards

• Demon Form — 3 Strength/turn permanently (upgraded). The engine.
• Limit Break — Doubles current Strength. Upgraded = no Exhaust = infinite scaling.
• Inflame — Gain 3 Strength immediately. Early ramp.
• Whirlwind — X-cost AoE. Each hit benefits from Strength — best finisher.
• Twin Strike — Hits twice. Both hits benefit from Strength separately.

Upgrade Priority

1. 1.Limit Break (removes Exhaust — makes it infinitely reusable)
2. 2.Demon Form (3 Strength/turn instead of 2)
3. 3.Whirlwind (+2 damage per hit)
4. 4.Twin Strike (+2 damage per hit)
5. 5.Inflame (+1 Strength)

Synergy Cards

• ▸Reaper — heals HP equal to damage dealt; scales massively with high Strength
• ▸Double Tap — duplicates next attack; devastating with Whirlwind
• ▸Spot Weakness — gain Strength when enemy intends to attack
• ▸Heavy Blade — high base damage with Strength multiplier
• ▸Brand (0 cost) — lose 1 HP, exhaust 1 card, gain 1 Strength

Best Relics

• ▸Vajra (start with 1 Strength)
• ▸Girya (permanent Strength at rest sites)
• ▸Brimstone (+2 Strength/turn — only take when winning)
• ▸Orichalcum (6 Block if no Block at end of turn — passive defense during ramp)
• ▸Ruined Helmet (doubles first Strength gain per combat)

Core Cards

• Corruption — Skills cost 0 and Exhaust when played. The foundation.
• Dark Embrace — Draw 1 card whenever a card is Exhausted. Keeps the engine cycling.
• Feel No Pain — Gain 4 Block (upgraded) whenever a card is Exhausted. Passive defense.
• True Grit — Block + deck thinning via Exhaust.
• Burning Pact — Exhaust 1 card, draw 2. Fuels the engine.

Upgrade Priority

1. 1.Feel No Pain (4 Block per Exhaust instead of 3)
2. 2.Dark Embrace (draw efficiency)
3. 3.Corruption (cost reduction helps early)
4. 4.True Grit (better Block + Exhaust)
5. 5.Ashen Strike (more damage scaling)

Synergy Cards

• ▸Juggernaut — deals damage every time you gain Block; converts Feel No Pain into offense
• ▸Body Slam — converts accumulated Block into damage
• ▸Ashen Strike — scales with Exhaust pile size; strong late-game finisher
• ▸Charon's Ashes (relic) — 3 AoE damage per Exhaust; transforms every cycle into damage
• ▸Brand (0 cost) — free Exhaust trigger + Strength gain

Best Relics

• ▸Charon's Ashes (3 AoE damage per Exhaust — best-in-slot)
• ▸Medical Kit (play Status cards as Exhaust fuel)
• ▸Blue Candle (Curses become Exhaust fuel)
• ▸Joss Paper (extra draw on Exhaust)
• ▸Forgotten Soul (Exhaust synergy)

Core Cards

• Barricade — Block is not removed at start of your turn. The keystone.
• Body Slam — Deal damage equal to your Block. Upgrade to 0 cost — enables free kills.
• Impervious — Gain 30 Block. Panic button and massive Body Slam setup.
• Blood Wall — Lose 2 HP, gain 16 Block. Extremely efficient Block generation.
• Entrench — Doubles current Block. Devastating with Barricade.

Upgrade Priority

1. 1.Body Slam (to 0 cost — enables free kills with large Block turns)
2. 2.Barricade (cost reduction 3 → 2)
3. 3.Impervious (more Block)
4. 4.Entrench (doubles Block more efficiently)
5. 5.Shrug It Off (more Block + draw)

Synergy Cards

• ▸Juggernaut — deals damage every time you gain Block; passive offense while defending
• ▸Shrug It Off — Block + draw 1; consistent cycling
• ▸Flame Barrier — Block + damage reflection on hit
• ▸Taunt — forces enemies to attack you (critical in co-op to protect teammates)
• ▸Stone Armor — permanent Block layers (costs Dexterity)

Best Relics

• ▸Calipers (Block above 15 persists — budget Barricade)
• ▸Cloak Clasp (gain 1 Block per card in hand at end of turn)
• ▸Vambrace (start combat with 6 Block)
• ▸Sai (gain 3 Block when you play 3+ cards in a turn)
• ▸Bronze Scales (thorns — passive damage when hit)

Core Cards

• Rupture — Gain 2 Strength (upgraded) whenever you lose HP on your turn.
• Inferno — Deal 9 AoE damage (upgraded) whenever you lose HP on your turn.
• Crimson Mantle — Start of turn: lose 1 HP, gain 8 Block. Guarantees triggers every turn.
• Bloodletting — Lose 3 HP, gain 3 Energy (upgraded). Fuels big turns.
• Brand — 0 cost: lose 1 HP, exhaust 1 card, gain 1 Strength. Triple synergy.

Upgrade Priority

1. 1.Rupture (2 Strength per HP loss instead of 1)
2. 2.Inferno (9 AoE damage per HP loss)
3. 3.Bloodletting (3 Energy instead of 2)
4. 4.Crimson Mantle (more Block per turn)
5. 5.Brand (already 0 cost — upgrade for better effect)

Synergy Cards

• ▸Hemokinesis — self-damage + direct damage
• ▸Offering — lose 6 HP, gain 2 Energy + draw 3; high value, high cost
• ▸Feed — permanent max HP increase on kill; sustains HP pool
• ▸Berserk — gain Energy when HP drops below threshold
• ▸Blood Wall — lose 2 HP, gain 16 Block; Block + self-damage trigger

Best Relics

• ▸Red Skull (+3 Strength at or below 50% HP — pairs with Burning Blood sustain)
• ▸Self-Forming Clay (gain 3 Block next turn whenever you lose HP)
• ▸Centennial Puzzle (draw 3 cards first time you lose HP per combat)
• ▸Demon Tongue (heal HP equal to first HP loss per turn — sustain)
• ▸Tungsten Rod (reduces all HP loss by 1 — safety net)