Slay the Spire 2 — Class Tier List
Rankings based on Early Access v1.0 (March 2026). Evaluates solo climb potential, consistency, and skill ceiling.
Detailed Breakdown
The Ironclad
S TierThe most forgiving class in EA. Massive block generation and self-healing via Exhaust synergies make Ironclad the safest pick for climbing Ascension levels.
Strengths
- +Easiest to pilot
- +Strong self-sustain
- +Multiple viable build paths (Strength, Exhaust, Block)
Weaknesses
- −Lower ceiling than Regent/Necrobinder
- −Relies on Exhaust cards — bad draws hurt
The Silent
S TierThe new Sly mechanic is broken in the best way. Discarding cards to play them for free enables explosive combo turns that can one-shot elites. Poison stacking remains a reliable fallback.
Strengths
- +Sly combos scale infinitely
- +Poison is consistent vs. high-HP bosses
- +Excellent card draw
Weaknesses
- −Combo-dependent — weak hands feel terrible
- −Requires knowing which cards have Sly
The Regent
A TierUnique in-combat card crafting via Forge makes every run feel different. Stars as a resource adds a satisfying puzzle layer. Slightly harder to pilot than S-tier but has the highest skill ceiling.
Strengths
- +Highest skill ceiling
- +Forge creates run-specific power spikes
- +Alternate Acts open new strategies
Weaknesses
- −Stars management is punishing if misused
- −Weaker early game before Sovereign Blade upgrades
The Necrobinder
A TierDoom stacking for instant kills is one of the most satisfying mechanics in the game. Osty (the giant hand companion) adds a unique summon/sacrifice layer. Punishing if you don't understand the Doom threshold.
Strengths
- +Doom enables instant kills on any enemy
- +Osty provides flexible offense and defense
- +Strong in co-op (Doom stacks from multiple players)
Weaknesses
- −Doom threshold management is complex
- −Negative Strength builds require careful relic selection
The Defect
B TierThe upgraded orb system is powerful but slower to come online than other classes. Focus scaling is strong mid-run but the early game can feel passive. Best in class for consistent damage via Lightning orbs.
Strengths
- +Consistent passive damage/block from orbs
- +Focus scaling is reliable
- +Strong vs. multi-enemy rooms
Weaknesses
- −Slow early game
- −Orb slots limit flexibility
- −Weakest in co-op (passive effects don't synergize as well)
Ranking Methodology
Rankings reflect solo Ascension climb potential in EA v1.0. S-tier classes are consistent across most builds and skill levels. A-tier classes have higher ceilings but require more game knowledge. B-tier is viable but has a narrower optimal path. Co-op notes are included in each breakdown — Doom-based classes (Necrobinder) gain significantly in multiplayer.