The Ironclad
Returning in Slay the Spire 2 as the master of martial prowess and demonic pacts. Enhanced Vulnerability synergies, deeper Self-Damage scaling, and advanced Exhaust interactions raise his tactical ceiling higher than ever.
Background
The Ironclad returns in Slay the Spire 2 as the steadfast master of martial prowess and demonic pacts. While retaining his identity as a heavy hitter who manipulates HP and the Exhaust pile, his kit in Slay the Spire 2 introduces more nuanced synergies between Vulnerability, Self-Damage, and Exhaust interactions, making his tactical ceiling higher than ever.
Evolution of Core Mechanics in Slay the Spire 2
Enhanced Vulnerability Synergies
In Slay the Spire 2, the Ironclad's ability to exploit Vulnerability has expanded from a simple damage multiplier into a central mechanical pillar.
Tremble allows for 0-cost application of Vulnerability, while Bully scales directly with the number of turns of Vulnerability remaining on an enemy.
Powers like Cruelty increase the damage taken by vulnerable enemies at the cost of your own energy, turning a classic debuff into a specialized "execution" window.
Self-Damage & High-Risk Scaling
The "Self-Damage" archetype is more prominent in Slay the Spire 2. The Ironclad now possesses more versatile ways to trade health for immediate power.
Blood Wall converts HP into Block, while Breakthrough provides AOE damage at a vital cost. Hemokinesis has been slightly tuned down in base damage to compensate for the improved self-damage synergy cards.
This "blood price" synergy is rewarded by utility cards like Spite, which grants additional card draw if you have lost HP during the same turn, allowing for explosive momentum.
Advanced Exhaust & Graveyard Interaction
Exhausting cards remains a cornerstone of the Ironclad's strategy in Slay the Spire 2, but with new "conditional play" layers.
A standout new mechanic involves cards interacting with the Exhaust Pile in real-time. The rare attack Pack's End can only be played once your exhaust pile reaches a certain size, functioning similarly to a more accessible "Grand Finale."
Experimental cards like Howl from Beyond suggest a new capability to play or trigger effects directly from the Exhaust pile, adding a "recursive" dimension to graveyard management.
Strategic Archetypes
The Ironclad's returning kit in Slay the Spire 2 supports several distinct build paths, each enhanced with new mechanics:
🛡️ The Juggernaut (Plating & Armor)
The new Plating mechanic through Stone Armor offers permanent defensive layers at the cost of Dexterity. Encourages a "tank" playstyle that relies on base stats rather than turn-by-turn block.
⚔️ The Master of Strikes
With Hellraiser, basic "Strike" cards become automatic triggers — played whenever they are drawn. This breathes new life into often-discarded basic cards and supports a "Strike-heavy" deck archetype.
🔄 The Aggressive Recycler
Aggression ensures your discard pile is never stagnant, automatically returning and upgrading a random attack to your hand each turn — relentless pressure and permanent deck scaling mid-combat.
Notable Changes from Slay the Spire 1
Several classic Ironclad cards have undergone balance shifts for Slay the Spire 2's meta:
Bludgeon: Now Uncommon (previously Rare), making high-burst damage more accessible in early acts.
Dark Embrace: Returns to Rare status to balance out the increased frequency of exhaust synergies in the sequel.
Hemokinesis: Slightly tuned down in base damage to compensate for the improved self-damage synergy cards in STS2.
Details
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The Ironclad's Cards
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