In Act 1, does the game have start states that are unwinnable?

[Jekse]

I'm at the end of the third boss now (for the 3rd time) and every time I die I go back to world 1. I feel as if the deck I start with is in an unwinnable position and I have no option but to lose and go back to the start, which is frustrating.

[Jekse]

Ok so I found a winning strategy through a lot of savescumming; is there any way to avoid going to the start when you lose?

[RequiemsRose]

Other than the savescumming, better deck planning, or just waiting for a day that murphy's law ISN'T nuking your RNG from orbit with horrendous luck...best i can think of is the extra candle. It doesn't stop you from potentially getting terrible decks/hands but it is one more life before the run ends so you get a bit more wiggle room before going back to the start...not as helpful for bosses but you do at least get an extra smoke card if you still got the lives for it
Though, it is a rogue-lite/rogue-like style game so restarting runs with slightly better progress each time is also part of the formula to some degree. If a run goes badly, you usually still walk away from it with a better chance next run at least.

[Zero Two]

Main thing to do is: Make a coherent Deck with a lot of synergy. Aim to get Cards that work well together. Another note is: Try to build around the Black Goat strategy. Get out a single, ultra-powerful 3 Blood Creature that drains Leshy's Hitpoints as fast as possible. For best results, give Creatures such as the Great White, Urayuli, Moose Buck or Grizzly Bifurcated or Trifurcated Strike, using the Mantis/Mantis God respectively. Should OHKO Leshy in record time.

[Zero Two]

If you get truly desperate, solve some puzzles around the Cabin you're in, as you can find some game-breakingly OP stuff. Most notably is the Squirrel Totem Head, which can let you give Squirrels super OP Sigils from the Woodcarver, I.E. Worthy Sacrifice or Unkillable. Ouroboros can also break the game as it infinitely gains stats each time it dies and comes back, so inevitably you will win if you farm its stat-scaling enough.

[ZexxCrine]

when you get to kaycees mod there are times where the rng you are given is unwinnable or is only winnable with strong future-sight of what you will be given later in your run. the base game however is winnable every run. the base game is designed to be able to be manipulated to a higher degree than kaycees mod. furthermore even though the base game is designed to be heavily in your favor you can unlock many meta upgrades if you are struggling that greatly and I mean staggeringly increase your starting position.

all of that said it requires a bunch of game knowledge to understand how exactly the game is so weighted to you. im not gonna pretend like I won on my first try. however I am at the point where i have to choose to lose when replaying the game. I know this for a fact because you factually have to lose at least once in order to beat the game. there is a specific event you need to trigger to beat the game that literally will only happen if you have lost. if you keep winning you will never beat the game. the magic eye will not appear in the eyeball chest unless you have lost and you cannot open the clock amd get the film unless you have the magic eye because the solution time doesn't open the clock

don't feel bad if you are struggling to gain the knowledge to continue, that is why the meta upgrades exist. the game doesn't want you stuck at this part of the game forever. however, if you want to know if at any point you are given an unwinnable scenario prior to kaycees mod then no you are able to win every run from the very start.

[actuatedgear]

Originally posted by Zero Two:

Main thing to do is: Make a coherent Deck with a lot of synergy. Aim to get Cards that work well together. Another note is: Try to build around the Black Goat strategy. Get out a single, ultra-powerful 3 Blood Creature that drains Leshy's Hitpoints as fast as possible. For best results, give Creatures such as the Great White, Urayuli, Moose Buck or Grizzly Bifurcated or Trifurcated Strike, using the Mantis/Mantis God respectively. Should OHKO Leshy in record time.

If you can get an oroboros loop (infinite sacrifice and summon swap) and low card count you've got a field wiper for ever battle as long as it can deal with field cleaner events like prospector's gold strike.

[matoro-93]

If you're only on your third run, you are probably still learning a lot of strategy. Experimenting with different sigil options and trying to keep your deck lean can help. There are also plenty of puzzles in the cabin that can make your runs easier.

I would recommend trying not to save scum. Desperately trying to force a win with a poorly built deck will frustrate you. Starting fresh with a new run will likely help you more in the long run.

[ShadowDark3]

Mantis God with just a little bit of extra attack power will sweep most boards. If you're lucky and draw it turn 1 you can usually win regular fights on the first turn.

[phantom]

Pretty much no. If you are having issues it is likely not realizing better strategies.
Act 1 is pretty easy even without the numerous ways to cheese it. Including numerous pretty much cheats like death cards to make it easier.