Need help at purple and above

[GuyYouMetOnline]

I got through everything until now, but the second increase to ante scaling is brutal and I just keep losing. My best runs have been with Checkered (including one where I actually reached then end only to be hit with Violet Vessel),; I understand it's considered poor for higher levels (though it does reliably manage the first ante without any upgrades, which can be helpful), but I haven't done as well with anything else.

Anyways, I'd appreciate some advice.

[srn347]

In general it's unlikely that it's the hand type (presumably flushes for the checkered deck) that's causing the losses, but rather the jokers. Typically, a winning run is going to involve 1 or more (each) of +chips, +mult, and xmult jokers. There are some bad decks that will struggle with high stakes more than others (in particular black deck and nebula deck), but checkered isn't one of them and has a solid starting composition. Econ is also important, make sure that once you've stabilized you generate money efficiently through interest or some econ joker.

[tinylordling]

What about Rough gem, onyx agate, hit the road, and seeing double? These jokers are really hard to get and the gem jokers are best to get erratic deck, which you need to beat the stake after this one.

[nmcalamity]

For checkered deck build towards flush houses. It's already possible with the deck.