Best deck and strategy for a first win?

[MindfulOcean]

I think I understand Balatro, but I haven't been able to win yet. What would you recommend to score that first win?

[sab0t]

a big part of Balatro is the early game - finding some jokers to get you started, and building up an economy. with this in mind, personally I think the yellow deck is probably the easiest for new players / first win. it's the deck i'm personally best with (and also the only one i've cleared gold stake with atm). Green deck is also very good as you can earn lots of money if you don't use too many hands/discards.

Black deck is pretty unanimously considered the most difficult deck to use, btw, so be forewarned about that one.

[snakeskip]

I'd just play the Red Deck until I understand the game well enough to get the first victory. There's a reason it's the first deck. Going from deck to deck before you're able to win might make it harder to learn the basics.

[Goblin]

Originally posted by snakeskip:

I'd just play the Red Deck until I understand the game well enough to get the first victory. There's a reason it's the first deck. Going from deck to deck before you're able to win might make it harder to learn the basics.

Eh, I don't think switching to Blue deck would impact learning much. It's a bit better unless you get certain jokers, so it's usually easier, but otherwise it's mostly the same.
Yellow mostly just makes the early game easier, which can snowball of course but doesn't benefit you if you make bad purchases. It may be a bit worse for initial learning, but if it is it's not by much.

Green and Black on the other hand, yeah avoid using those to learn the basics. Black because it's challenging, and Green because it's too different.

[Void]

Spend your early runs taking some more time to contrast various upgrades to see how they stack upon one another. Finding synergy is the path to success. For example both flush and straight bonus jokers activate on a straight flush, not just a straight or a flush respectively. Two Pair Jokers can activate for a Full House. Gives you good options to pivot to in the future.

[YoruHawk]

Originally posted by Void:

Spend your early runs taking some more time to contrast various upgrades to see how they stack upon one another. Finding synergy is the path to success. For example both flush and straight bonus jokers activate on a straight flush, not just a straight or a flush respectively. Two Pair Jokers can activate for a Full House. Gives you good options to pivot to in the future.

Definitely listen to Void. Finding synergy is everything. The most important thing is economy you want to do your best to stay above 25 so you can hit your interest cap. This will maximize your money. I find high card to be the most consistent hand for me but since you are in white stake you can play almost anything you just have to find that synergy. I recommend yellow deck it gives you are great jumpstart on economy.

[Void]

Originally posted by YoruHawk:

Definitely listen to Void. Finding synergy is everything. The most important thing is economy you want to do your best to stay above 25 so you can hit your interest cap. This will maximize your money. I find high card to be the most consistent hand for me but since you are in white stake you can play almost anything you just have to find that synergy. I recommend yellow deck it gives you are great jumpstart on economy.

Absolutely. Getting a money-engine going really opens up your potential for growth. Riding the line between foregoing upgrades for capital and picking up essential upgrades when absolutely necessary is key. Keep an eye out for hermit cards in the shop, too, because that's practically free money. Could even save it for after the next blind to get even more.

[MindfulOcean]

Thanks for the advice guys! Just got my first win.

[sab0t]

congrats!! which deck did you end up using?

[malogoss]

GG!

[MindfulOcean]

Originally posted by sab0t:

congrats!! which deck did you end up using?

I went with Red, paid close attention, and got a lot of good Jokers.

I got the one that turns all of your Discards into Hands.
The one that gives you +1 Multiplier for every hand played, and -1 for every Discard.
The one that gives you +10 for every straight played.
Towards the end of the run, I was blessed with Popcorn.

The planet packs were kind too.

[Void]

Nice work!