43 hours in ... This game has balancing issues.

[WarMachineX]

First off, I love deckbuilder games Slay the Spire is by far my most played game in my steam library with a whopping 6.5k hours played. I love the Lovecraftian setting of this game, the story runs on a bit , but it shows the developers care. To that, I give them thumbs way up. But after that positive feed back, I have to really touch on the mechanics of this game that really hold it back, in my opinion.

I understand they want to make the game challenging but the Rng in this game is brutal, healing is way too hard to find, and the later mob fights are set way too in favour of the mobs. I love the summon class, that focuses on Rats or Crows. I like that you get a crow summon at the star of every fight. But why is it that when you get into combat against say 4 mobs, they suddenly hard target you the main character? This seems to happen more and more the deeper you get in the game. I've had this happen so many times it does feel like its by chance.

I've had stacked decks, with 8 relics some that give you energy boosts at start of the fight, cards that shield my summons, a fair amount of consumables. Relics summoned minions , on top of my crow minions in the first round. Only to be wiped by either being Solo targeted by all the mobs in the fight or Boss attacks that wipe out the majority of my minions in 1 hit.

I like challenges , but this almost feels by design. The pathing system hurts this game, even with the navigation items, its too set. Maybe I'm not far enough, but it needs items that allows the path to be changed. This isn't a matter of someone saying "get good" , it feels unbalanced and effects the game play. I'm not nit picking here, I think you have a 80 percent good product here. It just needs a little tweaking, in my opinion.

[Odin]

I agree. This games difficulty is ridiciolous. I barely get by with the summoner. No clue how the other characters could ever win this. Have not been able to get to the endboss once.

[blackclove]

Do you mean in the custom game mode? Or in the story mode? Near the end of story mode I started to win most of my runs. Building the buildings really does help, and so does learning what relics to take and the order to pick your steps in.

In custom game, it's much tougher because you don't benefit from the building bonuses. I have won once on the custom game out of the three times I tried it (with the cultist, who in my opinion is the strongest character).

Some spoilers that give hints to "git gud" below. Don't read them if you don't want hints, but I do both of these things on most runs now.

Watch out for the ring or relics that heal you, especially if you're not the cultist. If you see the +2 heal per unused energy point at the merchant, it's always worth buying it, even if you have to sacrifice your blood to pay for it.

You can sell your consumables and useless equipment at the merchant for money by right clicking it. You'll get enough money to buy things you need. It is critical to winning a run on the custom game mode for me.

[Stranger]

Well, the Professor is absolutely the friendliest of the bunch. Once you get your monolith above level forty so that there are more locations to visit in each zone, and more travel encounters like Museum, and Motel, winning with the Cultist and the Private Eye get tremendously easier. The Cultist is amazing, but once you get all their rare cards unlocked, I think the Private Eye is the most fun.

I would totally suggest you make custom decks instead of using the recommended ones. Sure, there is RNG involved, but if you don't like your deck on the right hand side there is a button to make a new deck after you are done with it instead of launching into the game. I have never had to remake a deck more than once without getting what I wanted.

[UnlivingEnd]

You’re supposed to fail. That’s how you add to your terror and unlock more gear and cards.

[Chocolatte]

I haven't felt like the battles have been that hard if you can draft well. I've beaten the game with detective twice, with basically no base upgrades. Some archetypes are definitely stronger than others, but I won with a block build and a cycle + 0cost atk build. Professor with summon spam is much easier, I've won three times with him, if you can draft Beastmaster he basically full heals every fight.

Are you starting with the starter decks? I'd recommend to always do the custom deck, the starter decks suck. Also don't be afraid to use your card rejection button. I've found that most of the 3-cost cards aren't worth it, with how hard it is to get energy in this game.

[Lil Tanny]

This game is fabulously easy. I'm currently on cycle five of endless mode, and I'm getting bored because I finish every combat in the first or second round.

Just draft your deck, don't use the premade ones. They are awful.

[Chaos]

I feel you bro but there are ways around that. Try cultist class. I've done all achievements except for god slayer and hardcore player, those two are aids...if anyone got a tip, tell me plz

[MeinBesenFuzzi]

The only really big, often run-breaking balancing issue I found are the self flagellation cards that you cannot seem to avoid getting even by blocking the attackers.
Once in your hand the damage of these card goes through your shield and straight to your HP. Worst thing is that they are not exhausted after being played but go to the discard pile.

[Stranger]

Originally posted by MeinBesenFuzzi:

The only really big, often run-breaking balancing issue I found are the self flagellation cards that you cannot seem to avoid getting even by blocking the attackers.
Once in your hand the damage of these card goes through your shield and straight to your HP. Worst thing is that they are not exhausted after being played but go to the discard pile.

Yeah, Self Flagellation is brutal.