Artifact is better than you probably think

[Dingdong09]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPPXTy7_AA

[Dingdong09]

Originally posted by Riedy:

It's alright, but there are better ways to gain strength and dexterity more efficiently.

What can give you +4 STR with Flex (or +5 STR/DEX with pots) for a whole combat in one turn for no energy cost?

[blue_tetris]

Artifact definitely got me a lot of runs on the way to my level 20s.

[itssirtou]

The problem with Panacea is timing. It HAS to be in your first or second hand for it to be useful in certain fights. Draw it turn 2 against the snecko? too bad so sad.

Panacea with Baised/Wraith/Berserk/Flex is crazy good. IF you can pull it off. If you can't get them in the same turn, or force it with the likes of Well Laid Plans or Defect shenanigans, you risk your artifact being eaten by an enemy before you get the synergy.

Of course the pot doesn't have this issue...

[Dingdong09]

Originally posted by itssirtou:

The problem with Panacea is timing. It HAS to be in your first or second hand for it to be useful in certain fights. Draw it turn 2 against the snecko? too bad so sad.

Panacea with Baised/Wraith/Berserk/Flex is crazy good. IF you can pull it off. If you can't get them in the same turn, or force it with the likes of Well Laid Plans or Defect shenanigans, you risk your artifact being eaten by an enemy before you get the synergy.

Of course the pot doesn't have this issue...

Yeah Panacea is "meh" tier but the pot is awesome if you have any of the cards you mentioned.

[Gentlest Giant]

Honestly, I probably value it too much. Buying Panacea and the relic that grants 1 artifact at the start of combat is something I do at almost every opportunity with all classes. (In reality it's not that often since they are not very common to begin with.)
The only time I hesitate to buy it is if I use cards that eat the charges for little gain, such as Battle Trance or if the store has obviously better options with the limited money.

Of course artifact has some crazy synergies with cards like Biased Cognition or big pots but really, my intention when buying these things is to just use them against regular monster debuffs. The vulnerable from the Heart turn 2 is deadly. Chosen is deadly. Avocado is deadly. The white eyeball with armour is deadly.
There are a lot of fights where artifact as is is super useful and I value it crazy high. (I only play A20 heart runs)

[itssirtou]

Originally posted by Gentle Giant:

Avocado is deadly.

Lol, which enemy is that?

[EternalEllipsis]

Originally posted by itssirtou:

Originally posted by Gentle Giant:

Avocado is deadly.

Lol, which enemy is that?

The one with dark green skin, light green flesh, and the giant pit in the middle.

[Burdpal]

Phew. I read the title and I thought it was saying Valve's Artifact card game was better than Slay the Spire. I dodged a bullet today.

[JellyPuff]

Originally posted by Burd!:

Phew. I read the title and I thought it was saying Valve's Artifact card game was better than Slay the Spire. I dodged a bullet today.

Imagine all the predatory ways, a game like StS could be monetized. Like $2.99 booster packs with new (and of course better) cards that can show up during a run. Or $0.99 extra lives.

@Thread: Artifact is super anti act2. I love it. Though it's not the most reliable, unless you get Clockwork Souvenir.

[Lantantan]

You think artifact is good? Let me introduce you to my friend the yellow pellet artifact! Has all the benefits of artifact, except that it clears ALL debufs so enemies cant take down your artifact. It also needs less stringent timing, triggering it 2 turns too late is still great.

[Dusk_Army]

^It's also a shop only relic that requires you to play a Power, Skill, and Attack card all in one turn. Not saying it's bad, but that's the definition of "situational", especially since most Powers are things you want to get out ASAP, rather than saving them to trigger a combo.

[corbet]

i totallly never realized artifact can be used like that. i too viewed that pot as one of the ones to get rid of, i now may reconsider it, most likely will try that strat.

1. flex, keep strength
2. biased cognition keep the focus
3. berserk keep energy without the draw back of vulnerable debuff.

any other cards it works well with? what about wraith form? maybe future cards developed work super well with it, it becomes more mainstream strategy?

[Zu]

Originally posted by shake your coconuts:

any other things it works well with?

Steroid potion is very similar to flex, isn't it?

Super secret next level strat: Gain artifact at the end of your turn when stacking these. Incidentally also one of the times when pellets are preferable over souvenir.