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Blood Flowers Jan 31, 2019 @ 6:38pm
How to Slay the Spire (For Dummies Edition)
I'm posting this because some of the advice and complaints going around are literally making me cry.

Preface: I mainly play A20 runs with the Silent (~25% WR for A20 Heart Kill) and am slightly less experienced with the other two characters (though I have beaten A20 on all 3 characters). I can't remember the last time I lost a run that didn't reach act 4 below a15 (again, as the Silent).

Here's a list of advice:

1. Build a balanced deck that solves immediate problems.

Q: wHaT DOeS ThIS MeAn?!?!?
A: If you are about to fight your first elite in Act 1 and you have skipped every card reward up until this point because none of the cards are "amazing" or "can make crazy good combos" then you've probably done something wrong. Similarly, if you've been picking up cards like accuracy or outmaneuver and then have to fight Gremlin Nob, you probably shouldn't blame the game for being hard if when you die.

2. Fight elites. Preferably at least 2 per Act (obviously does not apply to Act 4).

Q: Why? Elites are so strong. I lose health. :(
A: They give relics. They give increased chances at rare cards. These things add up to make later parts of the game easier. If you skip all the elites, then you're gonna have a rough time later on against the bosses (or even just harder hallway fights).

3. Stop trading your starting relic on Silent and Ironclad. Actually, just stop trading your starting relic. The other options are almost always better (or at least more consistent).
Fine Print: Don't take colorless cards either. Those are even worse.

Q: But... but... bu-
A: No.

4. Look at the map. Then pick the most optimal path.

Q: I already do that though, but I'm still losing. Why?
A: Because you're doing the first part and not the second. The most optimal path does not include 0 elites, 10 ? marks and 3 stores.
Addendum: Plan to fight 2 elites, preferably backloaded though usually its more like 1 early 1 late. Try to hit as many campfires as possible for upgrades (priority) and resting (if you have to). Take more hallway fights if your cards suck. Take more ? marks if your cards are already decent and you're in Act 2 where the hallway fights extra suck.

Originally posted by Siri:
It helps to plan your path knowing that the first three non-elite fights in [Act 1 and the first two non-elite fights in Acts 2 and 3] are pulled from a pool of encounters that is much easier than the rest.

5. Learn what enemies do.

Q: It's always random though. How could I possibly know?
A: It's random... within certain rules. Learn them through experience, or just, idk, GOOGLE??
Addendum: Somebody who is way more patient than I am decided to look it up for you guys.
Originally posted by faceplant712:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZsxNXebbELpcCi8N7FVOTNGdX_K9-BRC_LMgx4TORo4/
https://slay-the-spire.fandom.com/wiki/

6. Use your head.

Q: I keep trying, but no matter how many times I smash my face on the keyboard, I still can't win.
A: I'm getting salty.

7. Pick your boss relic wisely.

Q: Shouldn't I just always take an energy relic?
A: No. You should take what solves problems for your deck.
Q: iTz ImPOsSiBRU, can'T wiN WiTH 3 NRG
A: Can't win with small brain either. You can. Being unable to play high cost cards is a problem that can be solved in more ways than just energy relics. Energy relics are nice, but they are not always needed nor are they always the best options to take.

8. Look at your Draw Pile.

Q: The Draw Pile shows everything in a random order, that's not helpful at all!
A: It helps because it lets you know what probability you have of drawing XYZ cards. More specifically, if helps you know what types of cards you might draw on your next turn. If your draw pile has 10 cards and 9 of them are block cards, you probably aren't going to be doing any damage on subsequent turns.

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

If you're not sick of me yet, check out this guide that I'm currently in the process of writing. I go through an A20 run and explain my thought process on what cards I take and what paths I choose.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1613845715
Last edited by Blood Flowers; Mar 10, 2019 @ 8:44pm
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Showing 1-15 of 41 comments
DuckSonata Jan 31, 2019 @ 7:10pm 
Re: point 5,
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZsxNXebbELpcCi8N7FVOTNGdX_K9-BRC_LMgx4TORo4/
https://slay-the-spire.fandom.com/wiki/

Something looks a bit off in point 6. I can't quite put my finger on it, but....well. It'll come to me later, I'm sure.

Edit: got it. You're supposed to use the side of your head, not your face. Side of the head should be good to ascension 5, at least.
Last edited by DuckSonata; Jan 31, 2019 @ 7:21pm
#1
Blood Flowers Jan 31, 2019 @ 7:29pm 
Originally posted by faceplant712:
You're supposed to use the side of your head, not your face.

Could you provide a video example? I need a demonstration.
#2
Khor Jan 31, 2019 @ 7:36pm 
Originally posted by Blood Flowers:
Similarly, if you've been picking up cards like accuracy or outmaneuver and then have to fight Gremlin Nob, you probably shouldn't blame the game for being hard if when you die.
Seriously peeps... stop this Accuracy-shaming!:madpug:
It`s like blaming the party healer when you die and everyone is all over the map.:conwayshrug:
Give the Silent some decent Shiv options and it will perform:47_thumb_up:

Apart from that, nice:cozybethesda:
#3
Zu Jan 31, 2019 @ 7:39pm 
I read the OP in Yahtzee's voice.
#4
Blood Flowers Jan 31, 2019 @ 7:44pm 
Originally posted by Khor:
stop this Accuracy-shaming!
It was either that or Kite-shaming.

But in all seriousness: Accuracy is pretty much never a good card. It's rarely even a decent card... and if you pick it up prior to your first Act 1 elite...

Originally posted by Zu:
I read the OP in Yahtzee's voice.
Not gonna lie, I had to look it up - and I admit, it is waaay funnier now when I'm re-reading it.
Last edited by Blood Flowers; Jan 31, 2019 @ 7:46pm
#5
DuckSonata Jan 31, 2019 @ 8:07pm 
Originally posted by Blood Flowers:
Originally posted by faceplant712:
You're supposed to use the side of your head, not your face.

Could you provide a video example? I need a demonstration.
I can't do a video right now, I have a headache for some reason. But I can show you some results of the technique:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1641179807
#6
Roan Woasbi Jan 31, 2019 @ 8:20pm 
Completely disagree with not trading in the starting relic.

On my Ironclad, I traded in my relic and received the Sozu. Received one energy every turn in exchange for not having potions. Breezed through the tower thanks to that relic.

On my Silent, traded in my relic for Black Star. I basically received a second relic each time I defeated and elite. Hit 30 relics on that character.

It's completely worth trading the relic. it also makes it more fun in building something different.
#7
Songbird Jan 31, 2019 @ 8:52pm 
If you like losing about half of your runs on floor 1 in exchange for marginal benefit, you can pick that option, I suppose.

I would personally argue that there are literally zero boss relics that I would rather have on floor one than Ironclad's relic.
Last edited by Songbird; Jan 31, 2019 @ 8:54pm
#8
Khor Jan 31, 2019 @ 8:53pm 
Originally posted by CrankyCoon:
Completely disagree with not trading in the starting relic.

On my Ironclad, I traded in my relic and received the Sozu. Received one energy every turn in exchange for not having potions. Breezed through the tower thanks to that relic.

On my Silent, traded in my relic for Black Star. I basically received a second relic each time I defeated and elite. Hit 30 relics on that character.

It's completely worth trading the relic. it also makes it more fun in building something different.
Originally posted by Blood Flowers:
Q: But... but... bu-
A: No.

You could also get Calling Bell, Tiny House....or even.... Kite(!!!???!!!) Not only you traded a good Relic for a crap one, you also lost a pretty powerful starting bonus.
Should you never ever do that? Nope, but if you`re reading a guide on how to win the game...that`s probably a pretty bad idea


#9
Blood Flowers Jan 31, 2019 @ 8:57pm 
Originally posted by faceplant712:
I have a headache for some reason.
xD

Originally posted by CrankyCoon:
Completely disagree with not trading in the starting relic.
...snip...
two anecdotal pieces of "evidence"
...snip...
It's completely worth trading the relic.

You managed to win two games from trading the relic. It just so happens, I've won two games from not trading the relic. I've even won a game from taking colorless cards at the start. Does that make colorless cards as a starting bonus good? No.

Could you probably have won that Ironclad run by getting 6 HP back after combat and having potions? Probably. Could you have still won that run if the game decided to give you tiny house? Not on A20.

Could you have won that run as the Silent by getting 2 more cards on your starting turn? Probably. Could you have still won that run if the game decided to give you calling bell and RNG screws you and then hands you a normality, regret, and pain? Not on A20 (or even A10 for that matter...)

Edit: I apologize for being snarky. I had a looong day of research then followed by teaching two undergraduate labs. I'm on a bit of a hair trigger.
Originally posted by Lupus Albus:
I would personally argue that there are literally zero boss relics that I would rather have on floor one than Ironclad's relic.
Black Blood over Burning Blood. REKT! TrADiNG StArTiNG REliC iS AlwAyS GOoD.

/s (in case it wasn't obvious)

Originally posted by Khor:
or even.... Kite(!!!???!!!)
I sense Kite-shaming. How do I join?
Last edited by Blood Flowers; Jan 31, 2019 @ 9:04pm
#10
Songbird Jan 31, 2019 @ 9:03pm 
I thought about that, but you can't actually get Black Blood on floor 1 so I figured I didn't really need to specify...
#11
Khor Jan 31, 2019 @ 9:04pm 
Originally posted by Blood Flowers:
Black Blood over Burning Blood. REKT! TrADiNG StArTiNG REliC iS AlwAyS GOoD.

/s (in case it wasn't obvious)
Fun fact. You can`t.
Trading Burning Blood away removes Black Blood from the list
#12
Blood Flowers Jan 31, 2019 @ 9:06pm 
Originally posted by Lupus Albus:
I thought about that, but you can't actually get Black Blood on floor 1 so I figured I didn't really need to specify...

Originally posted by Khor:
Fun fact. You can`t.
Trading Burning Blood away removes Black Blood from the list

Oh. I never knew that (am new player, no flame xd). Though, to be fair, I barely play the Ironclad nowadays and I've never traded his starting relic because it's just so darn good.
#13
Valmar Feb 2, 2019 @ 4:15am 
Love this topic, a great sense of humor.
#14
Rogue Feb 2, 2019 @ 7:06am 
Re: point 4.
It helps to plan your path, especially in act 1, knowing that the first three non-elite fights in act1 (first 2 in act 2 and act 3) are pulled from a pool of encounters that is much easier than the rest. Taking this into account it is often a good idea to count the amount of fights you get into before your first elite. Doing three, and preferably not more, means you get 3 fights where you lose little to no health that still gives you chances to power up enough to have an easier time with the first elite.

Not a hard rule by any stretch but it is a very useful piece of information to take into account.
#15
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Date Posted: Jan 31, 2019 @ 6:38pm
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