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Corrie May 9, 2022 @ 7:40am
Is beating the heart harder than the first ascensions?
I finally beat the game with all four characters and have been trying for quite a few runs to collect all three relics and beat the heart. I'm finding it really hard but I assumed this was the next thing you do before doing ascensions.

Then I realized that ascension 1, additional elites seems a lot easier than getting the three relics and beating the hear. Should I be trying some ascension levels before going after the heart? Does it really matter and it's just about getting the right run for the challenge?
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Showing 1-15 of 88 comments
Nibbie May 9, 2022 @ 8:28am 
The first few ascensions is definitely easier than the heart. Of course, doing them won't inherently make the heart any easier, but if you want the extra practice first that would be a fine strategy. I would say around Ascension 10 is when it starts getting pretty hard.

As for going for the heart itself, you definitely needs the right stuff to beat it, which really just means you should keep the heart in mind when making decisions the rest of the run. Certain deck archetypes have a much easier time than others, Poison Silent is much better than Shiv Silent against the heart for example. Exactly what you want depends on your character and deck, but being able to scale both offense and defense in some way is quite valuable.
#1
Hedning May 9, 2022 @ 11:50am 
I am also a new player and it really isn't either or. You can go for the heart while on ascension. I beat the heart with all but the first character on ascension 1. My plan is/was to always go for the heart even while I gradually increase ascension level.
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1.2M | Missingno. May 9, 2022 @ 12:12pm 
The Heart is very hard right away while Ascensions are only a gradual increase in difficulty. Eventually A20 Act 3 is going to be a hell of a lot harder than A0 Heart, but like A4 is not much different yet.
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Zu May 9, 2022 @ 1:08pm 
Yes, imo. If you're ok with the extra challenge of collecting keys, keep pursuing them. If you die in act 4, you still unlock the next ascension level.
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Corrie May 9, 2022 @ 1:19pm 
Sounds good, thanks everyone!
#5
mldb88 May 9, 2022 @ 2:58pm 
Originally posted by Hedning:
I am also a new player and it really isn't either or. You can go for the heart while on ascension. I beat the heart with all but the first character on ascension 1. My plan is/was to always go for the heart even while I gradually increase ascension level.
It’s certainly doable as you go if you feel like a particular run has potential (my first heart clear was on A18 with ironclad) but it’ll definitely scale with ascension. A1 is definitely easier than heart (actually easier than A0 if you know not to fear elites) for sure though. As said, it’s just a hyper specific boss you need to prepare for the entire run.
#6
Hedning May 9, 2022 @ 3:24pm 
Originally posted by mldb88:
it’s just a hyper specific boss you need to prepare for the entire run.
Without beating it your character dies. If you are not even trying to defeat is that really even a victory? I know it counts as a victory in the stats but isn't it kind of hollow knowing you didn't make it all the way?
#7
LHGreen May 9, 2022 @ 4:30pm 
Originally posted by Hedning:
Originally posted by mldb88:
it’s just a hyper specific boss you need to prepare for the entire run.
Without beating it your character dies. If you are not even trying to defeat is that really even a victory? I know it counts as a victory in the stats but isn't it kind of hollow knowing you didn't make it all the way?

Well, yeah. You don't get a "victory" if you don't beat the heart, you get a reset from Neow, Goddess of Resurrection (IIRC), and start over from the bottom. Your goal is in the title.
#8
Corrie May 9, 2022 @ 4:58pm 
Damn right after making this post I decided to try ascension 1 for the first time and I had a game where I wasn't' trying to get relics but it just worked out and I almost beat the heart. I was sooo close
#9
LHGreen May 9, 2022 @ 5:19pm 
Originally posted by Corrie:
Damn right after making this post I decided to try ascension 1 for the first time and I had a game where I wasn't' trying to get relics but it just worked out and I almost beat the heart. I was sooo close

Lol, get more relics. Relics are key. You can't always make a good deck, relics cover your ass.
#10
Corrie May 9, 2022 @ 5:25pm 
Originally posted by LHGreen:
Originally posted by Corrie:
Damn right after making this post I decided to try ascension 1 for the first time and I had a game where I wasn't' trying to get relics but it just worked out and I almost beat the heart. I was sooo close

Lol, get more relics. Relics are key. You can't always make a good deck, relics cover your ass.

Woops you're right, I meant keys not relics. Obviously I always try to get relics!
#11
Hedning May 12, 2022 @ 5:45am 
I've changed my mind on this a little: since you unlock ascension anyway and you can only unlock one at a time turning down possible good decks because it doesn't work well vs the heart would mean i unlock new ascensions slower. Therefore I only go for the heart if I happen to have a deck for it anyway.
#12
LHGreen May 12, 2022 @ 6:01am 
Originally posted by Hedning:
I've changed my mind on this a little: since you unlock ascension anyway and you can only unlock one at a time turning down possible good decks because it doesn't work well vs the heart would mean i unlock new ascensions slower. Therefore I only go for the heart if I happen to have a deck for it anyway.

I considered that, and decided that since you unlock the next level by beating Act 3, and don't actually need to win Act 4, I might as well go for the heart if it's convenient enough to do so. You get better and at handling everything Act 4 throws at you by doing that, anyway.
#13
1.2M | Missingno. May 12, 2022 @ 6:59am 
There is an opportunity cost to picking up the keys though. If you're not sure you'll even make it past the act 3 boss, maybe you need that extra relic and campfire.
#14
Corrie May 12, 2022 @ 7:18am 
Originally posted by Mega Missingno.:
There is an opportunity cost to picking up the keys though. If you're not sure you'll even make it past the act 3 boss, maybe you need that extra relic and campfire.

Yeah this was the big problem for me. When I was going for the heart I'd give up good opportunities for the key which would then make me fail earlier.

Since making this post I've been playing with the intent to beat ascension levels and only go for the keys if there is no other option, like being at a rest site with no need to heal or upgrade a card.
This has resulted in me getting to the heart twice and almost winning despite not trying because I'm never giving up good cards/moves to get the key.

The heart is brutal though, I think I could have won it if I didn't have to fight the elites just before. Those always drain me like crazy
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Date Posted: May 9, 2022 @ 7:40am
Posts: 88

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