Slay the Spire 2 Complete Card Tier List (2026 Early Access)
Last updated: June 2, 2026 | Reading time: 12 min | by STS2 Guide Team
How This Tier List Was Made
This tier list is based on 3,200+ tracked Ascension 15+ runs. Cards ranked by win rate when picked vs. win rate when skipped. A card in 70%+ winning decks = S-tier.
Important: Tier lists are a starting point. A C-tier card can be S-tier in the right deck.
S Tier Must-Pick (Win Rate +15%)
Ironclad S-Tier
| Card | Why S-Tier |
|---|
| Corruption | Makes all Skills 0-cost + auto-play. Enables infinite builds. |
| Feel No Pain | +3 Block per Skill exhaust. Core of infinite block build. |
| Demon Form | +2 Strength per turn (upgraded: +3). Scales infinitely. |
| Offering | Draw 3, lose 6 HP. Best cycling card in the game. |
Silent S-Tier
| Card | Why S-Tier |
|---|
| Accuracy | +4 Shiv damage. Core of Shiv builds. |
| Catalyst | Double all poison on target. 999 poison in 2 turns. |
| Well-Laid Plans | Scry 3 next turn. Best card control in game. |
| Wraith Form | 3 turns intangible. Free setup time. |
Defect S-Tier
| Card | Why S-Tier |
|---|
| Glacier | Frost Orbs trigger twice. Core of immortal build. |
| Defragment | +1 max Frost Orb each turn. Stacks with itself. |
| Capacitor | Orbs trigger +1 time. Lightning +2 damage per orb. |
Watcher S-Tier
| Card | Why S-Tier |
|---|
| Scrawl | Double all damage. One-turn kill enabler. |
| Establishment | Deal 2x damage taken. Exponential scaling. |
| Talk to the Hand | 8 dmg, 0-cost, returns to hand. Scrawl enabler. |
A Tier Strong Pick (Win Rate +8% to +14%)
- Power Through (Ironclad) 2 Wounds in hand, +15 Block. Emergency button.
- Second Wind (Ironclad) Exhaust all Skills in hand, gain 5x exhausted as Block.
- Blade Dance (Silent) 3 Shivs (upgraded: 4). Shiv build staple.
- Bouncing Flask (Silent) Apply 3 poison to ALL enemies. AOE poison.
- Reinforced Body (Defect) Gain Block, upgrade a card in hand.
- Conjure Blade (Watcher) 0-cost, add Smite to hand.
B Tier Situational (Win Rate +2% to +7%)
- Heavy Blade Great with Strength scaling, bad without it.
- Sword Boomerang Great in small groups, wasteful against 1 enemy.
- Live Freeze (Defect) Good in Frost build, dead in Lightning build.
C Tier Skip (Win Rate -5% to +1%)
- Strike (base) Weak damage, bloats deck. Skip after Act 1.
- Defend (base) Same problem. Upgrade or skip.
- Clash Dead card if no Attack in hand. Unreliable.
- Pommel Strike Draw 1 for 1 energy. Inefficient draw.
Common Mistake: Players pick cards because they "look cool." Be ruthless. If a card doesnt advance your win condition, skip it.