Slay the Spire 2 has received its first major balance update, bringing a suite of substantial changes after roughly a month of continuous tweaking on the game's beta branch. With the Regent receiving massive buffs, a new card, and a phobia mode, players can experience plenty of new surprises.
Balance Adjustments
The update features significant balance adjustments including a reworked Ascension 6, which has changed from Gloom to Inflation. This new mode makes removing cards from your deck at the Merchant more expensive. Additionally, all shop relics now cost 25 gold less, and gold-generating relics can no longer appear in the shop. Map generation has seen improvements for a more consistent experience.
Character Changes
In this update, the Ironclad has a new card: Not Yet. This rare skill card costs 2 energy and heals 10 (13) HP upon use, but it exhausts after playing. The Silent's Blade of Ink card has been reworked to generate Shivs enchanted with Inky, dealing additional damage and applying Weak. Additionally, the Regent's Arsenal card now grants Strength based on any cards created, not just Colorless cards, enhancing his overall effectiveness.
Cards, Relics, and Enemies
Five new relics have been introduced by Neow, including Hefty Tablet, which allows players to choose one of three Rare cards to add to their Deck, adding one Injury as well. Other notable relics include Neow's Talisman and Winged Boots, providing various enhancements for players. The update also brings buffs and nerfs to several Colorless cards, relics, and potions, alongside reworks for certain enemies.
Art
Many pieces of placeholder art from the Early Access launch have been updated with higher quality visuals. This includes enhancements to card VFX, enemy animations, and the addition of new character-based energy VFX, improving the overall aesthetic of the game.