Best Ironclad build in Slay the Spire 2: Cards, strategy, and more

Ironclad is the first character you'll play Slay the Spire 2 with, and he is surprisingly good if you know how to use him. As with any character in the game, you'll have to build a proper deck to stand a chance. This requires you to understand how Ironclad works and what its pros and cons are. This guide will give you brief explainers on what to expect from Slay the Spire 2's knight.Table of contentsHow does Ironclad work in Slay the Spire 2Best cards for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2Best relics for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2Best Block build for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2How does Ironclad work in Slay the Spire 2 Ironclad's greatest strength is his ability to scale his damage with Strength. He is the only character who has a heal mechanism. Since he is the first character, he is also the easiest one to understand for beginners. With Ironclad, you don't have to focus on any complicated combos like Regent. He auto-heals at the end of every combat, which leaves you with some room to make an error. However, he really struggles once you're past Act 2 if you don't have a great deck to counter his limitations. Additionally, Exhaust isn't the easiest of mechanics to master. Screenshot by Destructoid For Ironclad, you can take different approaches. Exhaust is one great choice for a deck archetype, but it's hard for beginners. I always prefer going with a deck that ramps up his Strength since that's going to be the easy to master (don't mistake the ease for weakness).Best cards for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2 Going for the best cards for Ironclad can be slightly confusing. The tables below include cards that work well with Strength decks. If you opt for other archetypes, the cards mentioned below won't be effective. Screenshot by Destructoid Early commons and uncommons To clear Act 1, you'll be mostly using these cards (based on whether you manage to draft these options). CardReasonTwin StrikeA simple attack card that costs 1 Energy and does 5 damage twice. Scales up once you increase your Strength. InflameA staple of the Strength deck. For 1 Energy, you gain 2 Strength. Fight MeA slightly tricky card that gives 1 Strength to enemies. However, you get to 5 damage twice while gaining 2 Strength for 2 Energy. RuptureFor the cost of 1 Energy, you'll gain 1 Strength whenever you lose health. WhirlwindA blockbuster option that doesn't have a definite Energy cost. It does 5 damage to all enemies times the amount of energy you have. Best cards If you get the chance to draft any of the following cards, you should add them to your deck as a priority. CardReasonDemon FormWhile this card is pretty expensive to set up, it generates 2 Strength every turn. BrandFor no Energy, you get to exhaust cards that you don't want, while losing just 1 HP and gaining 1 Strength. HellraiserAt 2 cost, you set up an auto-firing system. Every Strike card you draw will automatically target a random enemy without the requirement of any Energy. ThrashThe card, by default, does 4 damage twice for 1 Energy. However, you can exhaust another Attack card in your hand and add its damage. Best relics for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2 Here's a list of relics you'll want to prioritize on if you're going for a Strength-focused deck.Ruined Strength: Allows you to get double Strength when you get it for the first time during combat. Sword of Jade: Grants three Strength for free.Relics like Anchor and Horn Cleat are also necessary if you want to set up cards like Hellraiser and Demon Form. Best Block build for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2 If you want to play something with more synergy than Strength, you can try out the following Block build. First, here's a list of cards you will want to add to your deck. Screenshot by Destructoid CardReasonBody SlamShore up your Block and do equal damage to an enemy. Shrug It OffFor 1 Energy, you get to draw a card and gain 8 Block.True GritYou get to thin your deck by exhausting a card (preferably Strike) and gain 7 Block.TauntFor 1 Energy, you get 7 Block and apply Vulnerable for 1 turn. It forms perfect synergy with Body Slam. Store ArmorIt helps you gain 4 Block passively every turn. JuggernautAllows you to deal 5 damage whenever you gain Block. BarricadeAllows you to retain the Block across turns. Crimson MantleFor 1 Energy, you get to add 8 Block. Losing the HP isn't a problem with Ironclad thanks to his relic. For Relics, you can opt for anything that helps you to gain Block. You can also get Parrying Shield that does 6 damage for every 10 Block that you gain. The post Best Ironclad build in Slay the Spire 2: Cards, strategy, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Mar 8, 2026 - 07:42

Best Ironclad build in Slay the Spire 2: Cards, strategy, and more

Ironclad is the first character you'll play Slay the Spire 2 with, and he is surprisingly good if you know how to use him.

As with any character in the game, you'll have to build a proper deck to stand a chance. This requires you to understand how Ironclad works and what its pros and cons are. This guide will give you brief explainers on what to expect from Slay the Spire 2's knight.

Table of contents

How does Ironclad work in Slay the Spire 2

Ironclad's greatest strength is his ability to scale his damage with Strength. He is the only character who has a heal mechanism. Since he is the first character, he is also the easiest one to understand for beginners.

With Ironclad, you don't have to focus on any complicated combos like Regent. He auto-heals at the end of every combat, which leaves you with some room to make an error. However, he really struggles once you're past Act 2 if you don't have a great deck to counter his limitations. Additionally, Exhaust isn't the easiest of mechanics to master.

Screenshot by Destructoid For Ironclad, you can take different approaches. Exhaust is one great choice for a deck archetype, but it's hard for beginners. I always prefer going with a deck that ramps up his Strength since that's going to be the easy to master (don't mistake the ease for weakness).

Best cards for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2

Going for the best cards for Ironclad can be slightly confusing. The tables below include cards that work well with Strength decks. If you opt for other archetypes, the cards mentioned below won't be effective.

Screenshot by Destructoid Early commons and uncommons

To clear Act 1, you'll be mostly using these cards (based on whether you manage to draft these options).

Card

Reason

Twin Strike

A simple attack card that costs 1 Energy and does 5 damage twice. Scales up once you increase your Strength.

Inflame

A staple of the Strength deck. For 1 Energy, you gain 2 Strength.

Fight Me

A slightly tricky card that gives 1 Strength to enemies. However, you get to 5 damage twice while gaining 2 Strength for 2 Energy.

Rupture

For the cost of 1 Energy, you'll gain 1 Strength whenever you lose health.

Whirlwind

A blockbuster option that doesn't have a definite Energy cost. It does 5 damage to all enemies times the amount of energy you have.

Best cards

If you get the chance to draft any of the following cards, you should add them to your deck as a priority.

Card

Reason

Demon Form

While this card is pretty expensive to set up, it generates 2 Strength every turn.

Brand

For no Energy, you get to exhaust cards that you don't want, while losing just 1 HP and gaining 1 Strength.

Hellraiser

At 2 cost, you set up an auto-firing system. Every Strike card you draw will automatically target a random enemy without the requirement of any Energy.

Thrash

The card, by default, does 4 damage twice for 1 Energy. However, you can exhaust another Attack card in your hand and add its damage.

Best relics for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2

Here's a list of relics you'll want to prioritize on if you're going for a Strength-focused deck.

Ruined Strength: Allows you to get double Strength when you get it for the first time during combat.
Sword of Jade: Grants three Strength for free.
Relics like Anchor and Horn Cleat are also necessary if you want to set up cards like Hellraiser and Demon Form.

Best Block build for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2

If you want to play something with more synergy than Strength, you can try out the following Block build. First, here's a list of cards you will want to add to your deck.

Screenshot by Destructoid

Card

Reason

Body Slam

Shore up your Block and do equal damage to an enemy.

Shrug It Off

For 1 Energy, you get to draw a card and gain 8 Block.

True Grit

You get to thin your deck by exhausting a card (preferably Strike) and gain 7 Block.

Taunt

For 1 Energy, you get 7 Block and apply Vulnerable for 1 turn. It forms perfect synergy with Body Slam.

Store Armor

It helps you gain 4 Block passively every turn.

Juggernaut

Allows you to deal 5 damage whenever you gain Block.

Barricade

Allows you to retain the Block across turns.

Crimson Mantle

For 1 Energy, you get to add 8 Block. Losing the HP isn't a problem with Ironclad thanks to his relic.

For Relics, you can opt for anything that helps you to gain Block. You can also get Parrying Shield that does 6 damage for every 10 Block that you gain.

The post Best Ironclad build in Slay the Spire 2: Cards, strategy, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

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