STS2 BUILDS & STRATEGY

Core Idea

Build Strength early through cards like Aggression and Hellraiser, then leverage that Strength with multi-hit attacks and self-damage cards for explosive turns.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Incredible late-game scaling
• • Simple to execute
• • Crushes bosses
• • Consistent damage output

Weaknesses

• • Weak early game
• • Vulnerable to artifact removal
• • Requires time to set up
• • Struggles against fast enemies

Tips

• • Prioritize Strength gain in Act 1 to snowball into Acts 2 and 3
• • Look for Limit Break to double your Strength stacks
• • Pair with Exhaust synergies to thin your deck
• • Self-damage cards like Hellraiser provide excellent value with high Strength

Core Idea

Build around cards that benefit from Exhausting, using Feel No Pain for block and Dead Branch for card generation. Create a lean, powerful deck that cycles quickly.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Excellent deck cycling
• • Strong defensive capabilities
• • Scales well into late game
• • Flexible strategy

Weaknesses

• • Relic dependent (Dead Branch)
• • Complex to pilot
• • Can brick without setup
• • Vulnerable to status effects

Tips

• • Dead Branch transforms this build from good to exceptional
• • Corruption is the ultimate payoff card if you can survive without Defends
• • Balance Exhaust cards with sustainable damage sources
• • Dark Embrace provides crucial card draw to maintain tempo

Core Idea

Use Barricade to retain Block between turns, then stack it infinitely with Entrench and Body Slam for both defense and offense.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Nearly invincible once set up
• • Unique playstyle
• • Crushes multi-turn fights
• • Block IS your damage

Weaknesses

• • Very slow to set up
• • Vulnerable before Barricade
• • Weak to artifact removal
• • Struggles in Act 1

Tips

• • Prioritize finding Barricade early - the build doesn't work without it
• • Calipers relic makes you nearly unkillable
• • Body Slam becomes your primary damage source
• • Self-damage cards are risky but provide excellent Block generation

Core Idea

Use Master Planner to grant Sly to powerful cards, then discard them with Calculated Gamble or Acrobatics to play them for free. Chain multiple Sly cards in a single turn for explosive combos.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Highest combo potential
• • Incredible card advantage
• • Flexible and adaptive
• • Unique to StS2

Weaknesses

• • Very complex to pilot
• • Requires specific cards
• • Can brick without setup
• • Difficult for beginners

Tips

• • Master Planner is the core enabler - prioritize finding it
• • Reflex is a free draw engine when combined with discard effects
• • Plan your discards carefully to maximize Sly triggers
• • Tough Bandages provides free damage on every discard

Core Idea

Focus on Poison application cards early, then scale with Catalyst to multiply Poison stacks. Use defensive cards to survive while Poison does the work.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Excellent boss killer
• • Scales infinitely
• • Energy efficient
• • Consistent strategy

Weaknesses

• • Slow against fast enemies
• • Weak in Act 1
• • Struggles with artifact
• • Requires defensive support

Tips

• • Catalyst is the key payoff - double your Poison for instant value
• • Noxious Fumes provides passive Poison every turn
• • Corpse Explosion clears multi-enemy fights efficiently
• • Balance Poison application with defensive cards to survive

Core Idea

Use Blade Dance and Cloak and Dagger to flood your hand with Shivs, then boost their damage with Accuracy and After Image. Trigger relics and powers with every Shiv played.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Explosive burst turns
• • Excellent relic synergies
• • Fun to pilot
• • Strong defensive scaling

Weaknesses

• • Hand size limitations
• • Relic dependent
• • Weak without setup
• • Vulnerable to Time Eater

Tips

• • Kunai and Shuriken are game-changing relics for this build
• • After Image provides scaling Block with every Shiv
• • Accuracy is crucial - +4 damage per Shiv adds up fast
• • Storm of Steel can generate massive Shiv counts in one turn

Core Idea

Apply Doom stacks to enemies before they attack, causing them to take massive damage when they try to hit you. Use Osty as a defensive wall while Doom does the work.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Punishes aggressive enemies
• • Excellent scaling
• • Strong defensive synergy
• • Unique mechanic

Weaknesses

• • Weak against defensive enemies
• • Requires setup time
• • Doom Hourglass dependent
• • Complex timing

Tips

• • Doom Hourglass is the ultimate payoff relic - gain energy when Doom triggers
• • Stack Doom before enemies attack for maximum value
• • Use Osty to absorb hits while Doom accumulates
• • Doom Cascade can spread Doom to all enemies

Core Idea

Invest heavily in Osty's HP and damage output, using Bodyguard and Pull Aggro to redirect all damage to Osty. Heal Osty between fights and use it as your primary defensive tool.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Beginner friendly
• • Consistent defense
• • Osty scales well
• • Forgiving gameplay

Weaknesses

• • Over-reliant on Osty
• • Weak if Osty dies
• • Limited scaling
• • Predictable

Tips

• • Always protect Osty - it's your primary defensive tool
• • Empower makes Osty hit harder and tank better
• • Bodyguard redirects all damage to Osty for one turn
• • Heal Osty at campfires to maintain your defense

Core Idea

Use Carve Ghost and Grave Warden to generate Soul cards, then use them to draw through your deck and play long combo turns. Combine with Severance for energy generation.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Incredible card draw
• • Long combo turns
• • Flexible strategy
• • High skill ceiling

Weaknesses

• • Complex to pilot
• • Energy hungry
• • Can brick
• • Requires specific cards

Tips

• • Souls provide +2 card draw each - use them to cycle your deck
• • Severance converts Souls into energy for explosive turns
• • Runic Pyramid lets you hoard Souls for a massive turn
• • Balance Soul generation with actual win conditions

Core Idea

Use Hidden Cache and Starlight to accumulate Stars without spending them. Save up 20+ Stars, then spend them all at once on Falling Stars or Celestial Barrage for massive burst damage.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Massive burst potential
• • Flexible timing
• • Scales infinitely
• • Unique resource system

Weaknesses

• • Weak early game
• • Requires patience
• • Vulnerable before payoff
• • Complex planning

Tips

• • Stars don't reset between turns - save them for critical moments
• • Stellar Compass gives you 3 Stars every combat
• • Ice Cream preserves unused energy for even bigger turns
• • Plan 2-3 turns ahead to maximize Star efficiency

Core Idea

Use Forge cards to create Sovereign Blade and other artifacts early. Each Forge makes your blade stronger, creating a permanent scaling damage source that retains between turns.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Permanent scaling
• • Retain synergies
• • Simple execution
• • Strong late game

Weaknesses

• • Slow to set up
• • Weak Act 1
• • Requires specific cards
• • Vulnerable to artifact removal

Tips

• • Forge early and often - each Forge adds permanent damage
• • Sovereign Blade Retains, so you can save it for bosses
• • Runic Pyramid lets you hold your blade indefinitely
• • Combine with Strength gain for even more damage

Core Idea

Use Summon Minion and Celestial Army to create temporary allies that attack and block for you. Unlike Necrobinder's Osty, Regent's minions are disposable but powerful.

Key Cards

Recommended Relics

Strengths

• • Strong multi-enemy fights
• • Good defensive scaling
• • Flexible strategy
• • Fun to pilot

Weaknesses

• • Minions are temporary
• • Weak single-target
• • Energy hungry
• • Requires setup

Tips

• • Minions attack automatically - use them for passive damage
• • Celestial Army summons multiple minions at once
• • Minion Empowerment makes your minions hit harder
• • Use minions to tank hits while you set up your win condition