Card Database

Card Category

Power Cards

Complete guide to Power cards in Slay the Spire 2 — all persistent buff cards that define deck archetypes and win conditions.

Power cards in Slay the Spire 2 are a special subcategory of skill cards that provide persistent effects lasting the entire combat. Visually distinguished by their unique border and icon, powers are often the cornerstone of winning strategies, defining entire deck archetypes and enabling late-game scaling that makes boss fights manageable.

The most powerful powers create build-around effects that reward committed strategies. Corruption turns all skills into zero-cost cards at the expense of exhaustion, enabling incredibly fast and efficient turns. Demon Form provides enormous Strength gains each turn, turning every attack into a devastating weapon. Wraith Form grants intangible for multiple turns, providing near-invincibility during crucial moments. Each of these cards demands a deck built to support its specific playstyle.

Scaling powers like Defragment (Focus), Footwork (Dexterity), and Inflame (Strength) provide linear stat increases that compound over time. These are reliable, low-risk investments that strengthen every relevant card in your deck. The Defect relies especially heavily on scaling powers due to the Focus mechanic that amplifies orb effectiveness throughout every fight.

Draw and energy powers like Tools of the Trade, Machine Learning, and Berserk provide the engine that makes efficient decks possible. These powers improve your ability to access key cards and play more cards each turn, creating a snowball effect that grows stronger as fights progress.

When evaluating powers, consider the opportunity cost. Playing a power uses an entire turn's energy and does nothing immediate for board state. Powers are best taken when you have enough defensive tools to survive the turn spent playing them. In shorter hallway fights, cheaper powers or no powers at all may be preferable.

112 cards
Abrasive card image

Abrasive

Rare · Power · Silent

3

Gain 1 Dexterity. Gain 4 Thorns.

Accelerant card image

Accelerant

Rare · Power · Silent

1

Poison is triggered 1 additional time.

Accuracy card image

Accuracy

Uncommon · Power · Silent

1

Shivs deal 4 additional damage.

Afterimage card image

Afterimage

Rare · Power · Silent

1

Whenever you play a card, gain 1 Block.

Aggression card image

Aggression

Rare · Power · Ironclad

1

At the start of your turn, put a random Attack from your Discard Pile into your Hand and Upgrade it.

Arsenal card image

Arsenal

Rare · Power · Regent

1

Whenever you play a Colorless card, gain 1 Strength.

Automation card image

Automation

Uncommon · Power · Colorless

1

Every 10 cards you draw, gain .

Barricade card image

Barricade

Rare · Power · Ironclad

3

Block is not removed at the start of your turn.

Beacon of Hope card image

Beacon of Hope

Rare · Power · Colorless

1

Whenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block.

Biased Cognition card image

Biased Cognition

Ancient · Power · Defect

1

Gain 4 Focus. At the start of your turn, lose 1 Focus.

Black Hole card image

Black Hole

Uncommon · Power · Regent

1

Whenever you spend or gain , deal 3 damage to ALL enemies.

Buffer card image

Buffer

Rare · Power · Defect

2

Prevent the next time you would lose HP.

Bulk Up card image

Bulk Up

Uncommon · Power · Defect

2

Lose 1 Orb Slot. Gain 2 Strength. Gain 2 Dexterity.

Calamity card image

Calamity

Rare · Power · Colorless

3

Whenever you play an Attack, add a random Attack into your Hand.

Calcify card image

Calcify

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

Osty's attacks deal 4 additional damage.

Call of the Void card image

Call of the Void

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

1

At the start of your turn, add 1 random card into your Hand. It gains Ethereal.

Caltrops card image

Caltrops

Event · Power · event

1

Whenever you are attacked, deal 3 damage back.

Capacitor card image

Capacitor

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

Gain 2 Orb Slots.

Child of the Stars card image

Child of the Stars

Uncommon · Power · Regent

1

Whenever you spend , gain 2 Block for each spent.

Consuming Shadow card image

Consuming Shadow

Rare · Power · Defect

2

Channel 2 Dark. At the end of your turn, Evoke your leftmost Orb.

Coolant card image

Coolant

Rare · Power · Defect

1

At the start of your turn, gain 2 Block for each unique Orb you have.

Corruption card image

Corruption

Ancient · Power · Ironclad

3

Skills cost 0 . Whenever you play a Skill, Exhaust it.

Countdown card image

Countdown

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

At the start of your turn, apply 6 Doom to a random enemy.

Creative AI card image

Creative AI

Rare · Power · Defect

3

At the start of your turn, add a random Power into your Hand.

Crimson Mantle card image

Crimson Mantle

Rare · Power · Ironclad

1

At the start of your turn, lose 1 HP and gain 8 Block.

Cruelty card image

Cruelty

Rare · Power · Ironclad

1

Vulnerable enemies take an additional 25% damage.

Danse Macabre card image

Danse Macabre

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

Whenever you play a card that costs or more, gain 3 Block.

Dark Embrace card image

Dark Embrace

Rare · Power · Ironclad

2

Whenever a card is Exhausted, draw 1 card.

Defragment card image

Defragment

Rare · Power · Defect

1

Gain 1 Focus.

Demesne card image

Demesne

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

3

At the start of your turn, gain and draw 1 additional card.

Demon Form card image

Demon Form

Rare · Power · Ironclad

3

At the start of your turn, gain 2 Strength.

Devour Life card image

Devour Life

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

1

Whenever you play a Soul, Summon 1.

Drum of Battle card image

Drum of Battle

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

0

Draw 2 cards. At the start of your turn, Exhaust the top card of your Draw Pile.

Echo Form card image

Echo Form

Rare · Power · Defect

3

The first card you play each turn is played an extra time.

Entropy card image

Entropy

Rare · Power · Colorless

1

At the start of your turn, Transform 1 card in your Hand.

Envenom card image

Envenom

Rare · Power · Silent

2

Whenever an Attack deals unblocked damage, apply 1 Poison.

Eternal Armor card image

Eternal Armor

Rare · Power · Colorless

3

Gain 7 Plating.

Fan of Knives card image

Fan of Knives

Rare · Power · Silent

2

Shivs now hit ALL enemies. Add 4 Shivs into your Hand.

Fasten card image

Fasten

Uncommon · Power · Colorless

1

Gain an additional 5 Block from Defend cards.

Feel No Pain card image

Feel No Pain

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

1

Whenever a card is Exhausted, gain 3 Block.

Feral card image

Feral

Uncommon · Power · Defect

2

The first time you play a 0 Attack each turn, return it to your Hand.

Footwork card image

Footwork

Uncommon · Power · Silent

1

Gain 2 Dexterity.

Forbidden Grimoire card image

Forbidden Grimoire

Ancient · Power · Necrobinder

2

At the end of combat, you may remove a card from your Deck.

Friendship card image

Friendship

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

Lose 2 Strength. Gain at the start of each turn.

Furnace card image

Furnace

Uncommon · Power · Regent

1

At the start of your turn, Forge 4.

Genesis card image

Genesis

Rare · Power · Regent

2

At the start of your turn, gain .

Hailstorm card image

Hailstorm

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

At the end of your turn, if you have Frost, deal 6 damage to ALL enemies.

Hammer Time card image

Hammer Time

Rare · Power · Regent

2

Whenever you Forge, all allies Forge as well.

Haunt card image

Haunt

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

Whenever you play a Soul, a random enemy loses 6 HP.

Hello World card image

Hello World

Event · Power · event

1

At the start of your turn, add a random Common card into your Hand.

Hellraiser card image

Hellraiser

Rare · Power · Ironclad

2

Whenever you draw a card containing “Strike”, it is played against a random enemy.

Inferno card image

Inferno

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

1

At the start of your turn, lose 1 HP. Whenever you lose HP on your turn, deal 6 damage to ALL enemies.

Infinite Blades card image

Infinite Blades

Uncommon · Power · Silent

1

At the start of your turn, add 1 Shiv into your Hand.

Inflame card image

Inflame

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

1

Gain 2 Strength.

Iteration card image

Iteration

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

The first time you draw a Status card each turn, draw 2 cards.

Juggernaut card image

Juggernaut

Rare · Power · Ironclad

2

Whenever you gain Block, deal 5 damage to a random enemy.

Juggling card image

Juggling

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

1

Add a copy of the third Attack you play each turn into your Hand.

Lethality card image

Lethality

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

The first Attack each turn deals 50% additional damage.

Loop card image

Loop

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

At the start of your turn, trigger the passive ability of your rightmost Orb.

Machine Learning card image

Machine Learning

Rare · Power · Defect

1

At the start of your turn, draw 1 additional card.

Master Planner card image

Master Planner

Rare · Power · Silent

2

When you play a Skill, it gains Sly.

Mayhem card image

Mayhem

Rare · Power · Colorless

2

At the start of your turn, play the top card of your Draw Pile.

Monarch's Gaze card image

Monarch's Gaze

Rare · Power · Regent

3

Whenever you attack an enemy, it loses 1 Strength this turn.

Necro Mastery card image

Necro Mastery

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

2

Summon 5. Whenever Osty loses HP, ALL enemies lose that much HP as well.

Neurosurge card image

Neurosurge

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

0

Gain . Draw 2 cards. At the start of your turn, apply 3 Doom to yourself.

Neutron Aegis card image

Neutron Aegis

Rare · Power · Regent

1

Gain 8 Plating.

Nostalgia card image

Nostalgia

Rare · Power · Colorless

1

The first Attack or Skill you play each turn is placed on top of your Draw Pile.

Noxious Fumes card image

Noxious Fumes

Uncommon · Power · Silent

1

At the start of your turn, apply 2 Poison to ALL enemies.

Orbit card image

Orbit

Uncommon · Power · Regent

2

Every you spend, gain .

Outbreak card image

Outbreak

Uncommon · Power · Silent

1

Every 3 times you apply Poison, deal 11 damage to ALL enemies.

Pagestorm card image

Pagestorm

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

Whenever you draw an Ethereal card, draw 1 card.

Pale Blue Dot card image

Pale Blue Dot

Uncommon · Power · Regent

1

If you play 5 or more cards in a turn, draw 1 card at the start of your next turn.

Panache card image

Panache

Uncommon · Power · Colorless

0

Every time you play 5 cards in a single turn, deal 10 damage to ALL enemies.

Parry card image

Parry

Uncommon · Power · Regent

1

Whenever you play Sovereign Blade, gain 6 Block.

Phantom Blades card image

Phantom Blades

Uncommon · Power · Silent

1

Shivs gain Retain. The first Shiv you play each turn deals 9 additional damage.

Pillar of Creation card image

Pillar of Creation

Uncommon · Power · Regent

1

Whenever you create a card, gain 3 Block.

Prep Time card image

Prep Time

Uncommon · Power · Colorless

1

At the start of your turn, gain 4 Vigor.

Prowess card image

Prowess

Uncommon · Power · Colorless

1

Gain 1 Strength. Gain 1 Dexterity.

Pyre card image

Pyre

Rare · Power · Ironclad

2

Gain at the start of each turn.

Reaper Form card image

Reaper Form

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

3

Whenever Attacks deal damage, they also apply that much Doom.

Rolling Boulder card image

Rolling Boulder

Rare · Power · Colorless

3

At the start of your turn, deal 5 damage to ALL enemies and increase this damage by 5.

Royalties card image

Royalties

Rare · Power · Regent

1

At the end of combat, gain 30 Gold.

Rupture card image

Rupture

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

1

Whenever you lose HP on your turn, gain 1 Strength.

Seeking Edge card image

Seeking Edge

Rare · Power · Regent

1

Forge 7. Sovereign Blade now deals damage to ALL enemies.

Sentry Mode card image

Sentry Mode

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

2

At the start of your turn, add 1 Sweeping Gaze into your Hand.

Serpent Form card image

Serpent Form

Rare · Power · Silent

3

Whenever you play a card, deal 4 damage to a random enemy.

Shroud card image

Shroud

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

1

Whenever you apply Doom, gain 2 Block.

Sleight of Flesh card image

Sleight of Flesh

Uncommon · Power · Necrobinder

2

Whenever you apply a debuff to an enemy, they take 9 damage.

Smokestack card image

Smokestack

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

Whenever you create a Status, deal 5 damage to ALL enemies.

Sneaky card image

Sneaky

Rare · Power · Silent

2

Whenever another player attacks an enemy, gain 1 Block.

Spectrum Shift card image

Spectrum Shift

Uncommon · Power · Regent

2

At the start of your turn, add 1 random Colorless card into your Hand.

Speedster card image

Speedster

Uncommon · Power · Silent

2

Whenever you draw a card during your turn, deal 2 damage to ALL enemies.

Spinner card image

Spinner

Rare · Power · Defect

1

At the start of your turn, Channel 1 Glass.

Spirit of Ash card image

Spirit of Ash

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

1

Whenever you play an Ethereal card, gain 4 Block.

Stampede card image

Stampede

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

2

At the end of your turn, 1 random Attack in your Hand is played against a random enemy.

Stone Armor card image

Stone Armor

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

1

Gain 4 Plating.

Storm card image

Storm

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

Whenever you play a Power, Channel 1 Lightning.

Stratagem card image

Stratagem

Uncommon · Power · Colorless

1

Whenever you shuffle your Draw Pile, choose a card from it to put into your Hand.

Subroutine card image

Subroutine

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

Whenever you play a Power, gain .

Sword Sage card image

Sword Sage

Rare · Power · Regent

2

Increase the cost of Sovereign Blade by 1. Sovereign Blade now hits an additional time.

Tank card image

Tank

Rare · Power · Ironclad

1

Take double damage from enemies. Allies take half damage from enemies.

The Sealed Throne card image

The Sealed Throne

Ancient · Power · Regent

1

Whenever you play a card, gain .

Thunder card image

Thunder

Uncommon · Power · Defect

1

Whenever you Evoke Lightning, deal 6 damage to each enemy hit.

Tools of the Trade card image

Tools of the Trade

Rare · Power · Silent

1

At the start of your turn, draw 1 card and discard 1 card.

Tracking card image

Tracking

Rare · Power · Silent

2

Weak enemies take double damage from Attacks.

Trash to Treasure card image

Trash to Treasure

Rare · Power · Defect

1

Whenever you create a Status card, Channel 1 random Orb.

Tyranny card image

Tyranny

Rare · Power · Regent

1

At the start of your turn, draw 1 card and Exhaust 1 card from your Hand.

Unmovable card image

Unmovable

Rare · Power · Ironclad

2

The first time you gain Block from a card each turn, double the amount gained.

Vicious card image

Vicious

Uncommon · Power · Ironclad

1

Whenever you apply Vulnerable, draw 1 card.

Void Form card image

Void Form

Rare · Power · Regent

3

End your turn. The first 2 cards you play each turn are free to play.

Well-Laid Plans card image

Well-Laid Plans

Uncommon · Power · Silent

1

At the end of your turn, Retain up to 1 card.

Wraith Form card image

Wraith Form

Ancient · Power · Silent

3

Gain 2 Intangible. At the start of your turn, lose 1 Dexterity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many powers should a deck have?

Most successful decks run 2-5 powers. Too few powers and you lack scaling for boss fights; too many and you dilute your deck with cards that do nothing the turn they are played. The Defect is an exception, often running 4-8 powers due to their reliance on Focus and orb-manipulation powers.

What is the strongest power in STS2?

Wraith Form (Silent) and Echo Form (Defect) are contenders for the strongest power in the game. Wraith Form provides 2-3 turns of intangible — near-complete damage immunity — which alone can win boss fights. Echo Form doubles every other card played, generating unmatched value in longer fights.

When should I avoid taking powers?

Avoid powers when your deck urgently needs immediate damage or block to survive the next fight. In Act 1, expensive powers like Demon Form can be detrimental if your deck lacks the block to survive the turns spent playing them. Also avoid adding too many powers that serve the same purpose — redundant scaling doesn't help as much as diverse solutions.

Are power-focused decks viable?

Yes, especially with the Defect. Creative AI generates free random powers each turn, making power-spam decks extremely strong. The Silent's power-focused builds with multiple Wraith Forms, Footworks, and After Images are also very strong. However, power-heavy decks need sufficient card draw to consistently access their key cards.

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