Card Database

Card Category

Zero-Cost Cards

Complete guide to zero-cost cards in Slay the Spire 2 — free-to-play cards that enable high-efficiency turns and combo strategies.

Zero-cost cards in Slay the Spire 2 are cards that cost 0 energy to play. These efficient cards, while individually modest in power, create tremendous value when combined with the right synergies. They form the backbone of some of the game's most powerful archetypes and enable turns where you can play 8+ cards while your energy-expensive enemies struggle to keep up.

Every zero-cost card trades raw power for efficiency. A zero-cost attack typically deals 3-4 damage — less than a Strike — but provides additional effects like card draw, debuffs, or synergy with other cards. Zero-cost skills offer free block or utility, enabling you to spend all your energy on scaling cards or expensive powers.

The Silent has the deepest zero-cost card pool, centered around Shivs generated by Blade Dance, Cloak and Dagger, and Infinite Blades. These zero-cost attacks gain immense value with Strength scaling and effects that trigger on card play. Finisher, a Silent zero-cost attack, scales its damage based on cards played this turn, easily reaching 20+ damage in Shiv-heavy builds.

Zero-cost cards synergize exceptionally well with card draw and energy generation. Having a hand full of free cards means every card drawn is effectively additional "energy" compared to decks with expensive cards. Cards like Skim (draw 3) and Calculated Gamble (discard hand, draw that many) become even more powerful with zero-cost cards providing the fuel.

115 cards
Adrenaline card image

Adrenaline

Rare · Skill · Silent

0

Gain . Draw 2 cards.

Alignment card image

Alignment

Uncommon · Skill · Regent

0

Gain .

Anger card image

Anger

Common · Attack · Ironclad

0

Deal 6 damage. Add a copy of this card into your Discard Pile.

Anticipate card image

Anticipate

Common · Skill · Silent

0

Gain 3 Dexterity this turn.

Assassinate card image

Assassinate

Rare · Attack · Silent

0

Deal 10 damage. Apply 1 Vulnerable.

Astral Pulse card image

Astral Pulse

Common · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 14 damage to ALL enemies.

Backstab card image

Backstab

Uncommon · Attack · Silent

0

Deal 11 damage.

Battle Trance card image

Battle Trance

Uncommon · Skill · Ironclad

0

Draw 3 cards. You cannot draw additional cards this turn.

Beam Cell card image

Beam Cell

Common · Attack · Defect

0

Deal 3 damage. Apply 1 Vulnerable.

Believe in You card image

Believe in You

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Another player gains .

Big Bang card image

Big Bang

Rare · Skill · Regent

0

Draw 1 card. Gain . Gain . Forge 5.

Bloodletting card image

Bloodletting

Common · Skill · Ironclad

0

Lose 3 HP. Gain .

Bolas card image

Bolas

Rare · Attack · Colorless

0

Deal 3 damage. At the start of your next turn, return this to your Hand.

Boost Away card image

Boost Away

Common · Skill · Defect

0

Gain 6 Block. Add a Dazed into your Discard Pile.

Boot Sequence card image

Boot Sequence

Uncommon · Skill · Defect

0

Gain 10 Block.

Borrowed Time card image

Borrowed Time

Uncommon · Skill · Necrobinder

0

Apply 3 Doom to yourself. Gain .

Brand card image

Brand

Rare · Skill · Ironclad

0

Lose 1 HP. Exhaust 1 card. Gain 1 Strength.

Brightest Flame card image

Brightest Flame

Ancient · Skill · event

0

Gain . Draw 2 cards. Lose 1 Max HP.

Bully card image

Bully

Uncommon · Attack · Ironclad

0

Deal 6 damage. Deals 2 additional damage for each Vulnerable on the enemy.

Byrd Swoop card image

Byrd Swoop

Event · Attack · event

0

Deal 14 damage.

Calculated Gamble card image

Calculated Gamble

Uncommon · Skill · Silent

0

Discard your Hand, then draw that many cards.

Chill card image

Chill

Uncommon · Skill · Defect

0

Channel 1 Frost for each enemy.

Clash card image

Clash

Event · Attack · event

0

Can only be played if every card in your Hand is an Attack. Deal 14 damage.

Claw card image

Claw

Common · Attack · Defect

0

Deal 3 damage. Increase the damage of ALL Claw cards by 2 this combat.

Cloak of Stars card image

Cloak of Stars

Common · Skill · Regent

0

Gain 7 Block.

Collision Course card image

Collision Course

Common · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 9 damage. Add a Debris into your Hand.

Comet card image

Comet

Rare · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 33 damage. Apply 3 Weak. Apply 3 Vulnerable.

Dark Shackles card image

Dark Shackles

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Enemy loses 9 Strength this turn.

Decisions, Decisions card image

Decisions, Decisions

Rare · Skill · Regent

0

Draw 3 cards. Choose a Skill in your Hand and play it 3 times.

Deflect card image

Deflect

Common · Skill · Silent

0

Gain 4 Block.

Demonic Shield card image

Demonic Shield

Uncommon · Skill · Ironclad

0

Lose 1 HP. Give another player Block equal to your Block.

Dirge card image

Dirge

Uncommon · Skill · Necrobinder

0

Summon 3 X times. Add X Souls into your Draw Pile.

Dramatic Entrance card image

Dramatic Entrance

Uncommon · Attack · Colorless

0

Deal 11 damage to ALL enemies.

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.

Enlightenment card image

Enlightenment

Event · Skill · event

0

Reduce the cost of ALL cards in your Hand to 1 this turn.

Eradicate card image

Eradicate

Rare · Attack · Necrobinder

0

Deal 11 damage X times.

Escape Plan card image

Escape Plan

Uncommon · Skill · Silent

0

Draw 1 card. If you draw a Skill, gain 3 Block.

Expose card image

Expose

Uncommon · Skill · Silent

0

Remove all Artifact and Block from the enemy. Apply 2 Vulnerable.

Falling Star card image

Falling Star

Basic · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 7 damage. Apply 1 Weak. Apply 1 Vulnerable.

Feeding Frenzy card image

Feeding Frenzy

Event · Skill · event

0

Gain 5 Strength this turn.

Fetch card image

Fetch

Uncommon · Attack · Necrobinder

0

Osty deals 3 damage. If this is the first time this card has been played this turn, draw 1 card.

Finesse card image

Finesse

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Gain 4 Block. Draw 1 card.

Flash of Steel card image

Flash of Steel

Uncommon · Attack · Colorless

0

Deal 5 damage. Draw 1 card.

FTL card image

FTL

Uncommon · Attack · Defect

0

Deal 5 damage. If you have played fewer than 3 cards this turn, draw 1 card.

Fuel card image

Fuel

Token · Skill · token

0

Gain . Draw 1 card.

Gamma Blast card image

Gamma Blast

Uncommon · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 13 damage. Apply 2 Weak. Apply 2 Vulnerable.

Go for the Eyes card image

Go for the Eyes

Common · Attack · Defect

0

Deal 3 damage. If the enemy intends to attack, apply 1 Weak.

Grand Finale card image

Grand Finale

Rare · Attack · Silent

0

Can only be played if there are no cards in your Draw Pile. Deal 50 damage to ALL enemies.

Heavenly Drill card image

Heavenly Drill

Rare · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 8 damage X times. Double X if it's 4 or more.

Helix Drill card image

Helix Drill

Rare · Attack · Defect

0

Deal 3 damage for each previously spent this turn.

Hidden Daggers card image

Hidden Daggers

Uncommon · Skill · Silent

0

Discard 2 cards. Add 2 Shivs into your Hand.

Hotfix card image

Hotfix

Common · Skill · Defect

0

Gain 2 Focus this turn.

Impatience card image

Impatience

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

If you have no Attacks in your Hand, draw 2 cards.

Jack of All Trades card image

Jack of All Trades

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Add 1 random Colorless card into your Hand.

Know Thy Place card image

Know Thy Place

Common · Skill · Regent

0

Apply 1 Weak. Apply 1 Vulnerable.

Largesse card image

Largesse

Uncommon · Skill · Regent

0

Another player adds 1 random Colorless card to their Hand.

Luminesce card image

Luminesce

Token · Skill · token

0

Gain .

Lunar Blast card image

Lunar Blast

Uncommon · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 4 damage for each Skill already played this turn.

Make It So card image

Make It So

Rare · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 6 damage. Every 3 Skills you play in a turn, put this into your Hand.

Malaise card image

Malaise

Rare · Skill · Silent

0

Enemy loses X Strength. Apply X Weak.

Master of Strategy card image

Master of Strategy

Rare · Skill · Colorless

0

Draw 3 cards.

Meteor Shower card image

Meteor Shower

Ancient · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 14 damage to ALL enemies. Apply 2 Weak and Vulnerable to ALL enemies.

Minion Sacrifice card image

Minion Sacrifice

Token · Skill · token

0

Gain 9 Block.

Minion Strike card image

Minion Strike

Token · Attack · token

0

Deal 7 damage. Draw 1 card.

Misery card image

Misery

Rare · Attack · Necrobinder

0

Deal 7 damage. Apply any debuffs on the enemy to ALL other enemies.

Modded card image

Modded

Rare · Skill · Defect

0

Gain 1 Orb Slot. Draw 1 card. Increase this card's cost by 1.

Monologue card image

Monologue

Uncommon · Skill · Regent

0

Whenever you play a card this turn, gain 1 Strength this turn.

Multi-Cast card image

Multi-Cast

Rare · Skill · Defect

0

Evoke your rightmost Orb X times.

Neurosurge card image

Neurosurge

Rare · Power · Necrobinder

0

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

Neutralize card image

Neutralize

Basic · Attack · Silent

0

Deal 3 damage. Apply 1 Weak.

Oblivion card image

Oblivion

Rare · Skill · Necrobinder

0

Whenever you play a card this turn, apply 3 Doom to the enemy.

Offering card image

Offering

Rare · Skill · Ironclad

0

Lose 6 HP. Gain . Draw 3 cards.

Omnislice card image

Omnislice

Uncommon · Attack · Colorless

0

Deal 8 damage. Damage ALL other enemies equal to the damage dealt.

Overclock card image

Overclock

Uncommon · Skill · Defect

0

Draw 2 cards. Add a Burn into your Discard Pile.

Pact's End card image

Pact's End

Rare · Attack · Ironclad

0

Can only be played if you have 3 or more cards in your Exhaust Pile. Deal 17 damage to ALL enemies.

Panache card image

Panache

Uncommon · Power · Colorless

0

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

Panic Button card image

Panic Button

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Gain 30 Block. You cannot gain Block from cards for 2 turns.

Particle Wall card image

Particle Wall

Uncommon · Skill · Regent

0

Gain 9 Block. Return this card to your Hand.

Poke card image

Poke

Common · Attack · Necrobinder

0

Osty deals 6 damage.

Precise Cut card image

Precise Cut

Uncommon · Attack · Silent

0

Deal 15 damage. Deals 2 less damage for each other card in your Hand.

Prepared card image

Prepared

Common · Skill · Silent

0

Draw 1 card. Discard 1 card.

Primal Force card image

Primal Force

Rare · Skill · Ironclad

0

Transform all Attacks in your Hand into Giant Rock.

Production card image

Production

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Gain .

Prolong card image

Prolong

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Next turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.

Purity card image

Purity

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Exhaust up to 3 cards in your Hand.

Quasar card image

Quasar

Uncommon · Skill · Regent

0

Choose 1 of 3 random Colorless cards to add into your Hand.

Radiate card image

Radiate

Uncommon · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 3 damage to ALL enemies for each gained this turn.

Rage card image

Rage

Uncommon · Skill · Ironclad

0

Whenever you play an Attack this turn, gain 3 Block.

Reboot card image

Reboot

Rare · Skill · Defect

0

Shuffle ALL your cards into your Draw Pile. Draw 4 cards.

Restlessness card image

Restlessness

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

If your Hand is empty, draw 2 cards and gain .

Right Hand Hand card image

Right Hand Hand

Uncommon · Attack · Necrobinder

0

Osty deals 4 damage. Whenever you play a card that costs or more, return this to your Hand from the Discard Pile.

Royal Gamble card image

Royal Gamble

Uncommon · Skill · Regent

0

Gain 9 .

Seance card image

Seance

Rare · Skill · Necrobinder

0

Transform a card in your Draw Pile into Soul.

Secret Technique card image

Secret Technique

Rare · Skill · Colorless

0

Put a Skill from your Draw Pile into your Hand.

Secret Weapon card image

Secret Weapon

Rare · Skill · Colorless

0

Put an Attack from your Draw Pile into your Hand.

Shared Fate card image

Shared Fate

Rare · Skill · Necrobinder

0

Lose 2 Strength. Enemy loses 2 Strength.

Shiv card image

Shiv

Token · Attack · token

0

Deal 4 damage.

Skewer card image

Skewer

Uncommon · Attack · Silent

0

Deal 7 damage X times.

Slice card image

Slice

Common · Attack · Silent

0

Deal 6 damage.

Soul card image

Soul

Token · Skill · token

0

Draw 2 cards.

Spite card image

Spite

Uncommon · Attack · Ironclad

0

Deal 6 damage. If you lost HP this turn, draw 1 card.

Stardust card image

Stardust

Uncommon · Attack · Regent

0

Deal 5 damage to a random enemy X times.

Supercritical card image

Supercritical

Rare · Skill · Defect

0

Gain .

Suppress card image

Suppress

Ancient · Attack · Silent

0

Deal 11 damage. Apply 3 Weak.

Sweeping Gaze card image

Sweeping Gaze

Token · Attack · token

0

Osty deals 10 damage to a random enemy.

Tempest card image

Tempest

Uncommon · Skill · Defect

0

Channel X Lightning.

Tesla Coil card image

Tesla Coil

Uncommon · Attack · Defect

0

Deal 3 damage. Trigger all Lightning against the enemy.

The Gambit card image

The Gambit

Rare · Skill · Colorless

0

Gain 50 Block. If you take unblocked attack damage this combat, die.

Thinking Ahead card image

Thinking Ahead

Uncommon · Skill · Colorless

0

Draw 2 cards. Put 1 card from your Hand on top of your Draw Pile.

TURBO card image

TURBO

Common · Skill · Defect

0

Gain . Add a Void into your Discard Pile.

Undeath card image

Undeath

Rare · Skill · Necrobinder

0

Gain 7 Block. Add a copy of this card into your Discard Pile.

Volley card image

Volley

Uncommon · Attack · Colorless

0

Deal 10 damage to a random enemy X times.

Whirlwind card image

Whirlwind

Uncommon · Attack · Ironclad

0

Deal 5 damage to ALL enemies X times.

Wish card image

Wish

Ancient · Skill · event

0

Put a card from your Draw Pile into your Hand.

Wisp card image

Wisp

Common · Skill · Necrobinder

0

Gain .

Frequently Asked Questions

Which character benefits most from zero-cost cards?

The Silent benefits most, with access to Shiv-generating cards and Finisher. However, all characters can benefit from specific zero-cost cards. The Defect's Claw becomes stronger with each Claw played, and zero-cost skills like Deflect are valuable in any deck.

Are zero-cost cards always good?

Not always. Zero-cost cards can dilute your deck if they don't contribute to your strategy. A hand full of weak zero-cost cards without synergy can leave you lacking the impact needed for difficult fights. They are best in dedicated builds with supporting cards like Accuracy, Finisher, or card draw engines.

Related Card Guides

Explore more card categories to deepen your understanding of each character's card strategies.

Recommended Builds

Check out recommended deck builds and synergy strategies for this category.

Browse All Cards