Every new player asks the same ten questions in roughly the same order. Here they are, with short answers and links to the pages with the details. If you are brand new, pair this with our beginner guide and you are set for your first run.
About the game
What is Slay the Spire 2? It is the sequel to Mega Crit's deckbuilding roguelike. You build a deck while climbing three acts of a monster-filled spire, one run at a time. A run takes roughly 45 to 90 minutes, and death is permanent for that run — you start over with the basic deck.
Is it out? Yes — the game is in early access on Steam for PC, and it is updated frequently with balance patches; we cover each one in the news section. Console and mobile versions have not been given firm dates yet, so treat any "release date" you see elsewhere with a healthy dose of doubt.
Do I need to play the first game? No. The story is deliberately thin and everything mechanical is taught as you play. That said, STS1 habits do transfer — some help, some hurt. Our STS1 vs STS2 comparison lists which is which.
Characters and runs
Who can you play? Five characters in early access: Ironclad, Silent, Defect, Regent, and Necrobinder. Each starts with a different deck and its own mechanics — the character pages break down all five.
Which character should a beginner pick? Ironclad: the most health, the most direct cards, the fewest tricks. Silent is a solid second. Save Regent and Necrobinder until you can consistently beat Act 1.
How long is a run, and what is Ascension? A normal run is 45-90 minutes. After your first wins you unlock Ascension levels — optional difficulty modifiers, up to level 20, that make enemies hit harder and resources stingier. Climb them one at a time.
Does it have multiplayer? Yes — online co-op for up to four players is part of early access. Decks stay separate, you fight through the same map together, and some cards (like Legion of Bone) get extra value in a team.
What is new versus the first game
What replaced boss relics? Ancient Blessings: at the start of every act you pick one of three permanent bonuses, and they do not take up a relic slot. The wiki page on Ancients explains the pool.
What are enchantments? Permanent, run-long modifiers applied to a single card — extra effects, lower cost, or a Clone that duplicates the card at campfires. One card holds one enchantment per run. The enchantment guide covers which cards are worth copying.
Anything else new? Branching act routes (Overgrowth and Underdocks change the enemies and events you meet), quest cards with completion conditions, Silent's Sly keyword, temporary Focus for Defect, and afflictions that corrupt cards mid-run. Each has a short page in the wiki.
Using this site
Where do I look up cards and relics? The card database covers every card with effects and synergy notes, and the relic list, monster list, and potion list work the same way. The search bar at the top reaches all of them.
Anything here besides the database? Yes — tier lists for cards and characters, a build library with finished deck examples, strategy guides from first run to Ascension, and a reward helper tool for tough card reward decisions.