Slay the Spire 2 — Beta Patch Notes - v0.100.0

Welcome to the first BIG post-launch patch, Slayers!! This one has a huge balance pass, the main aim of which is to make infinites harder to achieve. We're also introducing a Phobia Mode with bespoke assets that should mitigate various creepy phobia concerns. Speaking of visuals, here are some other major highlights:

Some snazzy new portrait art for various cards!

Cool new character-specific VFX for when you gain energy!

Reminder that this patch is exclusive to the beta branch branch for now, which you can access via the instructions outlined (https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2868840/view/502852451136700758?). It will come to the main branch later, likely with some more tweaks!

CONTENT:

General:

• Added a Deprecated Card placeholder: Status - "Draw 1 card. Remove this from your Deck. Exhaust."

• If you have an in-progress run and a card in your deck is removed from the game due to a recent update, it will be replaced with "Deprecated Card"

Ironclad:

• Reworked Dominate card: Skill - Cost 1 - Uncommon - "Apply 1(2) Vulnerable. Gain 1 Strength for each Vulnerable on the enemy. Exhaust."

• Reworked Expect a Fight card: Skill - Cost 2(1) - Uncommon - "Gain for each Attack in your Hand. You cannot gain additional this turn."

• Reworked Spite card: Cost 0 - Attack - Uncommon - "Deal 5 damage. If you lost HP this turn, hits 2(3) times."

• Reworked Stoke card: Skill - Cost 1 - Rare - "Exhaust your Hand. Add 1 random (Upgraded) card into your Hand for each card Exhausted."

Silent:

• Reworked Prepared card into Prepare: Skill - Cost 1 - Common - "Discard 2 cards. Next turn, gain 2(3) Energy."

Regent:

• Reworked Glow card: Skill - Cost 1 - Common - "Gain 1(2) Stars. Draw 1 card. Next turn, draw 1 card."

Colorless Cards:

• Reworked Hidden Gem card: Skill - Cost 1 - "A random card in your Draw Pile without Replay gains Replay 2(3)."

Enemies:

• Reworked Doormaker. Beware.

• Reworked Skulking Colony to have a deadlier moveset

Ancients:

• Added new Neow blessing: Hefty Tablet -"Choose 1 of 3 Rare cards to add to your Deck. Add 1 Injury to your Deck."

• Added new Neow blessing: Neow's Talisman - "Upgrade 1 of your Strikes and 1 of your Defends."

BALANCE:

General:

• All relics in the shop now cost 25 Gold less

• Relics that generate Gold (such as Bowler Hat and Amethyst Aubergine) no longer appear at the Merchant

• Gloom Ascension now also affects ? rooms

• Power values can no longer stack above 999,999,999

• You can no longer acquire epochs in Daily or Custom runs

• Certain character stats no longer update in Daily or Custom runs

Ironclad:

• Buffed Break card:

• Energy cost decreased from 2 -> 1

• Damage increased from 20(25) -> 20(30)

• Buffed Cinder card: Damage increased from 17(22) -> 18(24)

• Buffed Fight Me! card: self-Strength gain from 2(3) -> 3(4)

• Nerfed Forgotten Ritual card: now Exhausts

• Buffed Hemokinesis card: Damage increased from 14(19) -> 15(20)

• Buffed Tremble card: Vulnerable increased from 2(3) -> 3(4)

Silent:

• Nerfed Anticipate card: Dexterity decreased from 3(5) -> 2(3)

• Nerfed Corrosive Wave card: Poison decreased from 3(4) -> 2(3)

• Nerfed Flick-Flack card: Damage decreased from 7(9) -> 6(8)

• Buffed Grand Finale card: Damage increased from 50(60) -> 60(75)

• Nerfed Pinpoint: Damage decreased from 17(22) -> 15(19)

• Buffed Skewer card: Damage increased from 7(10) -> 8(11)

• Nerfed Untouchable card: Block gain decreased from 9(12) -> 7(9)

Regent:

• Nerfed Alignment card: Star cost increased from 2 -> 3

• Changed BEGONE! card:

• Now a Skill that no longer deals damage

• Now creates Minion Strike instead of Minion Dive Bomb

• Buffed Bundle of Joy card: Energy cost lowered from 2 -> 1

• Changed CHARGE!! card: now creates Minion Dive Bomb cards instead of Minion Strike cards

• Buffed Collision Course card: Damage increased from 9(12) -> 11(15)

• Buffed Gather Light card: Block increased from 7(10) -> 8(11)

• Buffed Heirloom Hammer card: Damage increased from 17(22) -> 20(25)

• Buffed I Am Invincible card: Block increased from 9(12) -> 10(13)

• Buffed Kingly Kick card: Damage increased from 24(30) -> 27(35)

• Buffed Kingly Punch card:

• Base damage increased from 8(8) -> 8(10)

• Scaling damage increased from 3(5) -> 4(6)

• Buffed Minion Dive Bomb card: Energy cost decreased from 1 -> 0

• Nerfed Minion Strike card: Damage decreased from 7(10) -> 6(9)

• Buffed Parry card: Block increased from 6(9) -> 8(11)

• Buffed Patter card: Block increased from 8(10) -> 9(11)

• Buffed Solar Strike card: damage increased from 8(9) -> 9(10)

• Buffed Spoils of Battle card: Forge increased from 10(15) -> 12(17)

• Nerfed Void Form card:

• Is now Ethereal

• Upgrade changed from +1 card -> losing Ethereal

• Buffed Wrought in War card: Forge increased from 5(7) -> 7(9)

Necrobinder:

• Nerfed Banshee's Cry card:

• Cost increased from 6 -> 9(7)

• Upgrade no longer increases damage

• Nerfed Borrowed Time card:

• Self-Doom increased from 3(3) -> 6(3)

• Energy gain no longer increases on Upgrade

• Nerfed Capture Spirit card:

• HP loss decreased from 3(4) -> 2(3)

• Souls generated decreased from 3(4) -> 2(3)

• Buffed Danse Macabre card: Block increased from 3(4) -> 4(6)

• Buffed Debilitate card: Damage increased from 7(9) -> 10(12)

• Changed Defy card: upgrade no longer increases Weak, but increases Block by +3 instead of +1

• Nerfed Dirge card: now Exhausts

• Changed Grave Warden card: upgrade changed from 8(10) Block -> 8(11) Block and no longer upgrades the Soul

• Buffed Sculpting Strike card: Damage increased from 8(11) -> 9(12)

• Nerfed Seance card:

• Cost increased from 0 -> 1(0)

• Upgrade no longer makes a Soul+

Defect:

• Nerfed Hotfix card:

• Now has Exhaust

• Upgrade now removes Exhaust instead of increasing Focus

• Buffed Rocket Punch card: cost reduction effect now lasts until it is played, instead of just until the end of the turn

Colorless Cards:

• Buffed Seeker Strike card: Damage increased from 6(9) -> 9(12)

• Changed Discovery card: "It costs 0 this turn." -> "It's free to play this turn."

• This means that, if the card it generates has a Star cost, this cost is now also reduced to 0 this turn

• Buffed Eternal Armor card: Plating increased from 7(9) -> 9(12)

• Changed Hidden Gem card: can no longer be generated in combat by effects like Skill Potion

• Changed Production card: upgrade changed from losing Exhaust -> +1 additional Energy

Potions & Relics:

• Buffed Amethyst Aubergine relic: Gold gain increased from 10 -> 15

• Buffed Book of Five Rings relic: healing increased from 15 -> 20

• Buffed Bowler Hat relic: Gold gain increased from 20% -> 25%

• Buffed Permafrost relic: Block gain increased from 6 -> 7

• Buffed Planisphere relic: HP gain increased from 4 -> 5

• Buffed Stone Cracker relic: now works in ALL combats but only upgrades 2 cards

Enemies:

• Nerfed Bygone Effigy: Damage decreased from 15(17) -> 13(15) (still attacks with 10 Strength)

• Buffed Byrdonis: Swoop attack damage increased from 16(18) -> 17(19)

• Changed Calcified Cultist + Toadpole encounter: now Calcified Cultist + Seapunk

• Buffed Rocket Claw:

• Charge Up move Strength gain now scales with Ascension from 2(2) -> 2(3)

• HP increased from 189(199) -> 199(209)

• Rage power Strength buffed from 5 -> 6

• Buffed Crusher Claw:

• Adapt move Strength gain now scales with Ascension from 2(2) -> 2(3)

• HP increased from 199(209) -> 209(219)

• Rage power Strength buffed from 5 -> 6

• Nerfed Decimillipede: HP decreased from 42(48)-48(56) to 40(46) - 46(52)

• Nerfed Fabricator: HP value of all bots decreased by 5

• Changed the Tunneler normal encounter: the Bowlbug is now replaced by a Chomper that gives Dazed status cards on turn 1

• Nerfed Living Fog encounter: Gas Bomb HP decreased from 10(12) -> 7(8)

• Buffed The Lost and The Forgotten encounter:

• Stat stealing now scales with Ascension; increased from 2 -> 3 of their respective stat at A9

• The Forgotten now deals an additional point of damage for every Dexterity it has

• Changed Nibbit: now properly scales with Ascension

• Hiss move now scales from 2 -> 3 Strength on A9

• Slice move damage now scales from 6 -> 7 on A9

• Slice move Block now scales from 5 -> 6 on A8

• Nerfed Phantasmal Gardeners: HP decreased from 28(29)-32(33) -> 26(27)-31(32)

• Buffed Seapunk: Sea Kick move damage increased from 11(12) -> 11(13)

• Nerfed Terror Eel:

• Crash damage now scales from 17(19) -> 16(18)

• Thrash Vigor now scales from 7 -> 6

• Changed Test Subject: Phase 2 no longer has the Pounce move, instead will repeat Multi Claw move every turn

Ancients:

• Buffed Neow's Fury card: the number of cards returned to your hand now upgrades from 2 -> 3

• Nerfed Neow's Leafy Poultice relic: blessing's max HP loss increased from 10 -> 12

• Nerfed Neow's Precarious Shears relic: blessing's self-damage increased from 13 -> 16

• Changed Tanx's Tri-Boomerang relic: Instinct enchantment no longer reduces cost, instead doubles damage on enchanted Attacks

• Changed Vakuu's Preserved Fog relic:

• Cards removed decreased from 5 -> 3

• Folly curse is now Ethereal

Events:

• Changed Dense Vegetation event: Trudge On option is now "Lose 8 HP. Gain 61-99 Gold."

• Changed Endless Conveyor event:

• Can no longer spawn unless all players have at least 120 Gold (up from 105)

• "Grab off the Belt" option cost increased from 35 -> 40 Gold

• Changed Grave of the Forgotten event: can no longer spawn unless every player has a card with Exhaust in their deck

• Changed Morphic Grove event:

• Can no longer spawn unless all players have at least 2 transformable cards in their decks

• Group option now costs ALL of the player's gold

• In multiplayer, is now a collaborative event

• Changed Spirit Grafter event: Rejection option is now "Lose 10 HP. Upgrade a card."

• Changed The Round Tea Party event: can no longer spawn unless all players have at least 12 HP

Multiplayer:

• Nerfed Beacon of Hope card: can no longer be stacked

• Nerfed Believe in You card: Energy decreased from 3(4)-> 2(3)

• Nerfed Huddle Up card: now Exhausts

ART:

• Infection affliction card overlay is no longer animated when Phobia Mode is turned on

• Added alternate Phobia Mode visuals for:

• Hive backgrounds

• The Insatiable

• Phrog Parasite

• Wrigglers

• Terror Eel

• Entomancer

• Added portrait for the following cards:

• Gang Up

• Seeker Strike

• Spinner

• Volley

• Knockdown

• Lift

• Updated asset for Kifuda relic

• Added asset for No Energy Gain power

• Added animation for Ovicopter buff

• Added placeholder sketches for the following relics:

• Neow's Talisman

• Hefty Tablet

USER INTERFACE & EXPERIENCE:

• Added Phobia Mode tickbox in the Settings

• You can now skip relics received at treasure chests

• Added disclaimers for Daily and Custom runs that you cannot unlock Epochs and Achievements with them anymore

• Added icon in top bar if player is unable to obtain epochs, achievements in a run

• Hovering over the character icon now explains if you cant get achievements or epochs

• Added a way to disable map drawings in multiplayer

• The invite button now uses a hotkey on controller instead of manual navigation

WRITING:

• Huddle Up card now says "ALL players" instead of "ALL allies"

• Improved wording clarity for Bombardment and Howl from Beyond cards

• The descriptions for Fairy in a Bottle potion and Lizard Tail relic now specify that they trigger specifically when you reach 0 HP, rather than when you die in any manner

• The Insatiable boss's Sandpit power is now worded more clearly on the turn that it will eat you

LOCALIZATION:

• Updated translations for various languages

• Updated Korean text spacing to be a little bit closer

• The "Fight" message in multiplayer treasure room is now translatable

BUG FIXES:

General:

• Fixed rare Fatal Error when syncing Steam cloud saves

• Fixed rare bug where save could be reset

• Fixed exploit where players could controller navigate to card grid when the upgrade/remove/enchant/transform preview screen is open

• Fixed a crash that could occur when triggering the thin slice visual effect

• Fixed crashes related to screen transitions, logo animation, and creature deaths

• Fixed an issue when viewing the text of a card or power which has numerical values (damage, block, etc.) that have grown very large

• Fixed an issue where, if you saved and quit after winning a combat that rewards a predetermined relic, the relic reward would be randomized when continuing the run later

• Fixed an issue where, when a player would view their deck with "View Upgrades" enabled, changing the sort order would cause the screen to break

• Fixed softlock when card selection screen would show 0 options

• Fixed an issue with Call of the Void card's hovertips when playing in Castilian Spanish

Regent

• The Regent's character select screen now properly displays all constellations among the stars in the background

Defect:

• Fixed softlock when trying to transform Rip and Tear card

Ancients:

• Fixed card prompts auto-selecting without player input after a run with Vakuu's Whispering Earring relic

• Fixed softlock when Vakuu's Whispering Earring relic would auto-play Hand Trick card with 2+ eligible Skills

Events:

• Fixed missing Eternal hovertip when showing card preview for Greed curse in Sunken Treasury event

Multiplayer:

• Fixed a crash that could occur when rapidly retrying multiplayer joins

• Fixed a multiplayer sync issue that occurred when players used different OS languages

• Fixed a softlock that could occur when a player would die to Breakthrough card's self-HP loss in multiplayer

• Fixed softlock at the end of the Architect event in multiplayer

• A proper error is now displayed when trying to accept a stale invite

• Fixed state divergence related to Imbued enchantment and Letter Opener relic

• Fixed state divergence related to Defect orb passives triggering during a player choice

• Fixed a multiplayer softlock caused by auto-playing a sequence of multiple cards (via Cascade card or another similar effect) and dying before the last card in the sequence has been played