Slay the Spire 2 Adds The Fool and Two New Modes

Mega Crit has released update 0.113.0 for Slay the Spire 2 on Steam’s beta branch. The developer describes it as the game’s largest update so far. It raises the number of playable characters to six and adds two new game modes.

Players can access the update by right-clicking Slay the Spire 2 in Steam, opening Properties, selecting “Game Versions and Betas” and choosing the beta branch. Mega Crit recommends backing up save files before changing versions.

The Fool is a masked musician who fled into the Spire after performing in the Capital. The character uses a bow, songs and cards built around arrows. The Fool’s starting relic, Song Bow, grants six Aim at the start of each combat. Aim increases the damage of the next Arrow played.

Foolish Shot, one of The Fool’s starting cards, fires an Arrow that deals 15 damage. Arrows remain attached to enemies they hit and apply Impale. An Arrow can be recovered after its target is hit three more times or defeated. Quiver adds another Arrow, while Serrated Arrows make Impaled enemies take 25% more damage. Uproot removes an attached Arrow and applies three Vulnerable to its target.

The Fool also uses Melodies. Cards with “Wah,” “Cho” or “Ki” in their names activate the matching Melody for the current turn. Other cards gain extra effects based on the active Melodies. Steady Cadence deals 10 damage and draws one card for each active Melody. Cho Chorus grants 12 Block and plays all Wah and Ki cards remaining in the player’s hand.

Another mechanic, Stretch, increases the Block provided by the next defensive card. The Fool can generate Sadness and Joy. Sadness is an unplayable Status card that remains in the hand. Joy costs no energy, draws a card, grants one energy and is Exhausted. The Ecstasy power can turn Sadness into Joy each turn.

Blitz is designed for shorter runs and focuses on deckbuilding. It removes the map, gives players a choice of three cards from a random selection of 10 at the start of each run and limits each Act to four encounters. Treasure chests provide an additional relic. Merchants offer three special items, including random card packs, enchantments and effects that combine rewards with curses.

Dread is intended for players who have completed Ascension 10 with every character. The mode activates all Ascension modifiers, strengthens bosses and gives them additional ways to improve enemies in their Acts. Players receive an Ascender’s Bane curse at the end of each Act. Mega Crit describes Dread as “brutally difficult” and adds that “death is expected.”

The update includes balance changes, allows Rest Sites to appear one floor earlier in each Act and adds new events. The Wuppy in Trouble event can provide Wuppy as a companion. Wuppy absorbs incoming damage before the player and their Block and can be fully healed at Rest Sites. Wuppy starts with 30 or 60 maximum health, depending on the first encounter.

Byrdpip has a new evolution called Byrdine. It changes Byrd Swoop into God Byrd, a zero-cost Skill that deals 30 damage to all enemies at the start of the next turn, or 40 damage when upgraded.

Update 0.113.0 remains limited to the beta branch while Mega Crit conducts further balance testing. A wider release is expected after that testing is complete.

Reviewed and fact-checked by Vlad Kipran on November 13.