Slay the Spire 2 has its first new character since Early Access began. The Fool, a bard who fights with a bow, arrives today in beta patch v0.113.0, which Mega Crit calls “the biggest (beta) patch yet” in its patch notes on Steam. The same patch adds two new game modes, Blitz and Dread.
Watch the short YouTubeAll of it is on the beta branch only for now. Mega Crit says the new content needs “lots of testing” before it reaches the main game.
The Fool is a bow-wielding musician, and Mega Crit expects to change a lot
Mega Crit describes The Fool as “a silly musician who wields a bow” and asks, “How can such a whimsical creature survive within the Spire?” The notes do not list the character’s cards or relics, so working out how The Fool plays is left to players.
The studio is clear that this is an early version. “We expect to make a great number of content and balance changes before the Fool is ready for the main branch,” the notes say.
Blitz removes the map and makes Gold worthless
Blitz is a “condensed and chaotic” mode built around deckbuilding. The map is gone, Gold no longer matters, and the Merchant’s wares “feel a bit off.”
Blitz has five Ascension levels that are shared across all characters. It unlocks once you complete an Ascension run at any difficulty.
Dread needs Ascension 10 on every character, including The Fool
Dread is the hard mode for players who have run out of hard modes. To unlock it you need Ascension 10 on all characters, and Mega Crit specifies that this includes the new one.
Inside, every Ascension modifier is switched on. Bosses are stronger and buff all the enemies in their Act, and Curses pile up as you climb. Mega Crit sums it up in three words: “Death is expected.”
You have to switch to the public-beta branch to play any of it
To opt in, right-click Slay the Spire 2 in your Steam library, open Properties, go to Game Versions & Betas and pick public-beta from the dropdown.
The main branch gets an update today too, but only up to the previous beta version, v0.111.0. If you launch the main game and can’t find The Fool, that is why.
Five new events, a new Colorless card and three card reworks are in the patch too
The rest of the notes are long. The highlights:
- Rest sites can now appear one floor earlier in every Act
- Five new events: Waterfall of Obvious Secrets and Wuppy in Trouble in the Underdocks, Museum of Torture in Act 2, and Shrine of the Warlord and Thermae Nonupeipe in Act 3
- A new Colorless card, My Shinies
- Ironclad’s Expect a Fight now gives 15 Block and makes Attacks in your hand cost 1 less Energy until played
- Silent’s Expertise now retains your whole hand for the turn, and Memento Mori becomes a 3-cost attack that hits the enemy with the lowest HP for 19 damage
- Salvo, Phantom Blades and the Regent’s CHARGE!! were all nerfed
Mega Crit has not said when The Fool, Blitz and Dread will move to the main branch.
