Slay the Spire: Relics and Their Uses

Welcome to our comprehensive guide, 'Slay the Spire: Relics and Their Uses'! If you're looking to master the art of relics in this thrilling roguelike deck-building game, you're in the right place. This guide delves into the heart of what makes relics so essential for your success. First, we'll provide an insightful 'Overview of Common Relics' to get you started. Then, we'll explore 'Rare and Boss Relics' that can turn the tide of any game. Learn about powerful 'Synergies Between Relics and Cards' to optimize your strategies. Discover tips for 'Choosing the Best Relics for Your Build' and, finally, master our 'Tips for Maximizing Relic Use' to enhance every run. Ready to turn every encounter into an epic win? Let’s dive in!

### Overview of Common Relics

In Slay the Spire, relics are your best friends. They give you powerful bonuses that can really turn the tide of your run. Commons are the most frequently encountered relics and often lay the foundation for more complex strategies. Let’s walk through some of the key common relics you'll come across.

Anchor

Effect: Gain 10 Block at the start of each combat.

Anchor is great for getting a head start on your defenses, especially if you draw a bad hand at the beginning. This means you can take less damage right away, giving you some breathing room to get the right cards into play. It’s especially useful against enemies that attack on their first turn.

Bag of Marbles

Effect: Apply 1 Vulnerable to all enemies at the start of each combat.

Talk about getting the upper hand! Bag of Marbles makes all enemies take 50% more damage for one turn. Use this to hit 'em hard right off the bat. Combine it with multi-hit attacks or skills that increase damage for some serious pain.

Happy Flower

Effect: Every 3 turns, gain 1 Energy.

Energy is everything in Slay the Spire. Happy Flower gives you that extra juice every third turn, which can be crucial in longer fights. This can be a lifesaver during tough battles or when you've got a hand full of expensive cards.

Lantern

Effect: Gain 1 extra Energy on the first turn of each combat.

Lantern is fantastic for those aggressive starts. It opens up a lot of possibilities on your first turn, allowing you to play more cards and set up your strategy faster. This extra energy can often determine the flow of the entire fight.

Meal Ticket

Effect: Heal 15 HP whenever you enter a shop.

Shops can be a great place to not only buy useful cards and relics but to get some healing too! Meal Ticket can be a part of a solid survival strategy, especially if you find yourself low on HP. It’s an excellent way to stay in the game longer without always relying on rest sites.

Oddly Smooth Stone

Effect: Gain 1 Dexterity.

Dexterity increases the Block you gain from all your Block cards. Oddly Smooth Stone gives you that little extra defensive edge. It's not a huge boost, but it adds up over time, making it easier to shrug off damage turn after turn.

Pen Nib

Effect: Every 10th attack deals double damage.

Planning is key with Pen Nib. Keep track of your attacks, and you can land some devastating blows right when you need them. This is particularly useful if you’ve got some high-damage cards waiting in the wings, ready to take full advantage of that double damage.

Singing Bowl

Effect: When adding cards to your deck, you may gain +2 Max HP instead.

Sometimes it’s better to skip cards you don’t need or that don’t fit your strategy. Singing Bowl rewards you for staying picky by giving you more health as a trade-off. It’s a great way to bulk up your survivability without diluting your deck.

Making the Most of Common Relics

Utilizing common relics effectively can make or break your game. Here are some tips for getting the most out of them:

• Synergy Matters: Always consider how a new relic interacts with your current deck and other relics. Synergy can elevate your gameplay, making certain combos insanely powerful.

• Adapt and Adjust: Be flexible in your strategy. Reliquishes like Happy Flower or Lantern can change how you manage energy.

• Plan Ahead: Keep track of relics like Pen Nib and Singing Bowl to take full advantage of their effects. Timing your attacks or choosing health over unnecessary cards can significantly impact your success.

Remember, common relics may not be the flashiest, but they build the backbone of your strategy. Master these, and you’ll be well on your way to climbing the spire!

Slay the Spire: Relics and Their Uses

Rare and Boss Relics

So, you’ve been climbing through the spire, slinging cards left and right, and now you’ve got your eye on some of those shiny Rare and Boss Relics. These powerful items can change the course of your run, giving you just the right boost to defeat those tough enemies and bosses. Let’s break down some of the most game-changing Rare and Boss Relics you’ll find in Slay the Spire.

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Rare Relics

Rare Relics are some of the best items in the game. You can usually find them in treasure chests, by defeating elite enemies, or as event drops. Here are a few you’ll definitely want to keep an eye out for:

• Art of War: If you don’t play any attacks during your turn, you get an extra energy on your next turn. This is super useful for defensive decks or when you're setting up big combos.

• Shuriken: Every time you play three attacks in a single turn, this gives you a permanent +1 Strength. Perfect for aggressive, attack-heavy decks that love to spam cheap attack cards.

• Singing Bowl: Instead of adding a card to your deck after a battle, you can choose to get +2 Max HP. This is awesome for keeping your deck lean while also staying tanky.

• Tingsha: Whenever you discard a card during your turn, deal 3 damage to a random enemy. It’s great for decks that focus on discarding, making each discard pack a punch.

Boss Relics

Boss Relics are granted to you after defeating an Act Boss. These relics significantly impact your playstyle and strategy moving forward. Here are some of the coolest Boss Relics to look for:

• Black Star: If you love taking on elite enemies, this relic is your jam. It makes elites drop an additional relic, which can heavily stack your benefits.

• Pandora’s Box: If you’re feeling lucky, this relic transforms all of your strikes and defends into random cards. A risky but potentially rewarding choice that can completely change your deck.

• Runic Pyramid: This relic lets you retain all cards in your hand between turns. It’s perfect for decks that need specific cards at crucial moments, although it may fill your hand quickly if you’re not careful.

• Velvet Choker: You gain an extra energy each turn, which is awesome. But, you can only play six cards per turn. It’s great for high-cost decks, but bad for those that rely on playing lots of cards each turn.

Strategy Tips for Relics

When choosing between Rare and Boss Relics, it’s important to consider your current deck and game plan. Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:

1. Synergy: Some relics are fantastic, but only if they match your deck’s strategy. Shuriken is a blessing for a fast-attack deck but useless in a spell-heavy setup.

2. Adaptability: Relics like Pandora’s Box can drastically change your deck, so be ready to adapt your strategy if you pick it up.

3. Balance: Relics that give energy (like Velvet Choker) can be game-changers. But always weigh the benefits against the potential downsides.

4. Survival: Some Relics improve your long-term survival, such as Singing Bowl. Prioritize these if you’re aiming for a longer run or if you're struggling to stay alive.

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In the end, each relic can turn a regular run into a powerful expedition through the spire. Keep your eyes peeled and your strategy flexible, and you’ll be toppling bosses in no time. Happy climbing!

Synergies Between Relics and Cards

Alright, adventurers, let’s dive into one of the coolest (and most important) parts of Slay the Spire: understanding how Relics can supercharge your deck. When you find the right combinations of Relics and Cards, you can turn a decent deck into something truly unbeatable. Here’s a breakdown of some awesome synergies to look out for.

The Basics of Relic and Card Synergy

First, let's cover what we mean by synergies. In Slay the Spire, synergies are when two or more components (like Relics and Cards) work together in a way that makes them stronger than they would be on their own. Think of it as teamwork for your deck!

Common Relic and Card Combos

1. Necronomicon + High-Cost Attack Cards

• Relic Effect: The first Attack card you play each turn that costs 2 or more energy is played twice.
• Perfect Cards: Cards like "Bludgeon" or "Fiend Fire" get crazy powerful with Necronomicon. Imagine hitting for 64 twice with Bludgeon. That's a whopping 128 damage in one turn!

2. Dead Branch + Exhaust Cards

• Relic Effect: Whenever you Exhaust a card, add a random card to your hand.
• Perfect Cards: Exhausting cards like “Burning Pact” or “Fiend Fire” can fill your hand with new options, giving you extended plays and more ways to adapt to the fight.

3. Shuriken + Multi-Hit Attack Cards

• Relic Effect: Every time you play 3 Attacks in a single turn, gain 1 Strength.
• Perfect Cards: Cards like “Riddle With Holes” or “Pummel” work great here. Because they hit multiple times, you can swiftly get those 3 attacks in, stacking Strength boosts and smashing through enemy defenses even faster.

4. Toxic Egg + Skill Cards

• Relic Effect: Whenever you add a Skill card to your deck, it is upgraded.
• Perfect Cards: This works perfectly with cards like “Armaments” (which upgrades all cards in your hand) or “Entrench” (which doubles your Block). Having these as upgraded versions right off the bat makes your deck significantly stronger and more versatile.

5. Snecko Eye + High-Cost, Powerful Cards

• Relic Effect: Draw 2 additional cards each turn. Start each combat Confused (randomizing card costs).
• Perfect Cards: Expensive cards like “Meteor Strike” or “Hyperbeam” suddenly become more viable because their costs can drop drastically. The added card draw means you always have more options each turn.

Advanced Synergy Tips

1. Plan Ahead: Knowing which Relics you have can influence which Cards to select during your run. For example, if you pick up the Necronomicon early, prioritize powerful, expensive Attack cards.
2. Know When to Skip: Sometimes, the best synergy is passing on a card or relic that doesn’t fit your strategy. Focus on building around the synergies you already have.
3. Adapt and Overcome: Slay the Spire is all about adapting. If you find Relics that shift your build direction, don’t be afraid to pivot your strategy to make the most of your newfound powers.

Putting It All Together

Crafting the perfect deck in Slay the Spire can feel like putting together a complicated puzzle. But when you find those sweet spots where your Cards and Relics click together just right, it’s pure magic. Keep experimenting, stay adaptable, and enjoy the ride. You'll get better and better at spotting the awesome combos that can carry you all the way to the Heart!

Happy climbing, and may your relics always shine brightly!

Choosing the Best Relics for Your Build

In Slay the Spire, relics can make or break your run. These magical doodads give you powerful bonuses, making your deck stronger and your heroes tougher. Picking the right relics can set you up for victory against the toughest bosses, so let's dive into how to choose the best ones for your build.

Understanding Relic Types

Relics come in different varieties: Common, Uncommon, Rare, Boss, and Event. While it might be tempting to grab every shiny thing you find, think about how each relic fits into your current strategy.

• Common Relics: Basic but useful. Great early game pickup.
• Uncommon Relics: More potent. Tailor these to your deck's growing strategy.
• Rare Relics: Game-changers. Prioritize relics that have high synergy.
• Boss Relics: Granted after boss fights; often powerful but with drawbacks. Choose wisely!
• Event Relics: Found through events. Can be incredibly situational but can plug a gap in your build.

Relics for Aggro Decks

Aggro decks focus on dealing lots of damage quickly. Your aim is to eliminate threats before they become a problem. Here are key relics to watch for:

• Anchor: Start each combat with 10 Block. Great for protecting your HP while you set up your aggressive plays.
• Prayer Wheel: At the end of boss fights, you're offered two relics. Gives you more chances to find aggressively beneficial relics.
• Sundial: Every three times you shuffle your draw pile, gain 2 Energy. Perfect for fast-cycling decks.
• Vajra: Gain +1 Strength. Every attack hits harder, which is exactly what you need.

Relics for Defensive Decks

Defensive decks shine by outlasting opponents. You want relics that bolster your defense and provide sustain:

• Potion Belt: Gain two potion slots. Extra potions can be lifesavers in tight spots.
• Orichalcum: If you end your turn without Block, gain 6 Block. Handy when you can't play defensive cards.
• Thread and Needle: Start each combat with 4 Plated Armor. Long-term benefits without needing to draw specific cards.
• Calipers: At the start of your turn, lose 15 Block rather than all of it. Helps you keep Block between turns.

Relics for Control Decks

Control decks thrive on manipulating the game state, whether through drawing, discarding, or playing lots of powers:

• Runic Pyramid: You no longer discard your hand at the end of your turn. Amazing for holding onto key cards.
• Nunchaku: Every time you play 10 attacks, gain 1 Energy. Extra energy fuels continuous control.
• Fossilized Helix: Prevent the first time you would lose HP each combat. Gives you a cushion to set up control mechanics.
• Ink Bottle: Every 10 cards drawn, draw an additional card. Keeping your hand full means more options.

Adapting to Boss Relics

Boss relics come with both power and risk. They can completely transform your deck. Here’s how to approach them:

• Astrolabe: Transform and upgrade 3 cards. A gamble that can pay off by removing weak cards and giving you upgraded replacements.
• Black Star: Elites drop an additional relic. If you’re confident in your skills, challenge more Elites for better rewards.
• Pandora’s Box: Transform all Strikes and Defends. Works best if your starting cards are weak or if you’re searching for a specific archetype.
• Coffee Dripper: Gain energy at the start of your turn but cannot rest at rest sites. Only take this if you have reliable healing from other sources.

Final Tips

• Synergy Over Strength: Always prioritize relics that synergize with your existing build over simply being powerful.
• Think Ahead: Consider upcoming bosses and encounters when choosing relics. Defense-oriented relics might be more useful if you’re expecting a tough battle.
• Flexible Builds: Be ready to adapt. Sometimes, the relics you find will suggest a new strategy. Stay open-minded!

Your road through the Spire will be packed with choices. Use these relics not just as tools, but as guides to shape your winning strategy. Remember, a well-chosen relic can be the difference between a victorious ascent and a tragic fall! Happy climbing!

Tips for Maximizing Relic Use

Relics are game-changers in Slay the Spire. They provide unique bonuses that can completely alter your strategy and lead to some seriously powerful combos. Here’s how you can get the most out of these mysterious artifacts.

1. Prioritize Relics That Sync with Your Deck

Not all relics are created equal. The best relics are the ones that work well with your deck’s strategy. For example:

• Poison Decks: If you're running a Silent deck focused on poison, The Specimen relic, which spreads poison to all enemies when one dies, is invaluable.
• Strength Decks: For an Ironclad strength build, Girya, which lets you gain strength at rest sites, boosts your damage output significantly.

Always be on the lookout for relics that enhance your specific build, instead of just piling on random bonuses.

2. Use Relic Combos to Your Advantage

Some relics work exceptionally well together. Being aware of these powerful combos can turn the tide in your favor:

• Torii and Tungsten Rod: Torii reduces damage of 5 or less to 1, and Tungsten Rod reduces all damage by 1. Together, they make you nearly invincible against small hits.
• Ice Cream and Unceasing Top: Ice Cream preserves your energy between turns, and Unceasing Top allows you to draw and play cards until you run out of energy. Combined, they can lead to some absurdly long and powerful turns.

3. Don’t Sleep on Small Relics

Sure, big flashy relics are fun, but those smaller, rarer ones can make a significant impact too:

• Anchor: Starting with 10 block is extremely useful, especially against dangerous Act 1 elites.
• Shuriken: Gaining 1 strength for every 3 attacks played turns even weak attacks into powerful strikes over time.

Small relics can provide consistent, incremental advantages that add up over the course of a run.

4. Timing Your Uses

Some relics benefit from strategic timing:

• Potion Relics: Sozu (no potions, extra energy) vs. Sacred Bark (double potion effect) changes how you use potions. With Sacred Bark, a single potion can save you in a tight spot. With Sozu, optimize your pre-existing potions before picking it up.
• Gamblers Brew and Runic Capacitor: Knowing the right moment to reroll cards or extend your energy pool can be critical in later fights.

5. Adapt to the Relics You Find

Sometimes, relics force you to adapt your strategy. Take this as an opportunity rather than a setback:

• Blue Candle: Normally, you’d avoid Curses, but Blue Candle allows you to safely exhaust them, turning a disadvantage into an advantage.
• Philosopher’s Stone: Provides extra energy but makes enemies stronger. Balance this by focusing more on defensive cards to mitigate the increased threat.

6. Shopping Smart

When visiting the shop, keep your deck and relic interactions in mind:

• Highly Recommend: Membership Card (50% off everything) and Clockwork Souvenir (free artifact) - these provide immense value for the entire run.
• Avoid Overstacking: Avoid buying relics that duplicate effects unnecessarily unless it’s part of a specific synergy.

7. Know When to Pass

Just because you can obtain a relic doesn’t mean you should. Some relics come with downsides that might worsen your position:

• Pandora’s Box: Transforms all strikes and defends. This can be awesome or awful depending on your current deck layout.
• Busted Crown: Gives energy but less card choices. If you're at a critical build phase, fewer options might cripple your strategy.

Conclusion

Mastering relic use is a big part of mastering Slay the Spire. By considering how each relic fits into your overall strategy, looking for powerful synergies, and knowing when to adapt your approach, you’ll turn these mystical artifacts into powerful allies on your quest to reach the top of the Spire. Happy climbing!