Slay the Spire has been taking Steam by storm this year, and for good reason — it's an incredibly clever, run-based dungeon crawler with SOOO much replay value. But with a wealth of content comes a wealth of questions. Some of the most vigorous head scratching happens when we talk about Relics. What are they? What are the best ones? Let's work through the topic together.
What is a Relic?
따로 명시하지 않는 한에서 이 사이트의 모든 콘텐츠는 다음의 라이선스를 따릅니다: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. I loaded up an old Wachter run on my home. I was in a fight somewhere in the second act (fighting Snecko). I had the Gambling Chip relic. I selected all my cards to be thrown into my discard pile, when I figured I had no idea what was in my draw pile, and I had no idea where to go with this run anymore.
Relics in Slay the Spire are items that grant you permanent passive effects just by holding them in your inventory (which you'll see on the upper right hand corner of your screen during battle.) On occasion, they can also grant you one-time bonuses when you pick them up. There is no limit to how many relics you can hold at once, but they are only available by defeating bosses, finding them in chests, buying them from the Shop, or as event rewards.
How Many Relics Are There?
Quite a lot, actually. 127, if our count is correct, all with unique effects and uses.
What Kind of Uses Are We Talking About Here?
Fair question — but before we talk about specifics, there's some stuff you should know about Relics in general. Like the fact that there are seven different types of them, for instance.
- Starter: These relics begin on your character, and lay the ground work of their playstyles in the early game. The mighty Ironclad and the cunning Silent start with Burning Blood and Ring of the Snake, respectively, for instance.
- Common: An assortment of weaker Relics that give relatively tame boosts.
- Uncommon: These are the working class Relics that give you some interesting abilities, and are found less often then common ones.
- Rare: A class of Relic that can really turn the tide of a run, if you can find them.
- Boss: Only obtainable after defeating a Boss and raiding their chest, these Relics are equally as powerful as rare ones.
- Shop: A small selection of Relics that can only be bought at the Merchant (the money bags on your map).
- Event: A handful of Relics that you can only get as rewards during Events (the question marks on your map).
So, the Rarer the Better?
Generally speaking, yes. But it's not always wise to pick a relic simply because it's rarer (if the choice presents itself, that is). Relics are random, and it's hard to develop strategies that anticipate which ones you'll get — you'll have more success trying to work with whatever you come across. Always consider your current deck and style of play when choosing, because sometimes an uncommon Relic is going to do you more favors than the rarer ones.
All that said, most of the time, you'll be getting Relics as Event rewards or as random drops, so there will be very little 'choosing' necessary.
But Some Relics Are Better Than Others, Right?
Absolutely. There's a lot of contention about the best single Relic, but what is widely agreed upon is that Relics that affect your energy are the most desirable. This is mainly because energy efficiency is a concept that affects play whatever character or deck you happen to be using. Being able to carry over unspent energy from turn to turn with Ice Cream is a real game-changer.
I mention Ice Cream first because it's unanimously considered the best of the energy relics, since there is no downside to having it. All of the other ones (which can only be obtained in Boss chests) will cost you something. The Cursed Key gives you an extra energy at the start of each turn, but you'll obtain a Curse, a permanent debuff, in exchange for it. The Runic Dome will grant you an extra energy per turn as well, but you can no longer see enemy Intents, which are super important to know when making good turn decisions.
Shop-specific Relics are all interesting, but I like the Relics that give you one-time bonuses here. The Cauldron gives you potions to choose from, 5 in total, and Lee's Waffle will get you a max HP buff and heal you for full. I've found these to be pretty clutch more than once.
Note that you can also buy other, non-Boss Relics from Merchants, as well.
Which of Those Should I Insta-Buy?
Again, steer clear of the 'one-Relic-fits-all' approach. If you're choosing a Relic, you should be making all the same considerations that you would when picking new cards or potions.
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But if I had to make a list of Very Good Relics to keep your eye out for, it would look something like this:
- Bottled Flame/Lighting/Tornado — These Relics allow you to choose an Attack/Skill/Power card when you obtain them, and that card will always be in your opening hand. This is absolutely incredible when it comes to guaranteeing that good first turn.
- Gambling Chip — This Relic provides a mulligan of sorts. At the beginning of combat, you can choose any number of the cards you drew, discard them, and draw that many more. It's a good way to get another shot a promising first turn.
- Ginger — Having ginger in your possession means you'll never be Weakened again.
- Peace Pipe/Shovel – Both of these give resting more functionality. The Pipe lets you remove a card from your deck at a Rest Site, and the Shovel lets you dig for loot at Rest Sites.
Do You Have Some Examples of 'Playstyle Specific' Insta-Buys?
A tougher list to make, because a lot of things factor into playstyle; character, deck-build, the Act you're in, etc. That said, here are some thoughts.
The Ironclad is my go-to character, because he allows me to get reckless in combat to pretty great reward. I'm not so risk-averse with him, because he can ramp his damage fairly quickly. I choose Mark of Painwhenever it's available, because Ironclad decks come with lots of cards that can Exhaust other cards, including status effects like the Wounds this Relic gives you at the start of combat. The extra energy is worth it. I also like the Championship Belt with Ironclad, because he has plenty of options for putting Vulnerable on enemies, which would also apply Weakness now.
For the Silent, something like Shuriken will reward you heavily for playing low cost, high volume attack cards, and is a godsend for Shiv-based strategies. The Silent has a lot of Poison play, so The Specimen is a particularly good addition to his arsenal.
Power-heavy decks will get a big boost in efficiency from Mummified Hand, which will let you play a card from your hand for free every time you play a power. Low-card decks will find utility inUnceasing Top, which will let you draw a card if you every have no cards in your hand. Big-attack decks may gladly accept the Curse that comes with the Necronomicon, which lets your play your first 2 energy attack a turn twice.
As I'm sure you've gathered by now, we could talk Relics until the Dark Lord returns. But you should get to stopping him, so if you need anymore guidance concerning Relics or anything else Slay the Spire-related, please head to the Official Slay the Spire Wiki!
Jarrett Green
Gambling Chip Slay The Spire Meaning
Jarrett shares his love of video games and geek culture through feature articles on Gamepedia. He prides himself on his deep attraction to Japanese beat-em ups and his god-like Bushido Blade talents.
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In Slay the Spire, relics are very effective against your enemies. Unlike potions, they do not lose their effect after use. There are many relics in the game. You can get them in different ways: get them from elite opponents as they drop a random relic and you can also buy them from the dealer. But you need gold for that. Therefore, we recommend you to kill as many elite opponents as possible.
Anchor (Each fight starts with 10 blocks) - An ordinary / common relic, which can be found in a normal run.
Ancient Tea Set (After a visit to the campfire you start a fight with 2 more energy). This is an ordinary / common relic and can be found in a normal run.
Art of War (If you do not play attacks during a turn, you will gain 1 energy next turn). An ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run
Astrolabe (Once you get this relic, you can once select and transform 3 cards. After that they will be upgraded). This you’ll get after a boss fight.
Bag of Marbles (At the start of each fight 1x applies Vulnerable to all opponents). This is an ordinary / common relic and can be found in a normal run
Bag of Preparation (At the start of each fight you draw two more cards). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Bird Faced Urn (Whenever you play a Power, you always heal 2 HP). This rare relic can be found during a normal run.
Black Blood (Replaces Burning Blood and heals for 10 HP at the end of the fight). Drop at Boss fight.
Black Star (Defeat an elite opponent and drop those 2 relics). Drop at Boss fight.
Blood Vial (To start a fight, you heal 2 HP). This is an ordinary / common relic and can be found in a normal run.
Bloody Idol (Whenever you receive gold, you will receive 2 HP at the same time). Random drop at events.
Blue Candle (Cursed cards can be played with it. Curse cards reduce your HP by 1 and disappear after use). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Bottled Flame (Once you get this relic, you can choose an Attack card that is in your hand each time you start fighting). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Bottled Lightning (Once you get this relic, you can choose a skill card that's in your hand every time you start fighting). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Bronze Scales (Whenever you take damage, you deal 3 damage). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Burning Blood (At the end of a fight, you heal 6 HP). This is available from the beginning.
Calipers (At the beginning of each round, you lose only 15 blocks). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Calling Bell (You will receive 3x curse and 3 relics). Drop at Boss fight
Cauldron (Once you get this relic, you can brew 5 random potions). This can be found at the dealer
Centennial puzzle (As soon as you take damage for the first time in the turn, you can draw 3 cards). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Champion Belt (Whenever you use 1 Vulnerable, 1 Weak is added). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Charon's Ashes (Whenever you use a card, you deal 3 damage to all enemies). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Cursed Key (You gain 1 Energy at the beginning of each turn. Whenever you open a box, you get a curse). Drop at Boss fight.
Dead Branch (Whenever you use a card, you get a random card on your hand). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Discerning Monocle (All dealer prices are reduced by 20 percent). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Dream Catcher (Whenever you rest, you can add a card to your deck). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Du-Vu Doll (For each curse in your deck, you start the battle with 1 additional strength). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Ectoplasm (You get 1 energy at the beginning of each round, but you can not get any gold anymore). Drop at Boss fight
Enchiridion (Start each round with a random power card that costs you 0 Energy). This is a random drop at events
Eternal Feather (You heal 2 HP for every 5th card in your deck when you're at the campfire). Drop at Boss fight
Frozen egg (Once you receive this relic, you can select and improve a power). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Gambling Chip (Discard a number of cards at the start of each fight. Pull exactly as many). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Ginger (You won't be weakened anymore) This rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Girya (You can now receive strength from campfires (maximum 3)). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Golden idol (Enemies lose 25 percent more gold). This is a random drop at events.
Gremlin Horn (Whenever an enemy dies, you can draw a card and gain 1 Energy). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Happy Flower (You will receive 1 energy every 3rd round) This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Ice cream (Your energy preserves your energy between rounds). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Juzu Bracelet (You no longer meet opponents in rooms that come with? Marked). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Kunai (Each time you play 3 Attack cards in a turn, you get 1 Skill). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Lantern (You gain 1 Energy on the first round of each fight). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Lee's Waffle (Your maximum HP will increase by 7 HP. In addition, you heal all your HP). This can be found at the dealer.
Letter Opener (Each time you play 3 skill cards in a turn, you deal 5 damage to all enemies). Unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Lizard Tail (If you take hits that would kill you, you will not die but heal for 50 percent of your maximum HP instead. Works only once). Drop at Boss fight.
Magic flower (Healing is 50 percent more effective during the fight). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Mango (Your maximum HP will be increased by 14). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Mark of Pain (You receive 1 energy at the start of each round. At the end of the fight, you add 2 wounds to your pile of shots). Drop at Boss fight.
Matryoshka (The next two boxes contain 2 relics. Boxes excluded from boss battles). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Meat on the bone (If you finish a fight with less than 50 percent HP, you heal 9 HP). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Medical Kit (You can now play status cards. They are consumed after application). This can be found at the dealer.
Membership Card (In future levels, traders will appear 50 percent more frequently. In addition, you will receive a 20 percent discount on all products). Can be found at the dealer.
Mercury Hourglass (At the start of your turn, you deal 3 damage to all enemies). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Molten Egg (Once you receive this relic, you can select and upgrade an Attack card). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Mummified hand (Whenever you play a power card, a random card in your hand costs 0 Energy for that turn). This is an unusual relic, can be found during a normal run.
Necronomicon (The first Attacl card you play in a round and cost 2 or more Energy is played twice. If you take this relic, you will be cursed). Random drop at events.
Nilry's Codex (At the end of each round, you can choose 1 - 3 random cards to mix in your pick pile). Random drop at events
Ninja scroll (You start every fight with 3 Shiv cards in your hand). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run
Nloth's poison (Triples the chance to get rare cards as monster rewards). Random drop at events
Odd Mushroom (If you have Vulnerable status, you only suffer 25% more damage than 50%). Random drop at events
Oddly Smooth Stone (At the beginning of each fight you get 1 skill). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run
Old Coin (You will receive 250 gold once). This is a rare / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Omamori (Save the next 2 curses you receive). This ia an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Orichalchum (When you finish your round with a Block card, you get 6 blocks). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Ornamental fan (Each time you play 3 Attack cards in a turn, you get 4 blocks). An unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Orrery (Select 5 cards and add them to your deck). This is an Unusual / Uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Pandora's box (All strikes and defenses are changed). Drop at Boss fight.
Pantograph (At the start of a boss fight, you heal 25 HP). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Paper Kranes (Enemies with weakness suffer 50 percent more damage than 25 percent). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Paper Phrog (Wounded enemies suffer 75 percent more damage than 50 percent). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Peace Pipe (You can now remove cards from your stack when you are on camp fire). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
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Pear (Your maximum HP will be increased by 10). This is an uncommon / unusual relic, can be found during a normal run.
Pen Nib (Every 10th attack from you has double damage). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Philosopher's Stone (You get 1 energy every round. When starting a fight, each fighter gets 2 strength). Drop at Boss fight
Prayer wheel (Chests that are not from bosses now have cards) This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Question Card (For card rewards, you can now choose from 4 instead of 3 cards). Drop at Boss fight.
Red Mask (At the beginning of the fight, you apply 1 weakness to each opponent). This is a random drop at events
Red skull (If your health drops below 50 percent, you have 3 additional strength points). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Regal Pillow (If you rest, you will also heal 15 HP). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Ring of the Snake (At the start of each fight, you can draw 2 extra cards). Available since the beginning.
Runic Cube (Your maximum HP will be reduced by 20 percent. Whenever you lose HP, you draw a card). Drop at Boss fight
Runic Dodecahedron (When your HP is full, you gain 1 Energy at the beginning of each turn). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Runic Dome (You get 1 energy to start each round. But you no longer see the intentions of the opponents over their heads). Drop at Boss fight
Runic Pyramid (At the end of each turn, you do not discard cards from your hand and draw one card less each turn). Drop at Boss fight
Self forming clay (Whenever you lose HP in combat, you get 3 blocks on the next turn). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Shovel (You can now dig for loot at campfires). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Shuriken (Whenever you use 3 Attack cards in a turn, you gain 1 Strength). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Singing Bowl (Whenever you skip a card reward, your maximum HP will increase by 2). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Smiling Mask (If you remove a card from the dealer, the service costs only 50 gold (always). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Snecko Eye (Draw 2 extra cards each turn. For this you start every fight with confusion). Drop at Boss fight.
Snecko Skull (Whenever you use poison, 1 poison is added). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Sozu (Receive 1 Energy at the beginning of a turn. But you can not use potions anymore). Drop at Boss fight
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Spirit poop (Removes an inappropriate card). Random drop at events.
Strange Spoon (Cards that are consumed after use are discarded 50 percent of the time instead of this effect). can be found at the dealer.
Strawberry (Increases your maximum health by 7 HP). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Sundial (Every 3rd time you mix your deck, you gain 3 energy). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
The Courier (The dealer will no longer be sold out and will always sell you cards, relics and potions. This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
The Specimen (Whenever an opponent dies, all the poison that he had applied to a random opponent). Drop at Boss fight.
Thread and needle (At the start of a fight, you will receive 5 Metal-Coated Armor). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Tingsha (Whenever you discard a card during your turn, you deal 3 damage. This one goes to a random opponent. Applicable per card. (This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Tiny Chest (You will receive 30 gold once. In addition, increases your chance to find 10 percent more treasures in). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Tiny House (You will receive a potion, 30 gold and a card. In addition, your maximum health increases by 5 HP). Drop at Boss fight.
Toolbox (At the start of a fight, you add any colorless card to your hand). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Torii (Whenever you have to take 5 unblocked Attack damage, it reduces to 1). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Tough bandages (For every discarded card in a turn you get 3 blocks). This is an unusual / uncommon relic, can be found during a normal run.
Toxic Egg (Once you pick up this relic, pick a skill card and upgrade it). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Toy ornithopter (Each time you heal with a potion, you heal 3 HP). This can be found at the dealer
Unceasing Top (If you have no cards in your hand, you may draw one). This is a rare relic, can be found during a normal run.
Vajra (You gain 1 Strength at the beginning of each fight). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
Velvet Choker (Each turn you gain 1 Energy, but you can not play more than 6 cards per turn). Drop at Boss fight.
Whetstone (Once you pick up this relic, you can upgrade two random Attack cards). This is an ordinary / common relic, can be found in a normal run.
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White Beast statue (Potions are always dropped after a fight). Drop at Boss fight
All the tasks can be found below:
- Bloody Idol: Give the Golden Idol to Deity to lose the effect.
- Enchiridion, Necronomicon and Nilry's Codex: Ask for a book in the event with the Cursed Book as one of the three possible outlets.
- Nloth's Gift: Give Nloth one of the two random relics in his event.
- Odd Mushroom: Hit the ground and kill all the enemies in the Mushroom event.
- Red Mask: Give all your gold in the Mask Event.
- Spirit Poop: Burn a curse in the Spirit Fire event.