The Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2 grants improved resilience, powerful combos, and heavy-hitting abilities. This beginner-friendly deck originating from the demonic pact allows players to brute force their way to the end. The vast card pool cards of The Ironclad allow users to create either a Strength, Block, Exhaust, or Bloodletting build.

However, choosing the right cards can be overwhelming, yet it is essential for securing victory in this roguelike deckbuilder title. Read on, as we discuss the best ways to play the Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2.

How to play The Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2

The Ironclad character will be available from the beginning in Slay the Spire 2. You might be enticed to use the entity and its associated cards. With abilities to manipulate HP and Strength, you can become extremely resilient early on to soak up incoming damage before unleashing powerful heavy attacks.

You can later recover from the punishments using the after-combat healing ability of the character. Below we have discussed the best cards you can use with the Ironclad builds:

The Ironclad Strength build: Best cards and abilities

Key cards

• Demon Form: At the start of your turn, gain 2 Strength.
• Whirlwind: Deal 5 damage to ALL enemies X times.
• Heavy Blade: Deal 14 damage. Strength affects this card 3 times.

Relic recommendations

• Orichalcum
• Horn Cleat
• Captain’s Wheel

The Ironclad’s Strength build in Slay the Spire 2 is quite straightforward. It allows you to buff the specified stat to increase the overall damage output. Use Demon Form, Spot Weakness, and Limit Break to gain more Strength scaling.

To make your attacks more effective and hit multiple targets, use Whirlwind, Sword Boomerang, and Twin Strike. Make sure to also use Heavy Blade for its exponential Strength scaling. As for the relics, they will improve your blocking capabilities, which will allow the Ironclad to focus on dealing damage.

The Ironclad Block build: Best cards and abilities

Key cards

• Body Slam: Deal damage equal to your Block.
• Entrench: Double your Block.
• Barricade: Block is not removed at the start of your turn.

Relic recommendations

The Ironclad’s Block build in Slay the Spire 2 is all about absorbing damage before retaliation. As such, you benefit from the Barricade and Body Slam cards. The latter enables your character to deal damage after you endure the punishments.

Pick up Bronze Scales specifically to be able to tank the incoming attacks.

The Ironclad Exhaust build: Best cards and abilities

Key cards

• Corruption: Skill costs no energy. Whenever you play a Skill, Exhaust it.
• Dark Embrace: Whenever a card is Exhausted, draw a card.
• Feel No Pain: Whenever a card is Exhausted, gain 3 Block.

Relic recommendations

This combo in Slay the Spire 2 allows you to unleash powerful synergies and use them to deal heavy damage at the expense of exhausting a card. Corruption, Dark Embrace, and Feel No Pain will consistently replenish the draw pile. Dead Branch will further ensure that you never run out of cards.

The Ironclad Bloodletting build: Best cards and abilities

Key cards

• Rupture: Whenver you lose HP on your turn, gain 1 Strength.
• Brutality: At the start of your turn lose 1 HP and draw 1 card.

Relic recommendations

• Self-Forming Clay
• Blue Candle

Bloodletting ability boasts some of the most powerful cards in Slay the Spire 2. They usually inflict damage to the Ironclad and rely on deck synergies to turn him into a strength-scaling champ. Rupture boosts the Strength stat while Brutality causes self-damage.

With the accumulative stacks, you can use Heavy Blow to deal massive damage. Feed and Reaper cards will grant bonus HP to help Ironclad survive the battle.

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