Slay the Spire: Best Builds for Ironclad, Silent, and Defect

Ironclad — Strength Stack Build

The Ironclad's highest damage ceiling comes from rapidly stacking Strength (each point increases all attack damage by 1).

Core cards: Demon Form (6 Strength per turn after third turn), Inflame (2 Strength), Limit Break (double Strength), Spot Weakness (Strength on Elites)

Support cards: Pommel Strike (draw), Shrug It Off (Block + draw), Armaments (upgrade a card + Block)

Key Relics: Vajra (+1 Strength at start), Bag of Marbles (apply Vulnerable at round start)

Strategy: Survive the early turns using Block, then unleash Demon Form + Limit Break to scale Strength to extreme values by Act 3.

Silent — Poison Build

Poison deals increasing damage each turn without card expenditure once stacked, enabling efficient energy use on defense.

Core cards: Catalyst (triple Poison), Noxious Fumes (apply Poison each turn), Bouncing Flask (multi-target Poison), Deadly Poison

Support cards: Acrobatics (draw 3 + Discard), Backflip (draw 2 + Block), Blur (Block that doesn't expire)

Key Relics: Snecko Skull (Poison count increases +1 per turn), Twisted Funnel (apply 4 Poison to all enemies)

Defect — Frost Orb / Blizzard Build

Frost Orbs generate Block each turn. Blizzard deals damage equal to all Frost Orbs evoked that combat. Stack both for offense and defense simultaneously.

Core cards: Blizzard (damage scales with Frost evokes), Glacier (2 Frost + 2 Block), Coolheaded (1 Frost + draw), Chill (evoke and apply Chill)

Support cards: Defragment (+1 Orb Slot), Amplify (next power activates twice), Loop (passive evoke)

Key Relics: Frozen Core (fill empty Orb Slot with Frost at start), Inserter (Channel Orbs cost 0 every other turn)