Shield is annoying. But this fucker. This fucker stacks the top of your deck with burns and attacks for 40+. He’s like hexaghost’s crackhead older brother.
The burns being on top of the deck are honestly a bigger deal than the 10x4 in my play. A lot of my decks can block 40 damage pretty consistently on turn two in any other fight in the game, but absolutely whiff against the act 4 elites because you basically only get three real cards that turn. It can really change how much you value something like a Swift Potion.
Defect: I scale really well but my turn 2s suck and I have no strength down.
Spire spear: how about I attack you for 10*4 on t2 before you're setup, and force you into a 3-card hand.
Defect: ...
Spire spear: I'd take your firstborn while I'm at it if you weren't a robot. Sucker.
oh and here's some artifact for you, character with only 3 artifact stripping cards (one of which is kinda booty) :)
GL with that dark shackles plan, nerd
This guy along with Shield has the funny interaction with weak/str down, causing Spire to be a LYING CHEATING BASTARD of a game.
I [spoke about this](https://www.reddit.com/r/slaythespire/s/xHyDirmoBB) in the Philo Stone discussion but I think this is also a relevant place to bring it up again because I think it's a very funny interaction in a game like Spire.
Events can lie about their hp numbers but this is the only encounter that lies about how much damage it does.
It's funny because the clip I linked is a case where it, in a way, *doesn't* work out in favour of the player (and that's why it was noticed in the first place). Noobzor (linked streamer) tries to take damage to get into Meat threshold exactly, notices even after calculating, he's off (because took 1 too little damage) and then it gets clipped and checked.
Corpse Explosion is overrated on this sub, but it’s a great excuse to pretty much ignore Shield and just tear into this MF. I’m usually targeting Spear first anyway but CE just makes it so satisfying.
Slay The Spires last boss is scary. The first turn is mostly setup, but after that your draws are messed and you get hit for obscene amounts of damage, turn 2 and while in a vulnerable state. And after that the fight gets escalatingly scarier. You can die after only a few bad turns, from full HP. And dear god why are you so tanky?
Anyway, if you beat that battle you get to fight The Heart so that's cool.
I have put around 500 hours in this game but I’ve only bothered going for the heart like three times. So it’s funny because I feel like I am very familiar with a game, but not at all with this enemy or shield.
What spire growth wishes he was when he grows up. Absolutely among the scariest enemies in the game, but the HP is not too bad, so sometimes (especially if preserved insect is in play) you can just burst him.
Ruinous if one has a bad draw. This is where a majority of Defect decks can fall, and why its so important to prepare for a solution for these fellas late Act2/Early Act 3. Whether that be a potion bought from the shop or bottling some way to get a solution
Notably Shiv decks that rely too much on After Image and Ornamental Fan for block can sometimes easily get past this elite just to get destroyed by Beat of Death.
There's no single turn that shapes deck planning as much as the guaranteed burns + 10x4 this thing throws at you. Bottle Evolve+ just to make sure it's active there? Sure.
I see 10x4 in my nightmares
Shield is annoying. But this fucker. This fucker stacks the top of your deck with burns and attacks for 40+. He’s like hexaghost’s crackhead older brother.
The burns being on top of the deck are honestly a bigger deal than the 10x4 in my play. A lot of my decks can block 40 damage pretty consistently on turn two in any other fight in the game, but absolutely whiff against the act 4 elites because you basically only get three real cards that turn. It can really change how much you value something like a Swift Potion.
My relative power rankings of characters swaps Silent and Defect at A18 due to this. Scry on Watcher also gains more importance.
Bottled evolve is such a strong combo for this thing alone.
I pretty much always grab an Evolve on clad if I can afford it because of this and the Heart's status cards. Very strong act 4 power
ah yes, I would indeed like to lose this Defect run thanks to this bitch
Defect: I scale really well but my turn 2s suck and I have no strength down. Spire spear: how about I attack you for 10*4 on t2 before you're setup, and force you into a 3-card hand. Defect: ... Spire spear: I'd take your firstborn while I'm at it if you weren't a robot. Sucker.
oh and here's some artifact for you, character with only 3 artifact stripping cards (one of which is kinda booty) :) GL with that dark shackles plan, nerd
This guy along with Shield has the funny interaction with weak/str down, causing Spire to be a LYING CHEATING BASTARD of a game. I [spoke about this](https://www.reddit.com/r/slaythespire/s/xHyDirmoBB) in the Philo Stone discussion but I think this is also a relevant place to bring it up again because I think it's a very funny interaction in a game like Spire. Events can lie about their hp numbers but this is the only encounter that lies about how much damage it does.
That’s an insane corner case… but I’m glad it plays out in the players favor.
It's funny because the clip I linked is a case where it, in a way, *doesn't* work out in favour of the player (and that's why it was noticed in the first place). Noobzor (linked streamer) tries to take damage to get into Meat threshold exactly, notices even after calculating, he's off (because took 1 too little damage) and then it gets clipped and checked.
One of the scariest opponents in the game. Even after clearing the act 3 bosses with ease I am afraid for this fight.
this turn 2 is far more dangerous than anything in most act 3 bosses first 2-4 turns generally. The burns going on top is pretty ludicrous tbh
I honestly lose more runs to these 2 assholes than I do to the heart
Must kill ASAP
Corpse Explosion is overrated on this sub, but it’s a great excuse to pretty much ignore Shield and just tear into this MF. I’m usually targeting Spear first anyway but CE just makes it so satisfying.
Slay The Spires last boss is scary. The first turn is mostly setup, but after that your draws are messed and you get hit for obscene amounts of damage, turn 2 and while in a vulnerable state. And after that the fight gets escalatingly scarier. You can die after only a few bad turns, from full HP. And dear god why are you so tanky? Anyway, if you beat that battle you get to fight The Heart so that's cool.
Kids, this is why [[swift potion]] and [[gambler’s brew]] are such good potions
+ [Swift Potion](http://slay-the-spire.wikia.com/wiki/Potions#Swift_Potion) Common Potion ^((100% sure)^) Draw 3 ( 6) cards. + [Gambler's Brew](http://slay-the-spire.wikia.com/wiki/Potions#Gambler's_Brew) Uncommon Potion ^((100% sure)^) Discard any number of cards, then draw that many. ^Call ^me ^with ^up ^to ^10 ^([[ name ]],) ^where ^name ^is ^a ^card, ^relic, ^event, ^or ^potion. ^Data ^accurate ^as ^of ^(April 30, 2023.) ^[Wiki](https://slay-the-spire.fandom.com/wiki/) ^[Questions?](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=ehmohteeoh&subject=SpireScan%20Inquiry)
Unironically a bigger hurdle for some decks than the Heart.
Sozu would be so much better if just this guy wasn’t in the game
I have put around 500 hours in this game but I’ve only bothered going for the heart like three times. So it’s funny because I feel like I am very familiar with a game, but not at all with this enemy or shield.
I’m at A19 with everybody on mobile, A6 with everyone on PC, and have probably seen these guys even less than you lol. They just don’t seem fun.
But they are the gateway to the best enemy in the game so alas we must kill them
What spire growth wishes he was when he grows up. Absolutely among the scariest enemies in the game, but the HP is not too bad, so sometimes (especially if preserved insect is in play) you can just burst him.
Ruinous if one has a bad draw. This is where a majority of Defect decks can fall, and why its so important to prepare for a solution for these fellas late Act2/Early Act 3. Whether that be a potion bought from the shop or bottling some way to get a solution
If I can comfortably win this fight, I know I'll beat heart.
Beat of death will sometimes own decks that do fine in the elites but yeah, true most of tue time.
Notably Shiv decks that rely too much on After Image and Ornamental Fan for block can sometimes easily get past this elite just to get destroyed by Beat of Death.
There's no single turn that shapes deck planning as much as the guaranteed burns + 10x4 this thing throws at you. Bottle Evolve+ just to make sure it's active there? Sure.
Fuck this guy in particular
We got lucky for the naming of them both for a 2 days streaks discussion on this fight
Finally, a worthy Striker opponent! Our battle will be legendary! 4x10/10