How to Kill the Heart as Ironclad (Slay the Spire Guide)

[@Razokk]

I think spire might be the only game that comes close to making hyperdefensive strategies as much fun as aggressive ones.

[@mattgreen7692]

The first time I got to the top of the spire (before I had three keys required for getting to act 4) was a Defense Iron Clad build. First time with The Silent was a Poison/Defense build. First build with Defect was a Power Spam build with mummy hand and the relic that heals 2hp per Power played. First two were really satisfying seeing a build come together. Defect was fun because "I'm winning and I'm not sure how!"

[@plubog]

Maybe I like dying to Book of Stabbing all the time

[@Steinlagersan]

Yes it is an really annoying but i recomend the relic that gives you block for every unblocked dmg i think its called self forming clay, i am no expert but hope it helps❤

[@veptrix2776]

@@Steinlagersan I believe this is meant as a joke

[@pr_squared]

@@Steinlagersan I bet all that block looks good on my corpse

[@emoducky]

@@SteinlagersanYou can’t “recommend” anything when it’s an entirely RNG dependent factor

[@yo_ortega]

​@@emoduckyyou can recommend common and uncommon things like potions and cards. Relics tho can only be in shops, chest, elites and are absolutely random on their rarity. Self forming clay is a rare relic, you might not see it for 10+ runs.

[@JerreMuesli]

After seeing this vid, I managed to immediately win the game with the Ironclad. You have given me valuable info like NOT picking cards. I lost track of all cards I did not pick with pain in my heart but my deck was lean and full of useful stuff. Thanks! Great video

[@aaronstark5060]

34:58 That’s good advice. I recently had a run with the defect where I was down to 1 HP in the middle of act 2 and really thought about just tanking the run, but decided to just play it out. Ended up going all the way to the heart and coming within 350 damage of killing it. Which for me is rare.

[@martinbrinkerhoff6323]

Your videos have helped me so much and I just beat the heart on ascension 18 for the first time yesterday!

[@xavierpaquin]

Your level of attention to detail is very high. It shows you put a lot of work into this game, turning over every stone. I learned a lot from watching this, thank you

[@dangilboa6496]

Another great guide. sometimes you tend to forget the fundamentals of the game going into the higher levels. But these remain true no matter what difficulty level one plays. Highly recommend the twitch channel, one of the nicest communities on twitch: extremely nice ,helpful and excellent spire players hangs there. answering questions and discussing spire tactics while Baalor is doing his usual shenanigans.

[@carsoncooper6846]

Thank you SO MUCH for the content Baalor. Before I found your channel, I was fumbling my way up to A7-8… over the last 3 months I’m A18-A20 on all characters… and today I was 12 Hit Points away from completing my firsf A20 Heart Run with IronClad. You’ve taught me the importance of card draw, deck manipulation, and above all else that sometimes the best Card Reward is none at all. Cheers! = D

[@ultimate6927]

Started playing this game about a week ago saw this video and just beat the heart for the first time, thank you! Wishing you do this for all the classes 🤞

[@SporkRevolution]

Nice. Heart gets harder later, but the first heart win is something special.

[@Dunkan85_]

'Don't forget to Recall. I'd recommend recalling at the second-to-last Bonfire to avoid accidentally Resting instead of Recalling at the last one' Hearing that *mere minutes* after beating Time Eater during a stressful, but strong run and seeing 'Victory?' with a Green and Blue key... hurt, lol.

[@markucla]

Ben there.

[@SwaggyTReacts]

That autopilot pain is killer 😭

[@1992thGuitarist]

We played a joined game with my brother the other day, tried out luck with an Alpha build on the watcher and came together really well, easily beating anything in act 3. He was in control and immediately clicked on the relic found in our last chest instead of the key and we sat there like daaaamn it's such a let down. Yeah, we cleared the boss without any sweat as well.

[@mememaster8050]

Let's goo, more Baalor beginner content, I benefited from your content and improved my gameplay a lot since I purchased the game like a few months ago, I hope many other people can do it with videos like this as well!

[@nicklepony3227]

MAP MARKS!!! That's the name of the thing. I heard you say that mod name in an A20 in the past, but couldn't for the life of me remember that

[@SwaggyTReacts]

You literally have the best content. I love the way you explain the options, tech, and nuances of the game. It's all so beautiful. Thanks for the guide Baalord! Much appreciated 🙏

[@TomasPiliponis]

This is by far most informative and educational Ironclad guide, thank you so much!

[@williamvandoeselaar7961]

After weeks of trying to get this I finally took the time to watch a video on how to do this. I watched half your video and understood the mentality to have. Tried a few times and finally got it. Thank you so much. you probably saved me another 2 weeks or so of game play. First time beating the heart and it feels amazing

[@fovarberma752]

Following your videos (Ironclad card tier list and Minimalist achievement) I have combined the two: Rampage / Shrug it off are pretty good together. Took me a few attempts, and time-eater battle was tight, but it can be done.

[@kobarsos82]

Nice, I like the education stuff on fundamentals during these videos, will be interesting to see more of these, for other classes as well. Also I know its not possible to plan beforehand for this, but there are a few strong archetypes in each class (well sort of), so seeing some form of tutorial/walkthrough for each of those different cases would be good, as it would highlight quite different paths to deckbuilding. This was the barricade ironclad, but its also interesting to see a more exhaust-heavy deck how it plays, or just a strength deck in action a different example. This goes to other classes as well. Cheers

[@rukysgream]

Oh my god I needed this so bad. I beat A20 but I've been stuck on A20H for WEEKS

[@aanderson320]

Same T_T

[@johnjohnson7369]

This is so fun to watch, I’m trash at the game and seeing someone who knows the game so we’ll is so impressive

[@dwilliams21]

Thanks for this! I've beaten the Heart as Silent and Defect (haven't seriously tried with Watcher) but Ironclad eludes me, despite many many consecutive tries. You're an enjoyable host and clearly explain your thought processes. Very helpful!

[@dantevalentine7649]

Glad I found your channel. Picked this game up on sale and am really enjoying it. Just beat act 3 of ascension 1 for first time this morning

[@Audio_Titan]

“Let’s not mention the forbidden child” lmao. Thanks for this informative run!

[@MinecraftLovesSteve]

"We've encountered our first power of the run" Rupture: am I a joke to you?

[@danielmorton9956]

It was funny that you rolled into a situation where the "enemies have 1 hp" would trigger on the green elite 99% of the time. One of the better 1 hp starts I have seen.

[@markucla]

I noticed that too. I'm such a chicken I would have taken that option, no doubt. I always look for that, I also suck at this game but getting better.

[@danielmorton9956]

@@markucla That's funny because I tend to high-roll. I don't really care about my stats, and more about my time, so I want to see where a run is going. But now that I have A20 done across the board I might take more bad looking runs.

[@Shandlebar]

I love the beginners content. Your watcher video and other content got my watcher from asc 2 to 9, and my first heart kill.

[@j-cee2737]

That's a great guide! I love how you get into each and every intricacy of the game as you play. Recently my save file on the PS5 got corrupted just the day after I beat the Corrupted Heart with the Ironclad for the first time (it was a fluke) so this guide will definitely help me beat the Heart once again and reclaim that spicy alternate card artworks

[@udontknowme00]

I just started playing this week, and was kind of struggling with putting together a cohesive deck, and when I did put one together, it just wasn't enough to win. I watched this entire video and pretty much copied this block build card-for-card, and immediately got my first win on my first attempt. I also slotted in a few Body Slams so I didn't have to rely on that block chip-damage from Juggernaut as much and I could get through things just a bit faster. Time to spend 5 hours watching the videos for Silent and Defect now lmao

[@alphabravo688]

What an awesome video! The way you explained everything was amazing. I really enjoyed this playthrough!

[@seiferblade9180]

Might have to stop by a livestream sometime. I absolutely adore this little game, and your videos are well put together and your advice is so helpful, even if I have yet to win more than a single run lol. I just love seeing all the potential combos and playstyles

[@lucaswilson212]

Had a run with 3 upgraded demon forms and as long as I got atleast one of them early combat it made every fight a cake walk. Most satisfying run ever.

[@liesalllies]

17:30 "we're offered our first power" Rupture: am I a joke to you?

[@DavidLee-kj5fx]

1:26:20 why get rid of speed potion instead on blessing of the forge? your whole deck is already upgraded pretty much and you have barricade, wouldn't the speed potion be better?

[@SwaggyTReacts]

Hmmm that is a good question.

[@flowerpixel]

Thanks so much. You do a fantastic job explaining things to a newbie

[@thedarkemissary]

Great tips. Just got my first heart kill. Though it didn't really have anything to do with the tips, so much as, getting Torii + Tungsten Rod + J.A.X trivialized the 2nd half of the run.

[@pavelzuravliov2248]

Just found this game, your game exploration is very goood for me to understand how to play it better. Tnx

[@robertmoore6315]

Wow- I thought I knew how to play this game and now I realize- I don’t have a clue. Didn’t even know there was a path to defeat the heart. Watching this guy makes me realize I am never going to put in the time to play or understand this game to this degree. Wow!

[@Feshist]

With the tips you gave in this video i managed to beat the heart! Mad propz!

[@derekminna]

Excellent content. Loving these videos. Recently purchased the game and really appreciating the outstanding, organized and well articulated commentary.

[@roryrichards2152]

Only watched half of this so far. Played a run and actually got to the end for the first time.

[@joeywarren60]

I cannot wait for guides for each other class!

[@patrickchapman8583]

I have to admit, I like Limit Break+ way more than I should even with just the strength from the Vraja relic.

[@NatesSaved]

You made me realize I have no idea how to play this game lol. I just beat it with every character and am about to start trying to kill the heart but man I’ve got some things to learn.

[@Ausar_The_Vile1]

I played this video along with my Ironclad run, and I beat the heart about 4 minutes after this video’s heart died. Thank you

[@chefpunjab]

Perfect vid. Thanks man. Im on A5 or A6 on the clad. So This is great

[@markucla]

A5 for me,.

[@bleakilla]

1:35:45 any reason we didn't play Anger here? or was that just an oversight, trying to get better at this haha

[@meganlynch532]

I think he was trying to build up to the 999 block to demonstrate how it's possible. Otherwise may have been keeping an eye on nunchaku and managing that.

[@12shaymin12]

I’m ascension 14 for all characters and I’m watching a beginner guide because baelord lol

[@NimDod]

That was a great playthrough! you make it look easy. thank for you uploading

[@yunakitty2]

Even though I’ve played 1000 hours of this game, I love watching your basic stuff!

[@TheGaMePlAyEcKe]

I am on asc 12-16 with all characters But I am stuck on asc 6 with the ironclad This is great for me

[@markucla]

I'm stuck at 5, can't wait to play again.

[@OurCognitiveSurplus]

I’m up to a18 and I didn’t know that’s how powers work 😂😂😂

[@slateportraichu5416]

Thank you for the tutorial. this game is so much fun=3

[@rayjchrist]

Fantastic guide mate. Love it and greatly appreciate it as a noob. ❤

[@TimTim3000]

Great tip about Headbutt plus Entrench. 999 Block here I come!

[@Sen-xe4ug]

im quite new to this channel and this is the first vid im watching, but this guy sounds so much like michael scofield and i love it

[@hakonatli]

I love your content, thanks!

[@genevaconventionsviolator3994]

As he was talking about pathing I couldn't stop staring at that guaranteed burning elite with Neow's Lament LOL

[@tclfan0180]

Never guaranteed if you have to go through events, but more than likely yes

[@genevaconventionsviolator3994]

I was wondering if you can get event combat -> shop -> event combat in the game but he runs rng fix so the answer is definitely yes

[@Subpar1224]

I got to the final act 3 boss on a9 with a cycle through the whole deck block deck that would be able to kill the heart and forgot to take the blue key 🙄 thankfully I've killed the heart before so it's not that I'm missing a new experience it's just annoying haha

[@Nicolas-go2zq]

Nice learning run ! Thanks you ;)

[@literallyalois2966]

Metalice and Barricade OP bro, got the intangible cards that make enemies deal 1 damage and that just spirals out of control!

[@lualhatilualhati]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS my lowest win rate is on ironclad 💀

[@mt33205]

watched the vid, played one round as ironclad, got first heart kill as ironclad. easy game and W video

[@darrenberkey7017]

Impressive that you beat Hexaghost with only 22 health. My very first time playing the game, I beat the 1st tier boss (I don't remember which one) with 75 health going in, and I only had 26 at the end.

[@jmatt440]

Hexaghost's turn 2 attack hits for basically half your health so health isn't very important against hexaghost

[@voidify3]

I’m stuck on A5, hopefully this video will help

[@GodzillaFreak]

I got through the end of act 3, and then got the cutscene where I attack the heart, but then the game just rolled credits? Granted this was my first ever run in the game.

[@Baalorlord]

You have to first unlock the heart by winning a run with Ironclad, Silent and Defect. You can't fight it immediately on your first run, it's more of a "true ending".

[@IzzyHackworth]

I can't even beat the heart on ascension 0 as anything other than the Silent. I'll be watching these videos

[@maxcarter50]

Will you be doing one of these for the defect? I struggle with this class and have been stuck on A11 for days.

[@maximej.799]

I loved watching this, thank you ☺️ Question though: how do I make the elites that drop a key appear? I can't see the little glowing flame around the elites on the map.

[@jmugwel]

You need to beat third boss with three heroes first.

[@paticemd]

0:28 what does it mean to be balanced around Ascension 4?

[@evild00r30]

the difficulty of the game, including the strength of cards, potions, and events, is designed around how the game plays at ascension 4.

[@paticemd]

@@evild00r30 oh okay thank you!

[@Ryusuta]

He makes it look so easy...

[@cosmicman4963]

damn, body slam would have been nuts on this run, its quite unlucky you never got it as an option.

[@ryuk5673]

True

[@Optimisticmystic]

I play on xbox, have ascension 3. Theres no fire under an elite nor the triple shard thing in top left

[@mvo2201]

Wasn't it worth to pick warcry in the last shop? It looked like 2 draw for free in my view but I can be wrong

[@mhasemore]

Damnit I was hoping to beat Act 4 with Ironclad without using a defensive build. Last two runs I had incredible strength scaling but the elite and heart shredded me every time.

[@burns0100]

Now I just have to beat the game on other characters to unlock the heart encounter. Beat Ironclad twice with a strength deck, might try a shield one like this soon if I can get the cards. Sometimes you literally don't see certain cards for the entire game and it can kill your plans.

[@victorhahs3798]

Quick word of advice: don’t make plans for the build you want to see (you have no guarantee that the pieces will show up); instead, try to work with what you are given. If you are playing below ascension 10 there is pretty much always a way to win if you know what you’re doing. On the ascensions after that it starts to get brutal, but even then there is so much you can do to improve your odds of winning, even when you get seemingly poor RNG.

[@fovarberma752]

You could have had a 1HP upgraded elite :P 1 monster, 2 shops, 2 events.

[@tomthecasual5337]

not worth it though, since you got two wasted floors in those shops + potential curse events afterwards. for this run that would cost 7 max hp, around 40 gold, one upgrade, two card rewards and a potion from the fights (the thorns pot was crucial for hexaghost) i recommend elite sniping when you got something like event->event->shop->fire->elite or you can snipe two elites in a row.

[@maxpennacchini3261]

I’ve been playing this on Xbox for about a year and you cannot drink potions after a battle or in a shop. Was this a recent patch or am I doing something wrong?

[@Thomas-oe4io]

Multiple headbutt and anger cards is OP.

[@jayfox4291]

I ALWAYS do burning elite in area 1, and try getting all 3 keys unless i can’t handle it. But i avoid more elites. Maybe my bad.

[@meganlynch532]

The burning elite tends to be an Act 2 or Act 3 elite for me. If I die in Act 1 my Neow Blessing the following run will be pretty crap, so I try to get to the Act 1 Boss no matter what.

[@jayfox4291]

@@meganlynch532 i beat heart 3 times now.

[@alek.bear.]

EDIT: OMG!!! I BEAT IT! I DID IT!!! 😁😁😁 1:49:00 I finally found a way to reach the heart for the first time... Infinity cards (Anger+)+Draw a Card when you have 0 and Armor everytime i get the discard pile cards, but NO WAY TO DEAL WITH THOSE CARDS IT ADDS TO MY DECK... #Sad It's impossible to beat the heart with only 1 card deck? 😭😭😭

[@Iscannon]

What the hell 500 hours in Slay the Spire and several things I had never noticed, like Shop layout and prices, and the Hexaghost scaling attack

[@JazzToTheTwo]

Does ascension 5 damage you? Like if you somehow manage to kill the Act 1 boss on full health, will you remain full health? Or will you take 25% damage going onto the next act?

[@Thisisthegreatestatofalltime]

No you just don’t heal to full

[@Maelthorn1337]

I have yet to beat the heart at A0 after... I dunno, 30 runs? I must have sub-100 IQ or something because this game makes me feel like I'm the dumbest person in the world.

[@jumpedintheriverwhatdidise5499]

i always struggle with Ironclad, never seem to be able to get enough block

[@TheSilvercue]

My map does not show an elite with flames around...?

[@TheQuixotess]

You have to beat the game once each on Ironclad, Silent, and Defect, before you can unlock Act 4 and face the Heart.

[@Mirul-ef3jb]

Body slam couldve been useful in this scenario where you have pretty much alot of def

[@KevinTheEluder]

This is by far my worst character. I’m looking forward to learn what I haven’t been able to work out about him yet.

[@Yamatoniel]

Theres just no better feeling than using Ironchad with 999 block and Body Slam

[@L0Lzars]

how u get that much block?

[@Yamatoniel]

@@L0Lzars Blockade, multiple Entrench

[@delta8087]

I just started Playing how do I unlock the Flaming elite

[@jmugwel]

Beat the game with three heroes first.

[@robertmiller4139]

Thanks for showing me just how bad I am at this game.

[@adamsmith4162]

I have an obsession with trying to take on every elite and failing 😂

[@MrManhattan]

Why not picking the choice of 3 next enemy have 1hp. And then go straight forward to the flame elite. Easy kill if even on of the question marks won't bring the fight.

[@Khaoz2007]

I have only done one run without ascension on ironclad with 43 hours game time 😅

[@voidify3]

There was a burning elite snipe available, why did you not mention it?

[@davidxiao7776]

Hm... I feel like he made the best decision not doing this, but still, he probably should've mentioned a burning elite snipe as an option. He had one guaranteed combat and 2 ? marks, giving him a good chance of having a burning elite with 1 HP. This would've been a massive boost. Admittedly, maybe less good, but still something new players should be aware of.

[@Loalrikowki]

Probably because, like the apparitions, a snipe isn't helpful in a tutorial setting where you want as "normal" of a run as you can manage.

[@davidxiao7776]

@@Loalrikowki True. I just felt like he should've pointed out the possibility, that's all. Explained what it would have meant.

[@Dusaintduvel]

It never lets me fight him on iPhone

[@hom-sha-bom]

Guy really said you don't get cards or potions from unknown rooms

[@Drecon84]

"Powers are very... " (oh no, I almost said powerful, let's restart that sentence) I can read your mind you know ;)

[@RageGod-yx1om]

You could have taken 1 health combat gone middle and just hope for no random encounters in unknown and killed the burning elite in turn 1

[@aragorn420]

You are the best

[@markucla]

Excellent. Just making a comment.

[@diegoparga9324]

To me, the hardest thing to do is NOT taking any card.