This character can be a lot of fun!

Got pretty far, live from my Twitch:
/ primepalindrome
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/ primepalindrome

[@kinnikillerkiwi]

Yeah... That was a bad result for the "getting a curse for a relic" thing. That's one of the worst curse events, since you're not just accepting a curse, but you're also not getting the extra max HP from another option, so I'd very rarely choose it (and even if you can remove the curse, that still means you're one removal behind when you start removing starter cards). Another reminder to play Slimeds if you have spare energy so you don't have to redraw them. Also upgrading True Grit makes the exhaust no longer random (in addition to increasing the block gained), which makes it a pretty great card. Why would you want to exhaust your own cards? In addition to the fact the Ironclad has stuff that combos with exhaust, simply being able to exhaust the worst cards in your deck midfight (mostly the starter cards) really helps a lot in longer fights like bosses, as you'll eventually be drawing just the best cards in your deck over and over. Exhausting is one of the game's most powerful mechanics. When Collector does her question mark move, she will only summon enough Torchheads to have two in play, so you can leave one alive that turn and reduce its HP so you can kill it easy after the summon. Yes, Artifact can be used to prevent debuffs you yourself put on. That has some extremely powerful uses, like making temporary strength up from a Flex potion into permanent strength up (like you did with the flex card). You really chose a difficult build for your first Ironclad attempt. Perfected Strike decks are notoriously hard to make work, so congratulations on getting as far as you did. And you're gonna need to start going for Act 3 elites eventually, so you should try to learn how to face them while they're still weak.

[@primepalindrome5768]

Amazing pointers as always, especially to face the elites of act three while they're still relatively weak 😗 The build was a chaotic one, it's weird to play as someone else in this game. I've grown to know Silent a little but it's nice to keep unlocking things and playing lower difficulty. I'll give it another go, thank you, very much!

[@omegaoutlier8924]

@@primepalindrome5768 The trick to this game is to find the character that inspires you to keep with it. I don't mesh with IC at all. I love Silent but she is felt just too hard to learn the game on for me. Defect had quite the learning curve but, for me, it clicked which let all the actual unrelated game knowledge sneak into my brain (events, curses, relics, bosses, etc.) You then use that knowledge as a foothold to really make serious strides in Spiredom. I get burnout happens. I'll switch off to at least keep with the Spire in some capacity but my experience was having a "main" you start succeeding with makes greater strides than switching it up (tho do switch to finish out the unlocks other than Ascensions) There is so much to learn even outside of the character's individual quirks, you can make plenty of learning progress even sticking to a fav character. Then you carry that base knowledge over to your next fav, etc. etc.

[@primepalindrome5768]

Thank you! There's so much to learn about this game, like leaving some minions alive for strategic purposes? That is scary 😆 thanks again, this helps a lot!

[@omegaoutlier8924]

@@primepalindrome5768 Everything is balance and thinking both in the micro (see enemy, kill enemy) and the macro (hmm... how does this move effect the overall "flow" of the fight?) This is why I'm a huge proponent of unlocking all the basic unlocks (all 4 characters, all the relics/cards) then following whatever path your heart calls for. (so, if Silent is your girl, stick with her, thick and thin,) There are OCEANS to learn with this game so everything you can eliminate when you are starting out is golden. Pick your beloved main. Learn the general "builds" (but don't be slavish to them) and let the general learning and information roll in while you have at least enough success to keep with it. Another counter intuitive is, Ascension 5 is where you really want to do the bulk of your early practice. This is the Asc the developers "balanced" a lot of the mechanics around. You'll take some abuse as a new player, for sure, but it's saves you from the dreaded "learning bad habits." Maybe you are more flexible in relearning than most but having to unwind bad habits is so much more difficult than hard learning them up front. Level 10 is another shelf to focus on. I wouldn't prioritize heart runs early on. (some can't help themselves b/c "it's there/no heart = no W, etc.) Heart/Act 4 runs are maybe the biggest change in tactics in the game. It just adds complexity you don't need right now. But again, only you can know if you are learning/making progress or being overwhelmed so you are the best to decide when/how to tackle this very challenging game.

[@primepalindrome5768]

@@omegaoutlier8924 thanks for this, this makes the game sound even more like an adventure :) There's fun to be had along with the harsher lessons. Definitely looking forward to those ascension five and ten shelves, then. Lots to learn :D