How to Unlock Characters, Cards, and Relics (Spoiler Warning)
As you progress in Slay the Spire, you’ll unlock more playable characters, cards, and relics.
In this article, I’ll summarize when each character, card, and relic gets unlocked.
I’ll also share a few small tips to help you unlock things faster.
I hope this helps beginners, or anyone thinking about starting over on a secondary account.
Unlock Requirements
Whether something unlocks is determined by your cumulative score at the end of runs.
Reference: score screen ▼
Reference: unlock thresholds by character ▼
| Total score per character (cumulative) | What unlocks |
| 300 | Cards / Character / Key* |
| 750 | Relic |
| 1000 | Cards |
| 1500 | Relic |
| 2000 | Cards |
*The key is required to do “something.” If you want details, see this page (spoilers).
Tips to Unlock Faster
There are three main tips for unlocking content quickly.
・Farm clears on Ascension 1
・Step on lots of ? nodes
・(Once you’re comfortable) Fight lots of elites
Farm clears on Ascension 1
When you clear the game with a character for the first time, “Ascension Mode” (called Ascension on Steam) is unlocked.
What is Ascension Mode?
A high-difficulty mode that appears after you clear the game. It has 20 levels.
It tests your resource management and deck-building skills.
You won’t clear it by playing the same way you do on normal—it’s the path of hell.
Playing Ascension Mode grants bonus score.
The higher your Ascension level, the bigger the bonus—but the difficulty also increases.
That’s why the best recommendation for unlocking content is: clear Ascension 1.
Ascension 1 “only increases the number of elites,” so if you avoid elites to some extent, you can play pretty much the same way as before.
*Ascension 2 increases normal enemy damage, so I don’t recommend it. (Reference: Ascension 1–20 modifier list (spoilers))
Since repeated Ascension 1 clears are very efficient for score, it’s a great way to unlock things.
Step on lots of ? nodes
Slay the Spire scoring includes several special bonuses.
Reference (things like “Boss Slayer,” etc.) ▼
*Reference: Slay the Spire Wiki > Score
One of these bonuses is Mystery Machine (visit 15+ ? nodes for +25 points).
It’s easy to achieve if you simply make a habit of taking ? nodes.
Also, the more ? nodes you take, the shorter your run tends to be—so you’re more likely to earn time-based bonuses like “Light Speed!” (+50 points).
(Once you’re comfortable) Fight elites
You earn score bonuses for each elite you defeat.
Reference ▼
*Reference: Elite bonuses by act ▼
| Act 1 | 10 × number defeated |
| Act 2 | 20 × number defeated |
| Act 3 | 30 × number defeated |
My recommendation is to beat elites in Act 1 and Act 2.
Act 3 can kill you in an instant if things go wrong, so it’s usually better to avoid elites there.
Next, I’ll show you the characters, cards, and relics that unlock for each character.
The order of unlocked cards is random (apparently)*
*According to the wiki, it’s random on the Steam version. It’s unclear on console versions.
*Sorry, but I haven’t verified whether it’s random or not in this article. Thanks for understanding.
Unlocks for Ironclad
Below are the things you can unlock with Ironclad.
Unlocks for Silent
Below are the cards and relics you can unlock with Silent.
Unlocks for Defect
Below are the cards and relics you can unlock with Defect.
*There isn’t a special animation, but a new character (Watcher) is unlocked.
Unlocks for Watcher
Below are the cards and relics you can unlock with Watcher.
◆ Beginner-friendly articles (Spoilers) ◆
Is Slay the Spire hard? A beginner’s guide for players who can’t clear
List of unlockable cards & relics (Spoilers)
How many acts are there in Slay the Spire? How to unlock each act
Slay the Spire “Neow’s Bonus” tier list
◆ Tips by character ◆
Ironclad tips to get your first win
Ironclad | Tips & standard deck archetypes
Silent | Tips & standard deck archetypes
Defect | Tips & standard deck archetypes
Watcher | Tips & standard deck archetypes
◆ Card power rankings ◆
Ironclad | Full card tier list & rankings (in progress)
Silent | Full card tier list & rankings
Defect | Full card tier list & rankings
Watcher | Full card tier list & rankings
◆ How to use potions ◆
Potion tier list & pick guidelines (all characters)
◆ Ascension mode ◆
Ascension (Ascension mode) strategy guide
◆ Achievements ◆
How to clear every achievement (with deck examples)
◆ Boss guides ◆
Boss relic tier list & pick guidelines (all characters)
[First time in Slay the Spire] Act 1 boss guide
◆ High-difficulty achievements / “How to beat ___” guides (Spoilers) ◆
Beginner’s guide to ___ (Ironclad)
Beginner’s guide to ___ (Silent)
Beginner’s guide to ___ (Defect)
Beginner’s guide to ___ (Watcher)
◆ Tips for 100-win streaks to become a world-class player ◆
Four things I focused on to win 100 in a row with Silent
Four things I focused on to win 100 in a row with Defect
Defect full card tier list that can “win 100 in a row”
World #1! Watcher full card tier list
[World Ranking #1] Watcher “Longest Win Streak” — all decks
◆ Articles for people who love Slay the Spire ◆
8 games I strongly recommend if you love Slay the Spire
Slay the Spire 2 announced! Latest info roundup
Play a new character! Downfall install & Japanese localization video
Challenge-run rules for players who’ve done everything in Slay the Spire
