Silent | All Cards Tier List (Tier B–D)

To my regular readers,

Thank you for reading.

This article contains the same Tier B–D content as the one posted in
“The Silent | Card Tier List (All Cards)”.

The previous article felt very long and hard to read, so I split it into separate pages.

Thank you for your understanding.

Slay the Spire playable character “The Silent” — this is a summary of the Tier B–D explanations for all cards.

*Tier S–A is available here:
The Silent | Card Tier List (Tier S–A).

Regardless of what deck you build, this is a ranking (Tier list) based on overall, general-purpose strength.

Contents

Card Tier List (Overview)
Card Explanations by Tier

Card Tier List (Overview)

How to read this tier list▼

Tier S: God-tier cards. Instant pick when you see them.

Tier A: Works well with any deck.

Tier B: Has a place in most decks, or shines in specific archetypes.

Tier C: Very niche. Pick only in certain decks.

Tier D: Only useful in limited situations.

Next, here are the card explanations by tier.

Card Explanations by Tier

These are detailed explanations for the general-purpose card tier list.
Cards are listed in the following order: Attack → Skill → Power.

Tier B

Attack

Predator

A strong damage source that also draws cards next turn. Especially useful in Act 1. Upgrade priority: low.

Flying Knee

A good replacement for Strike. Helps solve energy issues and is easy to use. Upgrade priority: low.

Die Die Die

A strong AoE card. The Exhaust can be a pro or a con depending on the deck. In some cases, you may prefer Dagger Spray instead. Upgrade priority: normal.

Dagger Throw

Often used as a Strike replacement. The discard is helpful for dealing with Burns or Curses in later acts. Frequently picked even outside discard-focused decks. Upgrade priority: low.

All-Out Attack

A solid AoE card. There are alternatives like Dagger Spray and Die Die Die, so pick based on preference. Upgrade priority: low.

Heel Hook

Since The Silent often keeps enemies Weak, this is effectively a 0-cost “5 damage + draw 1” card. Often feels similar to Quick Slash. Upgrade priority: low.

Skill

Survivor

A solid starter Defend+ with a discard effect that helps deal with Burns/Curses. Upgrade priority: low.

Alchemize

Lets you “roll” for potions. Since you’ll effectively use one potion per fight, it increases run stability. Also nice for stockpiling the right potions for boss fights. Upgrade priority: normal.

Blade Dance

On its own it’s “1 energy for 8 damage,” but with After Image it becomes “8 damage + 3 block,” and with an upgraded Accuracy it can reach 14 damage. Also synergizes well with relics that trigger after playing 3 Attacks (e.g., Shuriken). If you have synergy, you should pick it proactively—upgrade priority becomes high in that case.

Noxious Fumes

Often upgraded to function as a steady AoE tool. When upgraded, it deals a decent 13 damage over 2 turns. Also helps strip Artifact. Upgrade priority: normal.

Catalyst

A finisher card that boosts Poison deck lethality. It can save you, but you can also win without it—more of a “nice to have.” Upgrade priority: normal.

Acrobatics

A strong draw card, though Backflip is often preferred. Still great in discard decks and Finale decks. Upgrade priority: normal.

Power

Caltrops

Enemies that rely on multi-attacks can melt on their own. Also useful against the Heart. Don’t treat it as your main damage plan—think of it as support. Upgrade priority: normal.

Thousand Cuts

Synergizes with The Silent’s high card count, but it’s 2-cost and can be clunky. Helpful, but often not required. Upgrade priority: normal.

Accuracy

Pick it in Shiv decks. Stacking two or more can make Shivs hit surprisingly hard. Upgrade priority: normal.

Envenom

The “unblocked damage” condition makes it inconsistent, so it often ends up feeling mediocre in both Shiv and Poison decks. Upgrade priority: normal.

Tools of the Trade

Prevents bad hands every turn. In discard decks, it reliably enables discard synergies each turn. Upgrade priority: normal.

Tier C

Attack

Eviscerate

Can shine in discard decks, but is hard to justify elsewhere. Upgrade priority: low.

Bane

1 energy for 14 damage can be good in Act 1, but in Poison decks your main damage is Poison, so it tends to fall off after Act 1. Upgrade priority: low.

Choke

The 2-cost makes it heavy, so opportunities to use it can be limited. The HP-loss effect can be effective against certain enemies. Upgrade priority: low.

All-Out Attack (Discard)

Shines in discard decks. Even outside of them, 1 energy for 14 damage is okay, but pick priority is still low. Upgrade priority is also low.

Grand Finale

A key card for Finale decks. If you don’t already have the tools to control deck size and draw order, it’s dead weight. Upgrade priority: low.

Slice

Sometimes picked in Act 1 when energy is tight. Later on it’s often just a drop in the bucket. Upgrade priority: low.

Sneaky Strike

Lower damage than playing two Strikes. Can appear in discard decks, but it’s still hard to make it shine. Upgrade priority: low.

Flechettes

If you don’t have at least 2 Skills in hand, it can hit for less than Strike—pain. You can aim for big hits with Envenom, but it’s inconsistent, so it’s rarely picked. Upgrade priority: low.

Skewer

2-cost is heavy, so you won’t always have the chance to play it. Can work with Envenom sometimes. Upgrade priority: low.

Finisher

Looks like it should shine in Shiv decks, but it often doesn’t. Sometimes it can’t even keep up with Blade Dance’s damage. Upgrade priority: low.

Skill

Defend

A starter card. Since The Silent often stacks Footwork, this can sometimes still provide enough block. Upgrade priority: low.

Reflex

A draw engine for discard decks. Works when you have plenty of ways to discard. Upgrade priority: normal.

Tactician

An energy engine for discard decks. Works best when you can discard frequently. Upgrade priority: normal.

Outmaneuver

Can be helpful in Act 1, but Flying Knee is often easier to use. Upgrade priority: low.

Expertise

A deck-management piece for Finale builds. Contributes heavily to meeting Finale’s condition. Upgrade priority: low.

Storm of Steel

In Shiv decks, 2 energy can be too heavy and awkward. More commonly used in discard decks instead. Upgrade priority: low.

Tier D

Attack

Strike

Starter card. A top candidate for removal. Upgrade priority: low.

Always unfortunate.

Skill

Phantasmal Killer

You can despair when you draw too few Attacks next turn. Consider it in Finale decks. Dealing 100+ damage every turn is a kind of dream scenario. Upgrade priority: low.