Slay the Spire News

Hello hello,

It's another Friday and another progress report!
We made a few potions and increased the rare potion drop rate, cleaned up some UI elements, improved performance, and balanced several cards. Lots of stuff in lots of categories.

We'll be looking at adjusting some non-Watcher stuff next week, stay tuned!


Slay the Spire is available in several languages due to community translations. Helping out is easy, just come say in our localization channels in the Slay the Spire Discord server.
Our official Discord is also the best place to interact with us directly, file bug reports, and help suggest improvements to the game!


I should have participated in Inktober, gotta up my art game to match these talented folks.

Scry... by @Densetsu_VII

Slime Boss by @AzoryKeron

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work by @VictorTatkowski

Patch Notes

• New Rare Potion - Cultist Potion.
  
• New Uncommon Potion - Distilled Chaos.
  
• New Uncommon Potion - Liquid Memories.
  

• Common potion drop rate decreased from 70% -> 65%.
  
• Rare potion drop rate increased from 5% -> 10%.
  
• Beta+ card now costs 1 and generates Omega (not Omega+)
  
• Blasphemy+ card now gives Retain on upgrade, cost remains at 1.
  
• Carve Reality card damage buffed from 5 -> 6.
  
• Carve Reality+ card damage buffed from 9 -> 10.
  
• Conjure Blade+ and Expunger+ get slight rework.
  
• Empty Fist card damage buffed from 8 -> 9.
  
• Empty Fist+ card damage buffed from 12 -> 14.
  
• Evaluate+ card block buffed from 9 -> 10.
  
• Like Water card nerfed Block 7 -> 5.
  
• Like Water+ card nerfed Block 9 -> 7.
  
• Reach Heaven card damage buffed from 8 -> 10.
  
• Reach Heaven+ card damage buffed from 12 -> 15.
  
• Toolbox relic buffed. Choose 1 of 3 Colorless cards instead of obtaining a random one.
  

• Adding polished card portraits for 20 cards.
  
• Adding a new power icon for 7 powers.
  
• Adding pulsing and particle VFX for Peek button during peek.
  
• Fame and Fortune card gets a VFX.
  
• Champ boss now recognizes if you have his belt.
  
• Bag of Marbles relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Bag of Preparation relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Blood Vial relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Centennial Puzzle relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Fossilized Helix relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Lantern relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Ninja Scroll relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Nuclear Battery relic now grays out when its effect is triggered.
  
• Anchor relic now grays out when its effect has triggered.
  
• Captain's Wheel relic now grays out when its effect has triggered.
  
• Horn Cleat relic now grays out when its effect has triggered.
  
• Stone Calendar relic now grays out when its effect has triggered.
  
• Adding controller support for Peek UX (Left Analog Stick down).
  
• Adding hotkey for Peeking (Spacebar) which can be reassigned in the Input Settings.
  
• Increased scroll speed by 3x when using mousewheel to scroll for Input Settings screen.
  
• Reckless Charge card now utilizes the card preview UX to show Dazed.
  
• Halt card wording improvements.
  
• Cleaned up spacing on Deva Form for improved legibility.
  

• Fix for Distilled Memories potion description typo.
  
• Fixed Confirm/Cancel buttons requiring two taps in touchscreen mode for Rename panel.
  
• Fixed Evaluate+ card giving Insight+ when it shouldn't be.
  
• Fixed rare instances of Wrist Blade affecting cost X cards.
  
• Fixed Reach Heaven+ incorrectly upgrading Through Violence.
  
• Fixed Swivel and cost 2+ attacks triggering Necronomicon.
  
• Fixed Swivel and freeToPlayOnce cards bypassing effects like Velvet Choker and Entangled.
  
• Fixed Swivel spending energy with cost X attacks.
  
• Fixing Reach Heaven card portraits not fitting in card templates correctly.
  
• Inner Peace card is no longer incorrectly capable of drawing itself.
  
• Nilry's Codex now correctly works with Master Reality.
  
• When using Wish card, cards shown in the Choose One screen are now marked as seen (for Card Library).
  

• Rendering grayscaled relic assets using a shader now. Deleted grayscale assets.
  
• Rendering grayscaled rest site assets using a shader now. Deleted grayscale assets.
  

• Localizability added for Statistics screen's fastest and total playtimes.
  
• Updates for DEU, EPO, ITA, JPN, KOR, POL, RUS, SPA, THA, VIE, ZHS, ZHT.
  

Hey everyone!

This week we worked on some non-beta stuff but still made some card changes and also a peek button has been added so players can make more informed choices while utilizing Scry, Skill potions, or any other card selection screen during combat.


This handy GIF should show off how it works! Improved visuals, bug fixes, and controller/hotkey support are still coming.

If you haven't voted for us in the Golden Joystick Awards, do so now!

But on a serious note, recognition for working on games and exposure through these events can really help out game developers so vote for your favorite games in all the categories!

We'll nerf your favorite card if you don't vote.


All this Watcher art is sooooo great :D.

Deva Form by /u/AzulCrescent

The whole cast by /u/MochaSNotsosweet

The Watcher by @Victor_Sama

Patch Notes

• Adding Like Water card.
  
• Adding Study card.
  

• Discipline card is deprecated.
  
• Flow State card is deprecated.
  
• Reworked Path to Victory card.
  
• Foreign Influence card upgrade changed.
  
• Beta card gets buffed. Now shuffles Omega into the draw pile, rather than bottom of draw pile.
  
• Brilliance+ card buffed 4 -> 5.
  
• Carve Reality card damage buffed 4 -> 5.
  
• Carve Reality+ card damage buffed 7 -> 9.
  
• Flurry of Blows and Weave cards have their rarity swapped.
  
• Follow Up+ damage increased by 1.
  
• Master Reality card cost lowered from 3 -> 1.
  
• Master Reality+ card cost lowered from 2 -> 0.
  
• Prostrate card gets buffed 1 -> 2 Mantra.
  
• Prostrate+ gets buffed 2 -> 3 Mantra.
  
• Safety+ card block buffed from 15 -> 16.
  
• Scrawl card cost nerfed from 1 -> 2.
  
• Scrawl+ card cost nerfed from 0 -> 1.
  
• Smite+ card damage buffed from 15 -> 16.
  
• Through Violence+ card damage buffed from 25 -> 30.
  
• Wish card gets nerfed. Cost 2 -> 3.
  
• Akabeko relic nerfed 9 -> 8.
  
• Ceramic Fish relic gets a buff 7 -> 9 gold.
  
• Ink Bottle relic is now Uncommon (was Common).
  

• Peek feature. Should work for several selection-based screens during combat
  
• Akabeko relic assets updated.
  
• Ceramic fish relic asset updated.
  
• Sacred Bark relic asset updated.
  
• Teardrop Locket relic asset updated.
  
• Path To Victory card gets improved wording.
  
• Vault card description updated to clarify its effect.
  

• Entropic Brew now gives all potions outside of combat.
  
• Fear No Evil now correctly switches stances even if the attack causes the intent to change (eg slime split)
  
• Master Reality now works with Foreign Influence, Nilry's Codex, and Dead Branch.
  
• Potential fix for Expunger card not always working.
  
• Retro-active check to make sure The Ending achievement unlocks is triggered upon opening the Stats screen.
  

• Updates for DEU, DUT, EPO, ITA, JPN, KOR, RUS, SPA, THA, VIE, ZHS, ZHT.
  

Thanks to BDWSSBB, Reina, and Blank The Evil for the following!

• Modding flexibility for Stances + onEndTurn trigger.
  
• Vampire event now uses a standardized remove card function.
  
• Fix end of turn relics activating twice if Conclude card and Time Eater's ability triggers at same time.
  
• Fixed Omniscience card making some cards disappear on use.
  
• Fixed several double card play interactions.
  
• Wrist Blade was affecting attacks from double-play effects like Necronomicon.
  

Happy Friday,

This week we've been continuing work on art polish and card design via some A/B testing!
While we'll still be doing some card work, more efforts will be put into UX and bug fixes + some work on non-card content.


The physical editions for Slay the Spire have been delayed from 11/8 -> 11/15.
Sorry for the delay :(.

Ironclad Word Art by /u/WInchesterB

This super hype Watcher art by @m_a_p_p_u

Patch Notes

• Adding new Discipline card.
  

• Reworked Fasting card.
  
• Reworked Scrawl card.
  
• Reworked Vault card.
  
• Reworked Wave of the Hand card.
  
• Reworked Weave card.
  
• Battle Hymn+ gains Innate instead of more Smites.
  
• Blasphemy card now exhausts when played.
  
• Carve Reality card upgrade reworked.
  
• Deceive Reality card upgrade reworked.
  
• Devotion and Pray card rarities swapped.
  
• Evaluate card upgrade reworked.
  
• Intangible now affects both attacks and HP loss as before (revert).
  
• Master Reality card reworked.
  
• Nirvana card rarity is now uncommon.
  
• Pray card upgrade reworked.
  
• Reach Heaven card is now Uncommon (was Rare).
  
• Reach Heaven card upgrade reworked.
  
• Rushdown card rarity is now Uncommon.
  
• Signature Move card rarity changed from Rare -> Uncommon.
  
• Tantrum card now deals 3 damage 3 times to the same target.
  
• Unraveling card is removed from the game.
  
• Wallop card damage nerfed from 10 -> 9.
  
• Wallop+ card damage nerfed from 13 -> 12.
  
• Wish card no longer loses HP, costs 2, and its effects are reduced.
  

• Custom Mode now unlocks even if you play a Daily Climb offline now.
  
• Fixed + at end of upgraded cards not being colored yellow.
  
• Fixed bug where players could not return to Choose One screen (Stance Potion/Wish) after looking at map/deck/settings.
  
• Fixed ESC buttons causing unusual behavior on card reward screens (blank maps, hiding the reward screen).
  
• Fixed Omamori not affecting certain card obtain types including Curse of the Bell.
  
• In touchscreen mode, choose one card option now works.
  
• Omamori relic now interacts with Calling Bell as intended and fixes controller crash.
  
• Plated Armor power now caps at 999.
  
• Wheel Kick card was incorrectly affected by Strike Dummy/Perfected Strike.
  

• Adding beta art for 10 cards.
  
• Adding polished art for 19 cards.
  
• Cards/powers/potions that generated Upgraded Cards now just describe them with a + in their name.
  
• Deleting two unused font files.
  
• Ink Bottle gets shiny new art.
  
• When hovering Map Legend items, the tips now appearing in a fixed position not blocking the map.
  

• Updates for DEU, DUT, EPO, ITA, JPN, KOR, THA, VIE, RUS, ZHS, ZHT.
  
• Fixing asterisk/coloring issue for JPN/ZHS/ZHT card preview words.
  

The Watcher has been available on the beta branch for about 18 days now!

This patch continues balance and design work while also integrating new and polished artwork to various assets!

We're still tweaking cards to improve the overall flow and have increased the Watcher's base health as the low health made non-combat interactions unnecessarily punishing. Lots of great feedback from various communities! We encourage discussion and we're most active at our Discord server but we read all the feedback in our inboxes and sites like Reddit even when we aren't responding to everything.


While we know that our beta testers enjoy placeholder artwork, artwork is getting cleaned up and polished as we continuously get improved card portraits in.

Details!

Some relics get polished and others get shiny assets



Watcher by /u/NightmareRoach who also did the beta art for Sash Whip!

This pixel Snecko and Merchant by @BstojaGraphics

We can't really link to the source for the safety of the artist.

Patch Notes

• Beta art added to about 20 cards.
  
• Adding art for Horn Cleat relic.
  
• Adding asset for Captain's Wheel relic.
  
• Adding polished art for Tungsten Rod.
  
• Cleaning up the Watcher's corpse asset.
  
• Updating art for Watcher campfire asset.
  
• Updating Empty Fist, Mind, and Body cards to have more recognizable silhouettes.
  
• Remove GlowColor Enum to allow mods to have custom card glow easier.
  
• When a card is in Stasis by Bronze Automaton, the card name is now Gold color in the power tip.
  
• Added VFX for Just Lucky card.
  

• Adding Rare Watcher relic: Golden Eye.
  

• Watcher's Max HP Increased from 65 -> 72.
  
• Mantra in excess of 10 now rolls over when you enter Divinity instead of being lost.
  
• Adaptation card removed and replaced by Rushdown.
  
• Cleanse Evil card removed and replaced by Conjure Blade.
  
• Metaphysics removed and replaced by Indignation.
  
• Step and Strike card removed and replaced by Wheel Kick.
  
• Master Reality card reworked.
  
• Tantrum card reworked.
  
• Wave Of The Hand card reworked.
  
• Wish card's effects are now on Omniscience card.
  
• Wish card reworked.
  
• Conclude card damage increased 10 -> 12.
  
• Conclude+ card damage increased 14 -> 16.
  
• Establishment card rarity changed Uncommon -> Rare.
  
• Face Trader event can no longer appear past Act 2.
  
• Halt card additional Block increased from 7 -> 9.
  
• Halt+ card additional Block increased from 9 -> 14.
  
• Intangible nerfed for the player. Now only affects Attack damage.
  
• Melange relic rarity changed from Common -> Shop.
  
• Neow Colorless card choices now let the player choose 1 of 3 colorless cards.
  
• Omega card buff. Now deals its damage at end of turn.
  
• Pray now gives Insight instead of Miracle.
  
• Step and Strike unlock is now Foreign Influence card unlock.
  
• Windmill Strike card damage decreased from 8 -> 7.
  
• Windmill Strike card ramp increased from 2 -> 4.
  
• Windmill Strike+ card damage decreased from 12 -> 10.
  
• Windmill Strike+ card ramp increased from 3 -> 5.
  

• Centennial Puzzle and Tungsten Rod relics now interact correctly.
  
• Colorless card option at Neow will no longer contain duplicates.
  
• Fixed memory leak in Blight initialization. Thanks to Quincunx.
  
• Fixed memory leak in Merchant initialzation. Thanks to Quincunx.
  
• Fixed Rare Potion sparkles not occurring in some instances.
  
• Fixing Path to Victory beta art not showing up.
  
• Fixing typo in Master Reality power tip description.
  
• Plated Armor and Tungston Rod now correctly interact.
  
• Purple Cards custom/daily mod now actually adds purple cards.
  
• Runic Cube and Tungsten Rod relics now interact correctly.
  
• Rupture and Tungsten Rod relics now interact correctly.
  
• Self Forming Clay and Tungsten Rod relics now interact correctly.
  
• Storm of Steel+ card now shows upgrades Shivs for the card preview.
  
• True Grit card now Exhausts randomly again.
  
• Tungsten Rod and Emotion Chip relics now correctly interact.
  
• Typo fix in Golden Eye relic.
  

It's quite incredible that we have community translators that make the game available for so many people by keeping the beta branch translation updated daily in 11 languages.

• Updates for DEU, DUT, EPO, FRA, ITA, JPN, KOR, RUS, VIE, ZHS, ZHT.
  

Time for another progress report,

We're still working on compositionally and thematically adjusting the Watcher's cards but we also brought in a slew of new potions & sparkles!

Next week we'll probably still be changing a lot of cards, make some visual effects for cards, and maybe polish up some relic arts.

Shiny!


We're on the shortlist for Best Indie Game and PC Game of the Year!
Vote for Slay the Spire on the Golden Joystick Awards :)





The Silent looking really menacing by @xiaozhuo_wu

A short break from fan art to appreciate some hard work on these costumes by @MissMariaCos

Patch Notes

• New Defect Rare Potion - Essence of Darkness.
  
• New Defect Uncommon Potion - Potion of Capacity.
  
• New Ironclad Rare potion - Heart of Iron.
  
• New Ironclad Uncommon Potion - Elixir.
  
• New Silent Uncommon Potion - Cunning Potion.
  
• New Watcher Common potion - Bottled Miracle.
  
• New Watcher Rare potion - Ambrosia.
  

• Adaptation card is now rare.
  
• Adaptation nerfed. Cost increased by 1. No longer upgrades to Innate.
  
• Battle Hymn reworked.
  
• Block Actions now still occur post-combat, allowing Blocking of Beat of Death and others.
  
• Blood Potion is now Common.
  
• Blood potion nerfed from 25% -> 20%.
  
• Brilliance card is now Ethereal.
  
• Brilliance card reworked.
  
• Cloak Clasp relic Block lowered to 1.
  
• Collect card reworked. Now gives Miracle+ instead of energy.
  
• Crush Joints card damage lowered by 1.
  
• Deva Form card reworked.
  
• Empty Mind card is now Uncommon.
  
• Eruption+ no longer gets a damage buff. Costs 2 -> 1 instead.
  
• Flow State card is now Uncommon.
  
• Focus Potion is now Common.
  
• Ghost in a Jar is now Rare.
  
• Master Reality card reworked.
  
• Meditate card reworked.
  
• Mental Fortress card values nerfed from 4(6)->3(4).
  
• Nirvana card reworked.
  
• Poison Potion is now Silent only.
  
• Sash Whip card damage lowered by 1.
  
• Through Violence card now retains.
  

• Beta art added to 50+ cards.
  
• Polished art added to 20+ cards.
  
• Class-specific potions now render a colored outline in the Potion Lab screen.
  
• Outlines for both relics and potions in the compendium are now more visible.
  
• Potions hovered in Potion lab screen now have their tips displayed in a fixed position (rather than cursor).
  
• Updating Windmill Strike, Sands of Time and Perseverance card descriptions to be shorter.
  
• Uncommon and Rare potions now emit particles in card reward and shop screens.
  

• Enable manual and auto line breaking mode for ZHT.
  
• Fixed NL clashes with auto line breaks for ZHS, JPN font rendering.
  
• Implementing more logic to remove period-only lines from CJK languages.
  
• Scrawl only uses UPGRADE_DESC if it's not empty now.
  
• Updates for DEU, ITA, JPN, KOR, POL, RUS, VIE, ZHS, ZHT.
  

• Card Library screen no longer scrolls up on first open.
  
• Card Library screens cards were smaller for Purple, Colorless, Cursed. Fixed.
  
• Fix for Power tips being offset when there are a lot of Powers.
  
• Fixed Just Lucky card doing its effects out of order.
  
• Fixed Spirit Shield card applying wrong values when played in non-standard ways (eg Wish).
  
• Halt card's additional Block is now affected by Powers.
  
• Lesson Learned card can no longer spawn from card generating effects mid combat.
  
• Potential fix for stance potions + touchscreens not interacting correctly.
  
• Removing Truth and Wisdom cards from Card Library as they're deprecated.
  
• Swapping action orders for Empty Mind so it follows the card's description.