Slay The Spire: Will I Ever Beat A20 Heart With Ironclad?

Hey guys! So, I’ve sunk a massive 330 hours into Slay the Spire, and I’ve managed to conquer the A20 Heart with the Defect. But the Ironclad? That’s been a different beast altogether. I’ve been grinding away, trying different strategies, and honestly, sometimes it feels like I’m just banging my head against a very spiky wall. But, I'm not giving up! I feel like I'm finally starting to understand the nuances of the Ironclad, the card synergies, the relics that can make or break a run, and how to navigate those tricky early floors. So, after all this time, I'm wondering: is this finally my chance to claim the Ironclad A20 Heart victory? Let's dive into my journey, the struggles, the strategies, and everything in between. I’m going to break down my experiences, what I’ve learned, and hopefully, we can all learn something together as I push towards this goal. It's a long road, but the thrill of finally taking down the Heart with the Ironclad is what keeps me coming back for more. I’m excited to share my journey, hear your thoughts, and maybe even get some tips from you seasoned spire climbers out there!

My Slay the Spire Journey So Far

Let's talk about my overall journey with Slay the Spire. I remember when I first picked up the game, I was immediately hooked. The blend of deck-building, roguelike elements, and strategic combat was just so compelling. At first, just beating the game with any character felt like a huge accomplishment. But as I played more, I started to crave a greater challenge. That’s when I began climbing the Ascension levels. Each level added new twists and difficulties, forcing me to adapt my strategies and really think about my card choices. I spent countless hours experimenting with different builds, learning enemy attack patterns, and trying to optimize my path through the Spire. There were so many runs that ended in crushing defeats, but each failure was a learning opportunity. I started to understand the importance of things like scaling damage, generating block, and managing my resources effectively. The Defect was the first character I managed to beat A20 with, and that felt amazing. But the Ironclad? He's a different beast. He feels so straightforward at first, but mastering him requires a deep understanding of his card pool and how to build a deck that can handle the late-game challenges. I've had runs where I felt unstoppable, only to be completely wrecked by a bad draw or a poorly timed boss encounter. The Spire is a cruel mistress, but that's what makes victory so sweet.

Why Ironclad is My White Whale

So, why is the Ironclad my nemesis? On the surface, he seems like the most straightforward character. He's got strong attacks, decent block cards, and a relatively simple playstyle. But that's also his weakness, in my opinion. Unlike the Defect with its orbs, the Silent with its poison and discard mechanics, or the Watcher with its stances, the Ironclad doesn't have a single, defining gimmick. This means you have to be much more deliberate in your deck-building and strategy. You can't just rely on one powerful engine to carry you through the game. You need a well-rounded deck that can deal with a variety of threats. I've tried so many different Ironclad builds: strength-based decks, exhaust decks, block decks, even a few meme decks just for fun. And while I've had some success with each of them, I haven't been able to consistently conquer A20 Heart. I think one of my biggest struggles is knowing when to pivot my strategy. Sometimes, you start out with a clear idea of what kind of deck you want to build, but the cards and relics just don't fall into place. In those situations, you have to be flexible and willing to try something new. But figuring out when to abandon your initial plan and go in a different direction is a skill that I'm still developing. Another challenge is the early game. The Ironclad can be quite vulnerable in the first few floors, especially against enemies that deal a lot of damage quickly. A few bad draws can quickly snowball into a disastrous run. So, mastering the early game with the Ironclad is crucial for long-term success.

My Strategies and Struggles

Let's talk specifics. What strategies have I been trying, and where am I hitting roadblocks? I've experimented with a lot of different approaches, but a few key themes keep emerging. Strength builds are a classic Ironclad strategy. Cards like Heavy Blade, Carnage, and Bash can deal massive damage when combined with strength-boosting cards like Limit Break and Flex. But strength builds can be vulnerable to enemies that apply weaken or artifact, which can shut down your damage output. I've also found that strength builds can struggle against hallway fights with multiple enemies, as you often need to focus your damage on one target at a time. Exhaust decks are another popular option. These decks revolve around exhausting cards from your hand and deck to trigger powerful effects. Cards like Burning Pact, Exhume, and Feel No Pain are essential for this strategy. Exhaust decks can be incredibly powerful, but they require a lot of careful planning and card management. You need to make sure you have enough ways to exhaust cards, enough ways to generate block, and enough draw power to keep your engine running. Block decks are a more defensive approach. These decks focus on generating large amounts of block to mitigate damage. Cards like Entrench, Barricade, and Flame Barrier are key to this strategy. Block decks can be very effective against enemies that deal consistent damage, but they can struggle against enemies that apply status effects or deal damage that bypasses block. I've had some success with all of these strategies, but I haven't found one that feels consistently reliable. I think the key is to be able to adapt your strategy based on the cards and relics you find throughout the run.

Key Cards and Relics I Look For

When I'm playing the Ironclad, there are certain cards and relics that I'm always excited to see. These are the ones that can really elevate a deck and make it feel powerful. For cards, Offering is a personal favorite. The immediate draw and energy boost can be a game-changer, especially in the early game. The health loss can be risky, but it's often worth it for the tempo advantage. Fiend Fire is another card that I love, especially in exhaust decks. The ability to deal massive damage while exhausting multiple cards is incredibly powerful. Corruption is a cornerstone of many Ironclad decks. The ability to play skills for free can enable some truly insane combos, but you have to be careful about the downside of exhausting your skills. For relics, Snecko Eye is always a welcome sight. The card draw is amazing, and the randomized costs can actually be beneficial if you have a deck with a mix of high and low-cost cards. Juggernaut is a fantastic relic for block decks. The damage it deals each time you gain block can really add up over the course of a fight. Dead Branch is a relic that can completely transform your run. The ability to add a random card to your hand whenever you exhaust a card can lead to some incredibly fun and unpredictable situations. Of course, the best cards and relics for any given run will depend on your overall strategy and the other cards you've already picked up. But these are a few that I'm always happy to see.

Is Victory Finally Within Reach?

So, after all this rambling, let's get back to the original question: is this finally my chance to claim Ironclad victory? Honestly, I feel like it might be. I've been putting in the work, studying the game, and experimenting with different strategies. I've learned so much about the Ironclad, his strengths, his weaknesses, and how to build a deck that can truly dominate the Spire. I'm still making mistakes, of course. I still have runs where I get greedy and make a bad decision, or where I just get completely screwed by the RNG. But I'm also having runs where everything clicks. Where I draw the right cards at the right time, where my relics synergize perfectly, and where I feel like I'm truly in control. Those are the runs that give me hope. Those are the runs that make me believe that I can finally conquer the A20 Heart with the Ironclad. I know it's not going to be easy. The Heart is a tough boss, and it's going to require a perfect run to take it down. But I'm ready for the challenge. I'm going to keep grinding, keep learning, and keep pushing myself until I finally achieve this goal. And I'm going to share my journey with you guys every step of the way. Wish me luck!