Inscryption is Daniel Mullins' genre-defying game that begins as a horror deck-building roguelike and transforms into something far more unexpected. Trapped in a mysterious cabin playing a deadly card game against a shadowy figure named Leshy, you build decks from animal cards, solve escape room puzzles between rounds, and discover the game has layers that go far beyond what the first impression suggests. Saying more would spoil the experience — Inscryption's greatest strength is its escalating revelations about what the game actually is. The card mechanics are genuinely excellent, the horror atmosphere is chilling, and the meta-narrative pulls stunts that no other game has attempted. Play it knowing as little as possible.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouroboros | S | Beast Deck, any deck | A 1/1 serpent card that gains +1/+1 permanently every time it dies and returns. |
| Mantis God | A | Beast Deck | A 1/1 card with the Trifurcated Strike sigil — it attacks all three enemy lanes simultaneously. |
| Stinkbug | A | Beast Deck, any deck (support) | A 1/2 card with the Stinky sigil that debuffs adjacent enemy cards by -1 attack. |
| Grizzly | B | Beast Deck (late game) | A 4/6 powerhouse costing 3 blood sacrifices. |
| Urayuli | B | Beast Deck (with Black Goat) | A 7/7 creature costing 4 blood — the most expensive card in Act 1. |
S-Tier: Ouroboros
A 1/1 serpent card that gains +1/+1 permanently every time it dies and returns. After dying 5 times, it's a 6/6 for 1 blood. After 20 deaths, it trivializes every encounter. The single most powerful card in Act 1. Growing the Ouroboros is the game's most reliable win condition.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Beast Deck, any deck |
| Key Mechanic | deck building |
| Recommended Build | Beast Deck |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Ouroboros: Pairs naturally with Beast Deck thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Mantis God
A 1/1 card with the Trifurcated Strike sigil — it attacks all three enemy lanes simultaneously. When buffed at campfires, each attack multiplier applies to all three strikes. A 3-attack Mantis God deals 9 damage per turn. Game-breakingly strong when boosted.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Beast Deck |
| Key Mechanic | puzzle solving |
| Recommended Build | Undead Deck |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Mantis God: Pairs naturally with Undead Deck thanks to stat scaling synergies.
A-Tier: Stinkbug
A 1/2 card with the Stinky sigil that debuffs adjacent enemy cards by -1 attack. Cheap to play and disrupts enemy board presence. More valuable than it seems — preventing 1 damage per turn across multiple creatures adds up significantly.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Beast Deck, any deck (support) |
| Key Mechanic | sacrifice mechanics |
| Recommended Build | Tech Deck |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Stinkbug: Pairs naturally with Tech Deck thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Grizzly
A 4/6 powerhouse costing 3 blood sacrifices. The highest raw stats available in Act 1. Playing a Grizzly requires sacrificing 3 creatures, making it an investment. When it hits the board, it dominates the lane and adjacent lanes with a damage sigil.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Beast Deck (late game) |
| Key Mechanic | meta narrative |
| Recommended Build | Magick Deck |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Grizzly: Pairs naturally with Magick Deck thanks to stat scaling synergies.
B-Tier: Urayuli
A 7/7 creature costing 4 blood — the most expensive card in Act 1. Nearly impossible to play through normal sacrifice but the Black Goat (provides 3 blood when sacrificed) makes it achievable. A Urayuli on board ends most fights in 1-2 turns.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Beast Deck (with Black Goat) |
| Key Mechanic | card transformation |
| Recommended Build | Mixed Strategy |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Urayuli: Pairs naturally with Mixed Strategy thanks to stat scaling synergies.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Leshy Cabin
- Mantis God → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Stinkbug → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Ouroboros → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying — one strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- The Ouroboros grows permanently across runs. Deliberately sacrifice it repeatedly in easy fights to build its stats. After several deaths, it becomes your strongest card by far.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Inscryption Guides
- Inscryption Inscryption Overview
- Inscryption Best Builds
- Inscryption Tier List
- Inscryption Walkthrough
- Inscryption Beginner's Guide
- Inscryption Tips & Tricks
- Inscryption Combat Guide
- Inscryption Boss Guide
- Inscryption Maps & Locations
- Inscryption Crafting Guide
- Inscryption Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Inscryption, check out these related guides:
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
- RimWorld Weapons Guide — strategy game with similar mechanics
