Slay the Spire essentially invented the deckbuilder roguelike genre and remains its best execution. Each run climbs a three-act spire, battling enemies with a card deck you build from scratch. The genius is in how relics (passive items) synergize with specific card combinations to create broken combos — Shuriken (gain Strength on 3 attacks played) with a deck full of zero-cost attacks creates infinite scaling. Four characters with completely distinct card pools and playstyles provide hundreds of hours of variety. The Ascension system (20 difficulty levels per character) ensures the game stays challenging for thousands of hours. Slay the Spire 2 is in development, but the original remains a masterpiece.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key synergies |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Exordium
Key resources: 2-3 elite relics, core card picks, boss relic choice Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Wraith Form upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The City
Key resources: Advanced card rewards, shop cards, second boss relic Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Wraith Form upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Beyond
Key resources: Final power cards, third boss relic, access to Heart Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Wraith Form upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
The Heart
Key resources: True victory, score bonus, achievement/unlock Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Corruption max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Unknown Events
Key resources: Free card removals, bonus relics, max HP changes, unique upgrades Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Corruption max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Exordium — The City)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials — you'll need them later
- Focus on Wraith Form once accessible
Mid Game (The Beyond)
- Push Wraith Form to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Corruption
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (The Heart — Unknown Events)
- Max out Corruption — this is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment — Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials — Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear — Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring The Beyond farming — This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early — Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- Remove Strikes (not Defends) at every opportunity — Strikes deal 6 damage which is irrelevant by Act 2. Defends at least provide 5 block which is always useful. A smaller deck draws your power cards more often.
- Farm The Beyond during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build — some classes farm faster in certain areas
More Slay the Spire Guides
- Slay the Spire Slay the Spire Overview
- Slay the Spire Best Builds
- Slay the Spire Tier List
- Slay the Spire Walkthrough
- Slay the Spire Beginner's Guide
- Slay the Spire Tips & Tricks
- Slay the Spire Weapons Guide
- Slay the Spire Combat Guide
- Slay the Spire Boss Guide
- Slay the Spire Maps & Locations
- Slay the Spire Classes & Characters
