Looking at the latest changes in the Slay the Spire 2 beta, we can make some interesting observations about the direction Mega Crit is looking to take the game in. Here are the key insights and a few first impressions.
As a reminder, these are beta changes and are only available in the dedicated testing track, which you can opt into separately. Not all these changes will make it to the main game, and everything is subject to change – like the controversial beta change to the Prepared card and its 0-Energy cost, which has been reverted since.
Slay the Spire 2 v0.102.0 Beta Patch Notes - key insights
Content
- New Badges system – these are end-of-run markers noting achievements like flawless boss kills, speed completions, easter eggs, or unspent gold. Run history/stats integration are coming later.
- New card art and enemy art additions
- New VFX for afflictions
Balance
- Ascension 6 reworked: "Gloom" (fewer rest sites) replaced by "Inflation": card removal at Merchants starts at 100 Gold, increases by 50 per removal instead of 25
- Blade of Ink reworked: now adds Inky Strikes to hand instead of granting temporary Strength
- Borrowed Time reworked: now costs 1, grants 4(6) energy, but all cards cost an additional energy that turn (no longer self-Doom). Designed to enable high-cost Necrobinder cards like Reap and Bury
History Course changed: X-cost card copies now use current energy for X-value instead of the energy spent last time
Vexing Puzzlebox and 
Liquid Memories changed: now use "Free to Play" instead of "Costs 0 Energy" (only lasts until the end of turn)- Leading Strike buffed
- Speedster and Untouchable nerfed
- Nonupeipe's Fur Coat buffed: now affects restocked Axebots and mid-combat enemy spawns
- Skulking Colony nerfed: less damage, slower scaling, no longer applies Dazed (was overbuffed last patch)
- Haunted Ship changed: now applies Dazed instead
- Doormaker reworked: Grasp turn now attacks for 20(23), new power "Whenever you play a card, lose 1 energy"
- The Lost and Forgotten nerfed: stat theft no longer scales with Ascension
- Waterfall Giant nerfed: HP 250(260) → 240(250)
QoL / Bug Fixes
- HP capped at 999,999,999
- Chest-skipping is disabled in multiplayer (too many players mistaking it for Proceed)
Foul Potion description clarified to "ALL players and enemies" instead of "EVERYONE" (doesn't hit Osty)- Controller navigation improvements
- Multiple softlock and multiplayer desync fixes
Check out the full patch notes on Steam for more details and developer insights.
Slay the Spire 2 v0.102.0 Beta first impressions
I'm definitely not looking forward to the Doormaker's new power, but for a low-Ascension scrub like me, I can see how the character was in need of a buff. The Badges system is a fantastic way to add more texture to completed runs for committed players, and I imagine they will also play a part in Timeline/Epoch unlocks and achievements later down the line in a natural way.
Mega Crit continues with the quick iteration and the willingness to walk back changes that didn't work out, like the Skulking Colony nerf in this patch, which is nice to see.
What's going to happen to my 1,000,000,000 HP build dream now though? :(
Check out more Slay the Spire 2 articles from great content creators in the community!