An Intro Guide to Rest Sites: Every Stop Matters


Rest Sites, also often called 'campfires', are your moments of peace during a run. In Slay the Spire 2, they are strategic hubs where you decide between survival and power.

What are Rest Sites?

Rest Sites are non-combat rooms where you are presented with a choice. By default, you can either Rest (heal 30% of your Max HP) or Forge (permanently upgrade a card). As you progress, certain relics or events might unlock extra actions like digging for relics, removing cards, or gaining temporary buffs.

Why are Rest Sites important?

Every Rest Site is a "resource check." HP is a currency that lets you survive fights, but upgraded cards are the engine that wins them. If you heal too much, your deck stays weak and you’ll just lose that HP again in the next fight. If you upgrade too much, you might die before you even get to play your new powered-up cards.


Campsites upgrade or rest slay the spire 2


How to Choose Your Next Step

The decision between Resting and Forging usually comes down to one question: "How can I survive the next Elite or Boss fight with my current HP?"

  • When to Rest: if your HP is below 40-50% and you have a forced Elite or Boss fight coming up immediately.
  • When to Forge: If you are at a comfortable health total or if you have a "key" card (like a build-defining Power) that becomes twice as good once upgraded. In high-level play, players try to Forge as much as possible to "out-scale" the enemies.

Quick Tips for Optimal Decisions

  • The "Always Upgrade” Rule: Aim to Forge whenever possible. A stronger deck prevents you from taking damage in the first place, reducing the need to Rest later.
  • Know Your Key Upgrades: Some cards get a massive boost from upgrading (like reducing Energy cost from 1 to 0), while others only get a tiny damage bump. Always prioritize the high-impact mechanical changes.
  • Who is the next boss? If you are at a Rest Site right before a boss, look at some guides to see who you are fighting. If it's a boss that deals massive "burst" damage, you might need that 30% HP cushion more than a slightly better card.
  • Don't Over-Heal: If you are at 80% HP, Resting is almost always a waste. Take the Forge and get stronger.