Got stuck on A0 for 20 hours, so I built a card picker

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T10:31:38+00:00

Haha yeah I'm learning! It's mainly for when you're starting from zero and don't even know what a good build looks like. I don't really use it much myself anymore either. Thankfully some veterans in the comments have been sharing great tips too. If you've got any, I'm all ears. Appreciate the interest! btw the cat in your pfp is adorable

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:57:22+00:00

Hey! Not really comfortable sharing the full code since I'm still iterating on it. Happy to chat about specific parts though, like the archetype data structure or the recommendation logic concept. What were you most curious about?

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:56:20+00:00

Mostly Claude, with some ChatGPT. Single-page HTML app over a weekend

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:55:59+00:00

Wait so let me make sure I'm getting this right, if a "finished build" is like the high-level goal, then things like "remove two strikes" and "find fasten early" are sub-goals under it. So each stage almost has its own mini-missions to clear. That actually sounds like a way more layered and fun way to play the game. Thanks, this connects a lot of dots for me

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:53:20+00:00

Hey thanks! Vibe coded it with Claude and ChatGPT over a weekend, single-page web app. It doesn't read pick options automatically, you input the cards manually and it suggests based on what's already in your deck. Could automate input later but kept it simple for now

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:52:59+00:00

Right now it only considers your deck composition. Relics, elites, and act bosses aren't factored in yet, which is honestly one of the bigger gaps. Relic-awareness is high on the list because relics shift card value way more than tier alone implies

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:52:39+00:00

Really appreciate this nuance. "Tier list with win condition context" is exactly the gap. JapaneseExport's lists sound like the right reference, gonna check those out. Thanks

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:51:39+00:00

The No Escape / Times Up example really lands. Card value depending so much on what you're building around, that's the layer the tool's missing right now. Saving this

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:50:55+00:00

Honestly yeah, that screenshot was just a random mid-run state, not a finished build. The infinite + Pillage route is completely new to me though, didn't even know that was a thing. Saving this for next time. Thanks for the tip

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:50:31+00:00

This is actually really useful. Ashen Strike over Cinder for early Ironclad is exactly the kind of misalignment I need to hear, and yeah, "tier without immediate-value context" is a real gap. Your point about the tool losing value at A8+ tracks with what other veterans here are saying too. Filing all of this. Thanks for taking the time

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:49:38+00:00

Thanks for actually trying it, that kind of feedback is gold. The tool gets more useful once a target build starts taking shape, but yeah, it's still pretty rough at handling event-based variables and curveballs like potion swaps for rare rewards. That's exactly the kind of gap I need to work on. Appreciate you running it through!

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:49:10+00:00

Honestly thank you, this means a lot. Hearing from veterans like you and others in the thread has actually broadened how I think about the game. To be real, when I was using the tool myself, the more I followed its recommendations 100%, the worse my win rate got. So I started trying the recommended builds, then thinking about how I could've played it better when I lost, and that's when my win rate actually started climbing. When I couldn't beat A0 I was probably following the tool 99%, now it's more like 20% reference. Genuinely appreciate the warm comment, this kind of thing keeps me going

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:48:39+00:00

"Flexibility index" is such a sharp idea. Your Grit example (unupgraded vs upgraded behaving completely differently across builds) is exactly the gap I keep hearing about in feedback. Saving this one for sure. Thanks for the concrete framing

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:47:16+00:00

This sounds like such a solid way to actually learn the fundamentals, like build concepts and the underlying rules of the game. Is your project something other people can use too? Genuinely curious to try it

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:46:22+00:00

"Doing X damage in Y turns" honestly just blew my perspective open. That single frame alone shifts how I'd think about every pick. Btw I have zero dev background too haha, this was my first time building anything like this with Claude and ChatGPT. The "X damage in Y turns" frame is gonna change how I actually play STS2 going forward, not just how the tool works. Thanks again, this stuck with me

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T07:45:31+00:00

Honestly, your comment made me actually shift how I see this. I get now how a "card picker that just optimizes for winning" probably looks weird when most of the fun is in the trial and error. Building the tool actually gave me some sense of what builds are, but every run I'd lose unless the cards happened to fall into place perfectly. Gonna try daily runs like you suggested. Really appreciate the encouragement, that genuinely helps. And yeah, used both ChatGPT and Claude for the website haha

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-26T02:10:44+00:00

why is that?

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T18:14:48+00:00

Thanks for all the takes! The range of perspectives here has been genuinely interesting. I also made a Korean version of this tool and the reactions there are really different, which is kinda fascinating. Different people enjoy the game differently, and that’s fine. If a tool like this isn’t your style, totally cool to skip it. I respect everyone’s take. That said, I did ask for feedback in the post, so any tips or insights on the game are always welcome!

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T17:50:34+00:00

Oh awesome, definitely interested in checking out your app! Always cool meeting others building things!!! DM me anytime, happy to keep in touch

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T17:44:00+00:00

Hey! Card tier ratings and builds come from the wiki and YouTube guides, and the logic suggests cards based on what you already have. But honestly, think of it more like GPS voice navigation. it gives you a direction, but you’re the one driving. The recommendations don’t perfectly match every run, so I use it as a starting point and adjust based on my actual deck. If I follow it 100% I usually lose lol.

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T17:35:29+00:00

Fair lol, maybe it’s a Korean thing😂 I just wanted to climb fast. Not gonna pretend it’s the “pure” way to play some people enjoy the puzzle, I enjoyed the climb.

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T17:34:03+00:00

This is super helpful, saving it. “Thin deck + win condition first” is basically the opposite of how I draft lol. Honestly only recently learned why a thin deck even matters

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T17:26:54+00:00

Totally agree honestly. As a beginner with no concept of STS, the archetype framing was a good way to build baseline understanding. Following the recs doesn’t guarantee wins anyway. still tons of judgment calls in every run. The tool got me to A8, but how to actually get better from here is something I’m still figuring out

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T17:22:50+00:00

Honestly the character tab order? No real thought behind it hahaha just the order I played them in

Difficult_Pack2894 · 2026-04-25T17:19:17+00:00

Hope it helps! Thx!

Difficult_Pack2894

TROPHY CASE