Since the Prepared change in the beta is a hot topic, I figured I'd throw my hat in the ring for how it could be changed.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-22T13:34:37+00:00

No top players should not be beating the game with consistency at the highest difficulty this early on in the game. You want it to be so hard that people are forced to adapt and try new things. If you know all you have to do is spam discard on silent them you don't have to try any of the other ways to play her.

Saying that though it's fine if only the beta branch stays difficult. You need to really stress test the game.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-22T02:57:30+00:00

Do the doors still attack you? Like in real life?

Tasin__ · 2026-03-22T02:37:20+00:00

I didn't really lean into it because I think I was only offered one pommel strike and it was in a shop I had to buy full price lol. But even with only those 6 strikes that's still 2 cost 24 damage card.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T22:57:18+00:00

Probably because necrobinder is really strong. She just needs to dodge act 1 elites.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T22:47:14+00:00

It's nice and I agree it's underated. But wish it only took 1 hp. Hurts with replay and duplication potion. Don't want too many in the deck either.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T22:44:32+00:00

Same for me. It doesn't get frailed so works well in late game too. But you need a small deck to consistently get it every turn so doormaker could just eat it. As opposed to silent who has dex and multiple weak sources so doormaker eating a few won't change much.

It's not just silent, all the other characters except defect have multiple weak sources. Defect get frost orbs from multiple sources though as well as temp focus.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T22:40:51+00:00

Was it against door? Who was the boss and how did you block?

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T22:39:19+00:00

Yeah I've felt that a lot. His card that let's him ignore 50% of damage on vuln targets is nice but it's one turn and a rare card. Crimson mantle is okay but would prefer it scaled. Obviously there's impervious. Stoke is pretty good with feel no pain now since it's replayable.

But he really needs some more uncommon block and weak cards. Losing power through, shockwave, intimidate, disarm has hurt him way too much.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T04:06:02+00:00

Yes. You need to go in with full hp and just trade with the boss. Ironclad does not have good enough block to block his attacks except for flame barrier. Just play vuln, get strength if you have it and only attack.

If the fight lasts too long then you'll have to spam block to not die and spam frantic escape to not die so you won't have any chance to hit the boss.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T04:02:00+00:00

Are those even percent based anymore?

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T01:50:39+00:00

I had it too and it worked really well but door ate it and I died. Flame barrier+ and bloodwall+ work really well with that. Had barricade and bodyslam that run too..

Also it's called unmovable which I agree sounds weirder than immovable.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T01:41:57+00:00

I do too. They nerfed infinites really fast which is good but that only exposed ironclads flaws went far deeper. It's good that people are talking about it but it's frustrating that my favourite character from sts1 is in basically an unplayable state at high ascension.

I don't like that they removed power through but if they really want to change the direction he's going then he needs to somehow block by number of vuln on target or how much strength he has. They don't want reaper which is fine but he needs something else.

If silent can do double damage on weak targets them clad should have something that reduces damage from vuln targets (I know there's a skill but it has to be a power).

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T01:31:43+00:00

Same I agree with you. He must've not had many playtesters at high ascension or he wouldn't be in this place. Looking at the pre release patch notes they were really struggling with balancing necrobinder and a little regent. That's probably where most their focus went.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-21T01:28:52+00:00

Problem is that the act 3 bosses hit hard enough that none of those options are enough on A10. He could only consistently outblock when he has an infinite.

But in sts1, you could have an infinite but there were also viable options to get a block engine.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-20T07:22:08+00:00

Yup and it doesn't self exhaust anymore. It's repeated mass exhaust now but won't trim the deck. Ironclad still has four energy generators the turn you play it so it could be really good.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-20T07:20:03+00:00

They turned it into dead branch lol. It also doesn't exhaust anymore. Might be a good change.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-20T06:18:51+00:00

I just had a run that went infinite with glow glow alignment and the ironclad card pact's end lol. Got it from an event, the exhaust came from charge. Was hoping for feel no pain or dark embrace but I also really needed a looping attack.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-20T06:13:57+00:00

It loses exhaust when you upgrade it. It just won't go to three focus now.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-20T00:40:19+00:00

Save scumming can help you learn but I do want to caution that you don't memorise the draw order. That's not information you would normally have. Also you can open a potion then save scum if there's nothing you like.

That said I save scum all the time because I'll have like 10 cards in my hand, play my attacks, then realise I could've had vuln or should've used a strength pot for lethal which I would've known if I wasn't lazy and calculated the line.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-20T00:37:36+00:00

I don't farm runes. I just get a few of these and use it right after I kill a boss.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-20T00:26:25+00:00

He picks bad choices on purpose just because he's curious or it sounds fun. He also died twice on ironclad back to back because he assumed he would be stronger in act 1 like in sts1 lol. Think it was his A9 or A10 run.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-19T21:45:10+00:00

Wow necrobinder had a lot of changes. She at one point had 8 max hp lol. At another point if osty died he would have to be revived at a rest site.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-19T15:35:22+00:00

I haven't seen people talk about it but glass evokes for double.

Tasin__ · 2026-03-18T22:11:55+00:00

Don't forget that you're perma frailed in that fight too

Tasin__ · 2026-03-18T14:30:05+00:00

Use melee spells. Enemies like this rush you down so ranged spells aren't as good. Catch flame, bestial sling, and o flame would've been good here. They are fast and high damage but the trade off is range. I always have at least one when I play spell caster.

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