Ironclad is a returning character in Slay the Spire 2 and is still a high damage-dealing character if you build your deck correctly. There are a number of ways you can build a strong Ironclad deck, including Strength scaling, Exhaust synergy, and Bloodletting.
All of these are great builds, but there is one more that you can build using the Hellraiser Power Card. Hellraiser is one of the strongest Power Cards for Ironclad, and it works well with a deck full of strike variant cards. It lets you create an aggressive build with tempo-driven damage that frees up energy for utility and defense cards. In this guide, we will explain the Hellraiser Power Card for Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2.
Table of Contents
- What is the Hellraiser in Slay the Spire 2
- Best Cards to Use With Hellraiser in Slay the Spire 2
- Tips for Playing Hellraiser Effectively
What is the Hellraiser in Slay the Spire 2
Hellraiser is a Power Card exclusive to the Ironclad character in Slay the Spire 2. It is a rare Power Card that deals damage to a random target whenever any “Strike” card is drawn from the deck during the battle. For a base variant, it costs 2 Energy, and 1 Energy when upgraded.
After activating the Hellraiser, its damaging effect stays active for the whole duration of the fight. It means every time you draw a card with “Strike” in its name, the Hellraiser plays that card to deal damage to a random enemy without spending any energy. This way, you can deal damage to enemies throughout the fight while having energy to use the utility and defense cards at the end of your turn.
The Hellraiser is a high-damaging snowball tool, especially if the deck contains strike cards. Your strike card will be played automatically as soon as they enter your hand without any energy cost.
Best Cards to Use With Hellraiser in Slay the Spire 2
Here are the best cards to have in a deck to unleash the power of Hellraiser as Ironclad in Slay the Spire 2.
- Strike Cards
- Pommel Strike (draw + damage, perfect synergy with Hellraiser).
- Twin Strike (multi‑hit scaling with Strength).
- Wild Strike (high damage).
- Support Cards
- Battle Trance (draw boost, fuels Hellraiser triggers).
- Shrug It Off (block + draw, keeps tempo).
- Inflame (Strength scaling to make Strikes deadlier).
- Defensive Cards
- Iron Wave (block + damage).
- Feel No Pain (synergy if you add exhaust mechanics).
Tips for Playing Hellraiser Effectively
- Hellraiser is more effective during the crucial battles, such as Elites and Bosses.
- Play Hellraiser as early as possible in a fight.
- Upgrade Hellraiser to cost 1 Energy for faster setup.
- Act 1: Prioritise picking up Pommel Strike and Battle Trance to fuel Hellraiser.
- Act 2: Add Strength scaling, like Inflame and relics that boost draw or multi‑hit damage.
- Act 3: Transition into a Strike‑dense deck with minimal “dead” cards.