Slay the Spire 2 Co-Op Multiplayer Guide

A major game-changing addition has arrived with Slay the Spire 2, allowing players to team up for the first time as they venture throughout the Spire.

Characters can join forces (up to four players) and combine their strengths to tackle the many fearsome foes and dangers that exist at each floor.

The most important things to note about multiplayer are as follows:

• Enemy Health is scaled to the number of players in the party
• • Bosses have enhanced defensive mechanics, such as the Vantom needing double the amount of attacks to break its Slippery buff
• Enemies hit ALL players with each attack
• Players attack at the same time, making coordination extremely important
• • For example, you may wish to wait for your ally to play a Vulnerable debuff before playing your attacks

As of the Early Access, there is no matchmaking or lobby system meaning you can only play with people on your friends list. You don't have to play the session out in one sitting however - you can save and continue at a later date, but only the same players can continue the campaign. You cannot have multiple campaigns running at the same time.

In Co-Op mode, your rest site will look identical to single player with one exception - Mend. This allows you to 'Rest' another player, healing them.

During chest events, your party will be offered a number of Relics identical to the amount of players present. Each player will then choose which Relic they want to take.

In the event that multiple players want the same Relics, they are then subsequently divied up amongst your party on a Rock Paper Scissors system. The winner takes the Relic, and the loser gets a different one chosen at random.

You can see on the map where each party member wants to go. You can also draw on the map to better communicate your intentions.

Some Potions, such as the Block Potion and Energy Potion, can be played either on yourself or a party member. As such, your potion pool can be considered somewhat party-wide (though not all Potions act this way)

You can at any time inspect your teammates loadout. This will show you their Relics, Potions, and Deck List. Unfortunately at this time in the Early Access you cannot view their hand.

By looking at the top left during combat, you can see your ally's Health, Card number in hand, and Energy to help co-ordinate your plays.

Some Events will also include a group decision. Players vote on the outcome and, in the event of an non-unanimous result, the game decides what option prevails.

Some Co-Op exclusive cards, such as the Necrobinder's Legion of Bone, grants otherwise character specific mechanics (in this case Summon which gives you Osty) to ALL party members. This can lead to some whacky scenes such as the one above.

There are some strategic benefits to this, specifically in this case to party compositions with multiple Necrobinders who can make use of this Summon effect.

There are a few cards available only in Co-Op that offer unique party-wide benefits. These cards can be critical for multiplayer success.

Ironclad

• Demonic Shield - Lose 1HP. Give another player Block equal to your Block

Silent

• Flanking - The enemy takes double damage from other players this turn
• Sneaky - Sly. Whenever another player attacks an enemy, gain 1 Block

Regent

• Largesse - Another player adds 1 random Colorless card to their hand

Necrobinder

• Glimpse Beyond - ALL players add 3 Souls into their draw pile. Exhaust
• Legion of Bone - ALL players Summon 6. Exhaust

Defect

• Energy Surge - ALL players gain 2 Energy. Exhaust
• Ignition - Another player Channels Plasma

◻️Colourless

• Beacon of Hope - Whenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block
• Believe in You - Another players gains 3 Energy
• Coordinate - Give another player 5 Strength this turn
• Gang Up - Deal 5 damage. Deals 5 additional damage for each time another player has attacked the enemy this turn
• Intercept - Gain 9 Block. Redirect all incoming attacks that would be dealt to another player this turn to you
• Knockdown - Deal 10 damage. The enemy takes double damage from other players this turn
• Lift - Give another player 11 Block
• Mimic - Gain Block equal to the Block on another player. Exhaust
• Rally - ALL players gain 12 Block
• Tag Team - Deal 11 damage. The next Attack another player plays on the enemy is played an extra time

Co-Op is a different beast to the standard Slay the Spire experience. Whereas the fundamentals are the same and Strike and Defend stay bad cards, the strategy is a little different. Here are some tips to help you climb the tower with your merry band of mates.

• Debuffs such as Weak, Vulnerable, etc need only be applied by one player but will still benefit the entire party. This makes the value of these debuffs much higher and also encourages at least one party member to have a more support focused playstyle compared to what would be considered viable in solo play.
• Whereas you may be able to lean on your party for offense, you are still on the hook for your own protection. Having good Block options is a must.
• Miniature Tent is an incredible Relic for Co-Op due to the extra option of Mend. Your ally can be brought back from the brink of death with a double heal, or they can get a critical Upgrade by not needing to Rest.