Card reward evaluation and deck-building strategy for Slay the Spire 2 Ironclad — infinite build component evaluation, pick/skip decisions, and long-term deck planning
Use this skill when choosing card rewards after combat victory.
When faced with a card reward (card_choices[] array), use this procedure to decide whether to pick a card or skip.
Data source: All card tiers, infinite component tracking, weakness mapping, and deck size rules are defined in docs/deck-building-framework.md. Read it before evaluating.
Load the run-state-management skill and read run-state.md for:
Quick decision: If readiness is "Infinite Ready", skip ALL card rewards unless an S-tier card is offered that directly improves the loop. Adding cards = adding noise.
For each card in card_choices[], score on these criteria (all data from docs/deck-building-framework.md):
Check the card's tier in the Card Tier List:
Check the Weakness Categories table. Key weaknesses for infinite:
Check the Deck Size Rules table:
If readiness is "Not Started" by mid-Act 2, note this in output and consider:
Score each card choice mentally:
Card Score = Infinite Component Value + Tier Bonus + Missing Category Fill - Deck Size Penalty
./sts2 reward_choose_card --type card --card_id <card_id>./sts2 reward_skip_card --type cardOutput 1 sentence explaining the decision:
[Building infinite (14 cards). Bloodletting fills missing Energy category — taking it over Bludgeon and Iron Wave.]
> ./sts2 reward_choose_card --type card --card_id BLOODLETTING
[Infinite Ready (16 cards). None of the offered cards improve the loop — skipping.]
> ./sts2 reward_skip_card --type card
After making a card reward decision, check if readiness level changed. Load the run-state-management skill. Key triggers for update:
Do NOT update after every single reward — only on meaningful changes.
| Situation | Load Skill |
|---|---|
| Full combat and reward procedure | combat-loop |
| Update run state after reward | run-state-management |
| Potion decisions | potion-timing |
| Need | Read File |
|---|---|
| Evaluation data (tiers, components, weaknesses) | docs/deck-building-framework.md |
| Detailed infinite build strategy | docs/builds.md |
| Unfamiliar card effects | docs/cards.md |
| Unfamiliar relic effects | docs/relics.md |