Best Ancients in Slay The Spire 2, Ranked

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Slay the Spire 2 launched with a lot of exciting new additions. Instead of just picking relics after each boss fight, players now have a diverse group of helpers, called Ancients, who assist them in their battle against the Architect.

If you’ve played this game for a bit, you’ll realize that the offer you choose from the Ancients can really make or break your progress, significantly changing how your deck plays. Some Ancients are definitely more helpful than others! While the best choice always depends on your current cards and items, certain Ancients seem genuinely interested in helping you succeed, while others might require a bit more of a sacrifice for their assistance.

I’ve been checking out these Ancients, and I’m really excited to see what they can do. Honestly, I’m hoping to discover a new character I absolutely love!

8. Neow

From Death, You are Born Anew!

Neow is included on this list simply because she’s an Ancient being, and we needed a place for her. The items she offers aren’t meant to be the strongest, and that’s intentional.

Neow’s gifts aren’t game-changing, and they won’t ruin your strategy. They offer small improvements and a little extra help, but won’t drastically alter your overall performance.

Neow can help you refine your deck, find a useful rare card, gain a bit of health, or even start with some extra money. Just remember, you won’t find anything that will instantly win the game, and it’s best not to push your luck – starting with a curse is never a good idea!

7. Tezcatara

Go Forth, by the Flame of Candlelight

Let’s move on to discussing Ancients for the mid-game. Tezcatara is a strong choice, and they actually offer several good cards that can keep your deck going strong if used correctly.

It’s frustrating when you visit this ancient location because the rewards often don’t fit well with the cards you’ve collected. A lot of the benefits you get from Texcatara aren’t lasting – they only help for a short time. While things like the Toy Box and Pumpkin Candle can be powerful, their effects are temporary and don’t stick with you throughout your entire run.

Some cards can really hurt your deck, like Toasty Mittens and Biiig Hug, which are especially frustrating. The helpful boosts these cards offer are often limited to specific situations and come with significant downsides. Even though I enjoy Brightest Flame, I still don’t like facing Tezcatara.

6. Vakuu

There is No Victory Without Sacrifice

Many players will likely agree with Vakuu’s low ranking. Like Tezcatara, he tends to quickly end runs, making him challenging to build a strategy around.

The core idea behind Vakuu is a classic trade: you get something you want, but at a cost. That cost isn’t money, though – it’s a piece of your character’s well-being. This could manifest as harmful curses, a reduction in your maximum health, or even Vakuu taking over and playing cards against your will during your turn.

Things get even trickier with certain relics. “Fiddle” prevents you from drawing through your entire deck, and “Lord’s Parasol,” despite sounding good, often adds a lot of useless cards that don’t fit your game plan. While some relics, like “Jewelled Mask” and “Sere Talon,” are helpful, their drawbacks can sometimes be more trouble than they’re worth.

5. Darv

Some May Call this Junk, but I Call them Treasures!

Darv is definitely a challenging boss. Whenever I encounter him, I usually let out a little sigh of frustration. His main thing is giving you boss items that you’ve likely seen before.

These powerful items often come with significant downsides, and it’s not always clear if they’ll actually improve your gameplay. While getting something for free is great, losing access to Gold or Potions can be a major setback. Some items, like Snecko Eye, can actually make your deck worse, and others, such as Empty Cage, just don’t feel strong enough to be considered truly legendary.

However, certain powerful cards you can get from the Dusty Tome can actually let you win the entire game, such as Wraith Form, the Sealed Throne, or Corruption. Darv is definitely a challenging opponent!

4. Pael

Dine Upon the Flesh of the Melting Dragon

To be honest, I really didn’t like fighting Pael. He was one of the Ancients I struggled with the most in Slay the Spire 2.

I’ve changed my mind about Pael. What’s unique about him is that his relics don’t offer huge advantages, but they also don’t really have any drawbacks, which is different from other Ancients. When you choose a relic from Pael, you’ll almost always get a small, consistent benefit that lasts throughout your entire playthrough.

Occasionally, you’ll find a perk that’s so powerful it can win the game on its own, like the well-known (and overpowered) cloning ability. Usually, though, perks offer smaller benefits – a bit more energy, extra cards, or stronger defenses. Because the choices aren’t always critical, it can actually be a relief to pick one quickly.

3. Orobas

Ignorance is Bliss

Orobas is fantastic! Honestly, seeing this cheerful, rainbow-colored creature always makes me happy. Like Pael, the best part about Orobas is that you really can’t go wrong with any option – it’s all good!

Need a boost of energy? Grab a Prismatic Gem or a Luminesce card. Looking for more potions? The Alchemical Coffer can help! You can also upgrade your starting relic or class card to make it even more powerful. Orobas is excellent for taking what you already have and making it even better.

As a player, I’ve found some characters really help me win. Like, Electric Shrymp is awesome because he uses a skill for free at the beginning of every match! And if I’m lucky enough to snag a powerful skill like Decisions Decisions or End of Days, I’m usually good to go for the whole run – seriously, it makes things so much easier!

2. Tanx

Glory to the Big High War God

You’ve probably figured out that the most effective Ancients are usually the ones with relics that are consistently useful, no matter what cards are in your deck, and don’t have many drawbacks.

Tanx is a unique Ancient unit. He’s primarily designed to strengthen aggressive strategies, but surprisingly, he also offers several effective defensive capabilities.

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You’ve got powerful offensive options like the Crossbow, Claws, and Tri-Boomerang to quickly overwhelm your opponents. Plus, relics like the Spiked Gauntlets, Throwing Axe, and Whistle are useful in almost any strategy. All of these choices are straightforward and provide significant advantages without any real downsides.

Tanx has a little something for everyone. He really is a big softy after all!

1. Nonupeipe

Who said Ancients Couldn’t be Stylish?

We’ve finally reached Nonupeipe, arguably the most challenging of the Ancients. I especially like her, not just because of the great rewards, but because she’s actually really enjoyable to fight! After all, fun is the most important thing!

Okay, so playing Nonupeipe, I’ve noticed it’s packed with relics that don’t actually add cards to your deck. Which is cool, because if I already know what strategy I’m going for, I can focus on getting power-ups and bonuses that aren’t just about having a bigger deck. It gives you a lot of flexibility in how you build your run.

Frustrated with shopping? Here’s a huge amount of gold! Feeling weak? Try Looming Fruit or Diamond Diadem to improve your defenses. If Orobas and Neow gave you more potion slots, even better – you now have unlimited potions and an automatic victory!

If your card collection is worn or needs improvement, Apotheosis can help revive it, and Glitter can make it even stronger.

Some Ancients have useless items, but everything Nonupeipe offers is good in any strategy. She’s a reliably strong choice, which is why she’s so popular – hopefully, she stays that way!

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2026-05-12 22:41