Ironclad Build
🛡️ Barricade Iron Bastion
Stockpile Block, then turn the wall into a weapon
Block is not removed at the start of your turn.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 3 to 2
Win condition: Use Barricade so Block carries over between turns, building an enormous reserve, then convert it into damage: Body Slam deals damage equal to your Block, while Juggernaut pings enemies every time you gain any Block at all.
- A-Tier
- Tier
- Intermediate
- Difficulty
- 12
- Core cards
- A-Tier
- Power
Deck core
Core cards
The cards this build is built around — prioritize these on every run.
Must-pick
Block is not removed at the start of your turn.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 3 to 2
Deal damage equal to your Block.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 1 to 0
Whenever you gain Block, deal 5 damage to a random enemy.
Upgraded: Whenever you gain Block, deal 7 damage to a random enemy.
The first time you gain Block from a card each turn, double the amount gained.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 2 to 1
At the start of your turn, lose 1 HP and gain 8 Block.
Upgraded: At the start of your turn, lose 1 HP and gain 10 Block.
Gain 4 Plating.
Upgraded: Gain 6 Plating.
Gain 8 Block. Draw 1 card.
Upgraded: Gain 11 Block. Draw 1 card.
Gain 5 Block. Deal 5 damage.
Upgraded: Gain 7 Block. Deal 7 damage.
Lose 2 HP. Gain 16 Block.
Upgraded: Lose 2 HP. Gain 20 Block.
Gain 30 Block. Exhaust.
Upgraded: Gain 40 Block. Exhaust.
Gain 12 Block. Whenever you are attacked this turn, deal 4 damage back.
Upgraded: Gain 16 Block. Whenever you are attacked this turn, deal 6 damage back.
Deal 7 damage. Whenever you gain Block this turn, deal 5 damage to the enemy.
Upgraded: Deal 9 damage. Whenever you gain Block this turn, deal 7 damage to the enemy.
Flex picks
Gain 7 Plating.
Upgraded: Gain 9 Plating.
Whenever you play an Attack this turn, gain 3 Block.
Upgraded: Whenever you play an Attack this turn, gain 5 Block.
Gain an additional 5 Block from Defend cards.
Upgraded: Gain an additional 7 Block from Defend cards.
Gain 13 Block. Retain your Hand this turn.
Upgraded: Gain 16 Block. Retain your Hand this turn.
Gain 11 Block.
Upgraded: Gain 15 Block.
Gain 5 Block. Gain 5 Block at the start of the next 2 turns.
Upgraded: Gain 7 Block. Gain 7 Block at the start of the next 2 turns.
Gain 5 Block.
Upgraded: Gain 8 Block.
Deal 8 damage. Apply 2 Vulnerable.
Upgraded: Deal 10 damage. Apply 3 Vulnerable.
Synergy
Relic priorities
What to grab from shops, bosses and chests to power the engine.
Sturdy ClampStrongUp to 10 Block persists across turns even before you find Barricade — a built-in mini-version of the engine.
Self-Forming ClayStrongGain 3 Block next turn whenever you lose HP — chip damage just refunds your wall.
OrichalcumStrongEnd a turn with no Block and gain 6 — but it shines as insurance early before Barricade; later you'll rarely be at zero.
Captain's WheelSituational18 Block on turn 3 is a huge one-time deposit into a Barricade reserve.
Game plan
How to play
Step-by-step through the run, from opening hands to the win.
Honest take
Pros & cons
Strengths
Opening
Mulligan & priorities
What to keep, what to ditch in your opening hands.
- Keep Barricade — nothing else matters as much for this deck's ceiling.
- Keep Body Slam if Barricade is online or coming, since it's your damage payoff.
- Hold cheap Block (Shrug It Off, Iron Wave) to start banking the moment Barricade lands.
- Keep Juggernaut to start dealing damage passively while you turtle.
- Toss raw attacks early — your damage will come from the wall, not from Strikes.
Map strategy
Pathing
How to route the map to assemble the build and stay healthy.
Routing
You can afford to take more combats and elites than a glass-cannon deck — your wall makes you durable. Look for Block-and-Plating relics in shops and chests, and value Rest Sites less since you take little chip damage once Barricade is up.
Scaling timeline
Act 1: Body Slam + cheap Block + maybe Juggernaut. Act 2: find Barricade — the deck transforms the moment it appears. Act 3: Crimson Mantle / Unmovable / Impervious turn you into a near-unkillable fortress that hits back hard.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Spending Block before Barricade is down — pre-Barricade Block still resets, so don't over-invest early.
- Playing Body Slam when your Block is low; wait until the wall is stocked.
- Forgetting Juggernaut triggers on ANY Block gain — sequence Block cards to maximise its pings.
- Treating Plating like Block — it layers separately and persists, so don't 'use it up' expecting it to refresh.
Quick answers
FAQ
Common questions about the Barricade Iron Bastion Ironclad build.
Is the Barricade Block build good in Slay the Spire 2?
Yes — it's an A-tier tank archetype that trivialises chip damage and long attrition fights, and it's forgiving to pilot once Barricade is online. The catch is that its ceiling is hard-capped on finding Barricade, a single rare card, and it can struggle to deal damage fast against burst before the wall is built.
What are the best cards for a Block Ironclad?
Barricade is the keystone since it stops Block from resetting, and Body Slam turns that stockpiled wall into a single huge hit. Juggernaut pings enemies on every Block gain, Unmovable doubles your first Block card each turn, and cheap Block like Shrug It Off, Iron Wave, and Blood Wall fills the reserve fast.
What relics does the Barricade build want?
Sai is the core relic — 7 free Block each turn becomes a permanent +7 to your wall under Barricade and feeds Body Slam. Sturdy Clamp acts as a mini-Barricade before you find the real thing, Self-Forming Clay refunds Block on HP loss, and Gorget adds non-resetting Plating.
Is the Block build good for high Ascension or beginners?
It's Intermediate and a strong high-Ascension pick because durability scales with every Block card you add, and mistakes rarely kill you once Barricade is up. Beginners will find it forgiving, but the whole engine hinges on drawing Barricade. Since StS2 is in Early Access, Block and relic values may be tuned between patches.
Provenance
Sources & video guides
This build's strategy is informed by these community creators.
