Ironclad Build
🔥 Ashen Reaper of the Pyre
Burn your own deck to fuel an unstoppable engine
Whenever a card is Exhausted, draw 1 card.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 2 to 1
Win condition: Convert the act of Exhausting cards into a self-sustaining engine — every burn draws a card (Dark Embrace) and earns Block (Feel No Pain) — then cash the swollen Exhaust pile into damage with Ashen Strike, Pact's End, and Fiend Fire.
- A-Tier
- Tier
- Advanced
- Difficulty
- 11
- Core cards
- A-Tier
- Power
Deck core
Core cards
The cards this build is built around — prioritize these on every run.
Must-pick
Whenever a card is Exhausted, draw 1 card.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 2 to 1
Whenever a card is Exhausted, gain 3 Block.
Upgraded: Whenever a card is Exhausted, gain 4 Block.
Skills cost 0 Energy. Whenever you play a Skill, Exhaust it.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 3 to 2
Deal 6 damage. Deals 3 additional damage for each card in your Exhaust Pile.
Upgraded: Deal 6 damage. Deals 4 additional damage for each card in your Exhaust Pile.
Can only be played if you have 3 or more cards in your Exhaust Pile. Deal 17 damage to ALL enemies.
Upgraded: Can only be played if you have 3 or more cards in your Exhaust Pile. Deal 23 damage to ALL enemies.
Exhaust your Hand. Deal 7 damage for each card Exhausted. Exhaust.
Upgraded: Exhaust your Hand. Deal 10 damage for each card Exhausted. Exhaust.
Exhaust 1 card. Draw 2 cards.
Upgraded: Exhaust 1 card. Draw 3 cards.
Exhaust all non-Attack cards in your Hand. Gain 5 Block for each card Exhausted.
Upgraded: Exhaust all non-Attack cards in your Hand. Gain 7 Block for each card Exhausted.
Gain 8 Block. Gain another 8 Block if you have Exhausted a card this turn.
Upgraded: Gain 11 Block. Gain another 11 Block if you have Exhausted a card this turn.
If you Exhausted a card this turn, gain 3 Energy.
Upgraded: If you Exhausted a card this turn, gain 4 Energy.
Gain 7 Block. Exhaust 1 card at random.
Upgraded: Gain 9 Block. Exhaust 1 card.
Flex picks
Lose 1 HP. Exhaust 1 card. Gain 1 Strength.
Upgraded: Lose 1 HP. Exhaust 1 card. Gain 2 Strength.
Deal 17 damage. Exhaust the top card of your Draw Pile.
Upgraded: Deal 22 damage. Exhaust the top card of your Draw Pile.
Deal 10 damage. Double the enemy's Vulnerable. Exhaust.
Upgraded: Deal 14 damage. Double the enemy's Vulnerable. Exhaust.
Deal 10 damage. If Fatal, raise your Max HP by 3. Exhaust.
Upgraded: Deal 12 damage. If Fatal, raise your Max HP by 4. Exhaust.
Play the top card of your Draw Pile and Exhaust it.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 1 to 0
Draw 2 cards. At the start of your turn, Exhaust the top card of your Draw Pile.
Upgraded: Draw 3 cards. At the start of your turn, Exhaust the top card of your Draw Pile.
Exhaust your Hand. Draw a card for each card Exhausted. Exhaust.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 1 to 0
Add a random Attack into your Hand. It's free to play this turn. Exhaust.
Upgraded: Cost changes from 1 to 0
Lose 6 HP. Gain 2 Energy. Draw 3 cards. Exhaust.
Upgraded: Lose 6 HP. Gain 2 Energy. Draw 5 cards. Exhaust.
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.
Charon's AshesCoreDeal 3 damage to ALL enemies on every Exhaust — turns your engine into passive AoE that clears fights.
Burning SticksStrongThe first Skill you Exhaust each combat returns a copy to hand — extra fuel and value for the engine.
Joss PaperStrongEvery 5 Exhausts draws a card; stacks with Dark Embrace to keep the loop spinning.
Forgotten SoulStrong1 damage to a random enemy per Exhaust — small but constant, and free.
Toasty MittensSituationalExhausts your top card each turn for +1 Strength — extra free engine triggers plus scaling.
AkabekoSituational8 Vigor at combat start fuels a big early Ashen Strike or Fiend Fire before the pile is deep.
Game plan
How to play
Step-by-step through the run, from opening hands to the win.
Honest take
Pros & cons
Strengths
- Generates draw, Block, and damage from a single action — extremely efficient once assembled.
- Naturally thins itself, producing one of the most consistent late-game decks.
- Strong defense baked in through Feel No Pain and Evil Eye.
Weaknesses
- Fragile and clunky before the powers land; setup turns are dangerous.
- Very draw-dependent — bricking on engine pieces can lose a fight.
- Easy to misplay; sequencing Corruption and your payoffs wrong wastes whole turns.
Opening
Mulligan & priorities
What to keep, what to ditch in your opening hands.
- Keep Dark Embrace and Feel No Pain above almost everything — they are the engine.
- Hold Burning Pact / True Grit to start burning low-value cards and find your powers.
- Keep Corruption only if you already have a draw or Block payoff online, else it Exhausts your skills for nothing.
- Save Ashen Strike and Pact's End for after the pile is stocked — they're weak on an empty Exhaust pile.
Map strategy
Pathing
How to route the map to assemble the build and stay healthy.
Routing
Prioritise Rest Sites and card-removal events early so the deck stays lean — fewer dead cards means the engine cycles to its payoffs faster. ? rooms that offer Colorless skills can supply extra Exhaust fodder.
Scaling timeline
Act 1: one engine power + start thinning. Act 2: complete Dark Embrace + Feel No Pain and add a payoff (Ashen Strike, Fiend Fire). Act 3: Corruption + Forgotten Ritual turn the deck into an explosive draw-loop.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Playing Corruption before any draw/Block payoff — you'll burn your skills for zero value.
- Firing Ashen Strike or Pact's End on an empty Exhaust pile; they need fuel first.
- Over-thinning to the point you can't keep cards to Exhaust — the engine still needs fodder.
- Ignoring Charon's Ashes and Forgotten Soul, which quietly turn the whole engine into chip AoE.
Quick answers
FAQ
Common questions about the Ashen Reaper of the Pyre Ironclad build.
Is the Exhaust Ironclad build good in Slay the Spire 2?
It's an A-tier engine deck that's one of the most consistent late-game lines once assembled, generating draw, Block, and damage from a single action. The trade-off is that it's Advanced to pilot — the setup turns are clunky and fragile before your powers land, and sequencing your payoffs wrong can waste whole turns.
What are the best cards for an Exhaust Ironclad?
Dark Embrace (draw on Exhaust) and Feel No Pain (Block on Exhaust) are the core engine, with Corruption making every Skill cost 0 and Exhaust to spin it. Cash the pile out with Ashen Strike, Pact's End, and Fiend Fire, and keep it fed with Burning Pact, True Grit, and Second Wind.
What relics does the Exhaust build want?
Charon's Ashes is the core pickup, dealing 3 damage to all enemies on every Exhaust so your engine becomes passive AoE. Burning Sticks returns the first Skill you Exhaust, Joss Paper draws every 5 Exhausts, and Forgotten Soul adds free chip damage per burn.
Is the Exhaust build good for high Ascension or beginners?
It rewards high-Ascension play because its self-thinning produces a lean, reliable deck, but it's not beginner-friendly — bricking on Dark Embrace or Feel No Pain can lose a fight, and Corruption played before a payoff burns your skills for nothing. As StS2 is in Early Access, the exact Exhaust payoff numbers may change between patches.
Provenance
Sources & video guides
This build's strategy is informed by these community creators.
