SpireForge
Updated for Early Access patch 0.104.0
Unlocks

Character unlock order

Slay the Spire 2 unlocks its roster one character at a time. The good news: you don't have to win anything. You unlock the next character simply by playing a run with the one you already have — finishing it or abandoning it both count, and there is no special item to pick up. Here's the exact order and how to get the whole cast in minutes.

# The short version

# The unlock order

Five characters unlock in a fixed chain. Tap a name to open its character hub, or jump straight to its builds.

  1. 1
    IroncladStarter · Strength & Block

    Available from the start — your first character.

    A Strength-scaling warrior with heavy Block payoffs. The default introduction to the game's fundamentals.

    Ironclad hub →Ironclad builds →
  2. 2
    SilentPoison · Shivs · Discard

    Unlocks after you play a run as the Ironclad.

    Poison, Shivs, and discard tricks. Thrives on a thin deck and consistency.

    Silent hub →Silent builds →
  3. 3
    RegentStars · Dual resource

    Unlocks after you play a run as the Silent.

    New to STS2 — a Star resource layered on top of energy, enabling oversized finisher turns once online.

    Regent hub →Regent builds →
  4. 4
    NecrobinderSummons · Doom · Souls

    Unlocks after you play a run as the Regent.

    Summons Osty to absorb hits and uses Doom to execute high-HP enemies once it exceeds their HP.

    Necrobinder hub →Necrobinder builds →
  5. 5
    DefectOrbs · Focus · Channel

    Unlocks after you play a run as the Necrobinder.

    Channels Lightning, Frost, and Dark orbs and scales them with Focus — the final character to unlock.

    Defect hub →Defect builds →

# How unlocking works

Each character beyond the Ironclad is gated behind playing a run as the previous character in the chain. The unlock is awarded for the act of playing the run, not the result — so a win, a loss, or an early abandon all unlock the next character equally. There is no key item, no boss requirement, and no Ascension prerequisite to see the full roster.

# Unlock everyone fast

Because abandoning a run counts, you can speed-unlock the whole cast in a few minutes if you just want them all available to experiment with:

  1. 1.Start a run as the Ironclad, then abandon it from the menu.
  2. 2.Start a run as the now-unlocked Silent and abandon again.
  3. 3.Repeat for the Regent, then the Necrobinder.
  4. 4.After the Necrobinder run, the Defect is unlocked — the full roster is yours.

# FAQ

Do I have to win to unlock the next character?

No. Playing a run with the current character is enough — finishing, dying, or abandoning all count.

Is there an item I need to pick up to unlock a character?

No. There's no key item or collectible involved. The unlock is tied purely to playing a run with the previous character.

Which character is unlocked last?

The Defect, after you've played runs with the Ironclad, Silent, Regent, and Necrobinder.

Got the roster? Pick a build.

Each character has a handful of proven archetypes. Find the one that fits your style.

Best buildsBeginner guide