Mechanics

If this is the first card you play this turn, it has enhanced effects.

Sly cards reward careful play order. When played first in a turn, they gain bonus effects like extra damage, additional block, or free card generation. Core keyword for the Silent's new strategic identity in STS2.

When a creature's Doom is greater than or equal to its current HP, it dies at end of turn.

The Necrobinder's signature death-mark. Stack Doom on enemies to set up executions. When Doom >= enemy HP, the enemy is instantly killed at end of turn. Higher damage values compensate for delayed kills.

A resource gained from Soul cards that powers card-draw abilities.

Soul cards like Seance, Dirge, Severance, and Soul Storm generate soul resources. Souls power draw engines and synergize with the Power card Haunt (6 damage per Soul played).

Summon X: Summons Osty with X HP. If Osty is alive, heals Osty for X HP instead.

The Necrobinder's companion mechanic. Osty is a skeletal hand that tanks damage. Starts at 1 HP via Bound Phylactery and re-summons at the start of each turn. Gains +1 HP per turn survived.

A persistent resource spent like energy. No cap, no reset between turns.

The Regent's primary resource. Stars accumulate without limit and persist between turns, unlike energy. Generated by Divine Right (3 at combat start), Genesis, Hidden Cache, Glow, and other cards. Spent alongside or instead of energy.

Forge X: Add X Block to the Sovereign Blade wherever it is.

The Regent can Forge the Sovereign Blade mid-combat to permanently increase its power. Block is added wherever the Blade is (hand, draw pile, discard). Synergizes with cards that reference or strengthen the Sovereign Blade.

Summoned allies that fight alongside you.

The Regent transforms cards into disposable minions. Skills like Guards create defensive allies that attack enemies and absorb damage, creating an army to overwhelm foes.

Gain X Block at end of turn. Reduces by 1 when you take unblocked damage.

A new defensive keyword in STS2. Plating provides passive block each turn, stacking for strong sustained defense. Taking unblocked damage reduces Plating by 1, incentivizing maintaining a full block. Used primarily by Ironclad and Regent.

Your next Attack deals X additional damage. Persists until an Attack is played.

A new offensive buff. Vigor adds bonus damage to your next Attack card. Multi-hit attacks apply Vigor per instance. Persists until consumed by playing an Attack. Used primarily by Silent and Regent.

After playing this card, it goes on top of your draw pile instead of the discard pile.

Replay cards are played again on the next draw. Upgraded Replay cards play 2 more times (3 total). Costs energy each replay. Used by Defect and Regent for combo potential.

A negative effect applied to your cards by enemies.

Enemies can afflict your cards with debuffs like energy drain or HP cost when played. Afflictions typically clear after combat. Creates new decisions about which afflicted cards to play.

Alter cards by adding new keywords or changing their effects.

The Necrobinder can transform cards in the deck, adding new keywords and effects for powerful deck manipulation mid-run.

Temporary relics that melt away after a set number of combats.

Wax Relics are granted by certain Ancient blessings (like Tezcatara's). They provide powerful effects but only last for a few combats before melting away permanently.