We break down every relic tier from S+ to B and show you how Timeline unlocks completely change your runs.
In Slay the Spire 2, relics define your run long before you reach the first boss. These permanent passives stack from floor one, and a single S+ pick can carry a mediocre deck straight through Act 3.
The gap between a run-breaking relic and a dead draw is brutal. Knowing which relics bend the rules universally saves you from wasting a pickup on a niche effect you will never trigger.
In this guide we’ll walk you through the full tier list, break down every Ancient offering by Act, and show you exactly how to unlock more relics through the Timeline.
S+ tier relics: universally game-breaking
These relics deliver maximum value regardless of your character or build. They are the strongest pickups in the game.
- Gorget (Common): Grants 4 Plating at combat start, soaking early hits for free.
- Paper Phrog (Uncommon): Vulnerable enemies take 75% extra damage instead of 50%. Ironclad exclusive.
- Mummified Hand (Rare): Playing a Power card makes a random hand card free that turn.
- Toxic Egg (Rare): Every Skill card added to your deck arrives automatically upgraded.
- Miniature Tent (Shop): Lets you choose any number of options at Rest Sites, like resting and smithing together.
- Yummy Cookie (Ancient, Tezcatara): Upgrades four cards instantly on pickup.
- Storybook (Ancient, Tezcatara): Adds the Brightest Flame card, which gives 2 Energy and 2 draws for 1 Max HP.
S tier relics: exceptional power
High-impact relics that swing fights without demanding a specific archetype. Almost always a safe grab.
- Happy Flower (Common): Grants 1 Energy every 3 turns.
- Strike Dummy (Common): Cards containing “Strike” deal 3 extra damage.
- Paels Flesh (Ancient, Pael): Grants 1 extra Energy from turn 3 onward.
- Very Hot Cocoa (Ancient, Tezcatara): Starts every combat with 4 bonus Energy on turn one.
- Runic Pyramid (Ancient, Darv): You stop discarding your hand at turn end.
- Pandoras Box (Ancient, Darv): Transforms all starting Strikes and Defends.
A tier relics: strong and reliable
Solid workhorses that perform well but may lean on specific characters or situations.
- Red Skull (Common): Grants 3 Strength while at or below 50% HP. Ironclad exclusive.
- Ornamental Fan (Uncommon): Playing three Attacks in a single turn gives 4 Block.
- Pantograph (Uncommon): Heals 25 HP at the start of every Boss fight.
- Cloak Clasp (Rare): Grants 1 Block at turn end for each card in your hand.
- Prismatic Gem (Ancient, Orobas): Gives 1 Energy per turn and adds cross-character cards to reward pools.
B tier relics: niche and build-dependent
These relics need specific conditions or dedicated archetypes to justify the slot.
- Bag of Preparation (Common): Draws 2 extra cards on turn one.
- Oddly Smooth Stone (Common): Start each combat with 1 Dexterity.
- Ninja Scroll (Shop): Adds 3 Shivs to your hand at combat start.
- Ruined Helmet (Rare): Doubles the first Strength gain each combat. Ironclad exclusive.
Ancient relics and epoch rewards by act
Ancients appear at the start of each Act and replace the old Boss Relic system. You pick one from three unique rewards.
Act 1, Neow offers utility and risk. Arcane Scroll gives a random Rare card. Cursed Pearl grants 333 Gold but saddles you with the permanent Greed curse. File Holster adds a potion slot and two random potions. Neows Torment adds a Neow’s Fury card that deals 10 damage and retrieves two discards.
Act 2 splits across Tezcatara, Pael, and Orobas. Golden Compass linearizes the map with guaranteed Rest Sites, a Merchant, and Elites. Toy Box gives four Wax Relics that melt every three combats. Seal of Gold auto-spends 5 Gold for 1 Energy per turn. Paels Eye lets you exhaust your hand and take an extra turn if you pass without playing cards. Touch of Orobas replaces your Starter Relic with an Ancient version tailored to your class.
Act 3 brings Nonupeipe, Tanx, Darv, and Vakuu. Looming Fruit raises Max HP by 31. Fur Coat marks seven random combats where enemies start at 1 HP. Tanxs Whistle adds a 3-cost card that hits for 33 damage and Stuns. Iron Club draws a card for every four cards played. Black Star makes Elites drop an extra relic. Blood-Soaked Rose gives 1 Energy per turn but adds the Enthralled curse.
Special event relics also exist. History Course and History Lesson come from the Repy event and replay your last Attack or Skill at turn start. Byrdpip hatches from the Byrtonis Egg at a Rest Site and adds the zero-cost Byrd Swoop card. The Fake Merchant sells nerfed versions of Anchor, Blood Vial, and Mango.
How to unlock new relics via the timeline
Meta-progression ties directly to Epoch milestones. Finishing Magnum Opus Ch. 2 unlocks Reptile Trinket, Unsettling Lamp, and Intimidating Helmet.
Clearing The Reopening Ch. 2 adds Tiny Mailbox, Joss Paper, and Beating Remnant. Completing The Reopening Ch. 3 brings Festive Popper, Ripple Basin, and Vexing Puzzlebox into the relic pool.
What you unlock reshapes your tier list completely: Beating Remnant alone pushes certain exhaust-heavy builds into viability, so grinding out the Timeline pays off in pick diversity.
Once you lock in your relic priorities, the real edge comes from piloting those synergies through each act’s gauntlet. Solo Jugadores breaks down every character’s card pool and Ancient interactions for Slay the Spire 2 so you can build around the relics that drop.
