Hotfix Skill

Is Hotfix good in Slay the Spire 2?

Hotfix is a common Defect skill in Slay the Spire 2. In combat it resolves as: Gain 2 Focus this turn. It currently underperforms most alternatives, sitting at D tier in our Slay the Spire 2 card rankings.

Across 1131 recorded runs, decks running it win 17.0% of the time, comfortably clear of the 13.8% average, by 3.2%. It’s a more selective pick, turning up in just 4.5% of decks that could run it. Offer data is close to a wash — 22.1% of offers taken, 17.3% for runs that picked it against 17.5% for runs that skipped, a pick lift of just -0.2% over 926 decided runs. Defect players keep it in 20.5% of their runs, so it’s a familiar sight in those decks. On average it shows up 1.4 times in the decks that take it.

It performs best next to Apotheosis — together they post a +33.8% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic Jewelry Box, which moves its win rate by +33.8%. At 0 energy, it’s upgraded in 29.9% of runs and usually joins the deck around floor 14.

That’s 190 wins, 928 deaths, and 13 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Kaiser Crab Boss, which closes out 6.0% of its appearances. Read on for Hotfix’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Defect run.

Pick or Skip: Hotfix

Out of 5271 recorded offers Hotfix is taken 22.1% of the time, and taking it is worth -0.2% in pick lift — 17.3% for runs that picked it against 17.5% for runs that skipped, across 926 decided runs.

Taken 1167 times out of 5271 offers.

Pick rate when offered counts offers, not runs: out of every time the game put this in front of a player, how often it was taken. It is not the same number as the share of runs that end up containing it.

Pick lift is the sample-adjusted gap between runs that took the option and runs that passed on it. It is the fair way to rank choices, because raw win rates put the smallest samples on top.

When to Pick Up Hotfix

Hotfix is strongest when it joins the deck in Act 3, where runs win 41.8% across 91 runs — one of 4 recorded pickup windows.

Win rate of runs by the act Hotfix entered the deck. Acts that have not reached the sample floor show their run count only.

Best Cards to Pair with Hotfix

Ranked by win-rate lift, Hotfix performs best alongside Apotheosis (+33.8%), Production (+28.1%), and Dark Shackles (+24.0%).

Apotheosis+33.8%15 runsProduction+28.1%27 runsDark Shackles+24.0%21 runsMad Science+22.4%73 runsFasten+22.0%20 runsProlong+18.7%20 runs

Based on small co-occurring samples — treat these as early signals, not final verdicts.

Hotfix Win Rate by Class

Hotfix is drafted only by the Defect, where it holds a 17.0% win rate across 1130 runs.

The Defectappears in 20.5% of its runs (1130 tracked)

Best Relics for Hotfix

Hotfix pairs best with the relics Jewelry Box (+33.8%), Blessed Antler (+33.8%), and Sai (+32.1%), ranked by win-rate lift.

Jewelry Box+33.8%15 runsBlessed Antler+33.8%17 runsSai+32.1%23 runsSturdy Clamp+30.4%40 runsLizard Tail+27.9%45 runsCloak Clasp+26.2%32 runs

Based on small co-occurring samples — treat these as early signals, not final verdicts.

Hotfix Card Details

Hotfix is a common skill costing 0 energy; it’s upgraded in 29.9% of runs and usually picked up by floor 14.

Gain 2 Focus this turn.

What Ends Runs with Hotfix

Hotfix’s most common run-enders are Kaiser Crab Boss (6.0%), Queen Boss (5.0%), and Knowledge Demon Boss (4.9%).

• Kaiser Crab Boss6.0% of runs
• Queen Boss5.0% of runs
• Knowledge Demon Boss4.9% of runs
• Aeonglass Boss4.8% of runs
• Test Subject Boss4.6% of runs

See Also

Compare Hotfix with the rest of the best Slay the Spire 2 cards, relics, and classes below.