Iron Wave•Attack

Is Iron Wave good in Slay the Spire 2?

Iron Wave is a common Ironclad attack in Slay the Spire 2. In combat it resolves as: Gain 5 Block. Deal 5 damage. It’s a dependable, middle-of-the-pack option, landing at C tier in our rankings.

Across 152 recorded runs, decks running it win 28.6% of the time, comfortably clear of the 19.0% average, by 9.6%. It’s a more selective pick, turning up in just 4.0% of decks that could run it. Ironclad players keep it in 21.5% of their runs, so it’s a familiar sight in those decks. On average it shows up 1.3 times in the decks that take it.

It performs best next to Cruelty — together they post a +20.9% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic Mango???, which moves its win rate by +23.8%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 25.1% of runs and usually joins the deck around floor 12.

Upgraded, it gains +2 Damage, +2 Block, which is why so many decks invest a rest-site upgrade in it. That’s 38 wins, 95 deaths, and 19 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is The Insatiable Boss, which closes out 6.6% of its appearances. Read on for Iron Wave’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Ironclad run.

Best Cards to Pair with Iron Wave

Ranked by win-rate lift, Iron Wave performs best alongside Cruelty (+20.9%), Aggression (+20.8%), and Pact's End (+20.5%).

Cruelty+20.9%19 runsAggression+20.8%13 runsPact's End+20.5%6 runsRupture+18.6%33 runsDoubt+17.1%5 runsMaster of Strategy+16.5%3 runs

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

Iron Wave Win Rate by Class

Iron Wave is drafted only by the Ironclad, where it holds a 28.6% win rate across 152 runs.

The Ironcladappears in 21.5% of its runs (152 tracked)

Best Relics for Iron Wave

Iron Wave pairs best with the relics Mango??? (+23.8%), Fresnel Lens (+23.1%), and Bag of Preparation (+21.0%), ranked by win-rate lift.

Mango???+23.8%5 runsFresnel Lens+23.1%13 runsBag of Preparation+21.0%23 runsBag of Marbles+20.9%18 runsThe Chosen Cheese+20.8%15 runsGnarled Hammer+20.5%6 runs

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

Iron Wave Card Details

Iron Wave is a common attack costing 1 energy; it’s upgraded in 25.1% of runs and usually picked up by floor 12.

Gain 5 Block. Deal 5 damage.

Upgrade: +2 Damage, +2 Block

What Ends Runs with Iron Wave

Iron Wave’s most common run-enders are The Insatiable Boss (6.6%), Queen Boss (5.3%), and Kaiser Crab Boss (4.6%).

• The Insatiable Boss6.6% of runs
• Queen Boss5.3% of runs
• Kaiser Crab Boss4.6% of runs
• Knowledge Demon Boss3.9% of runs
• Test Subject Boss3.3% of runs

See Also

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