Setup Strike•Attack

Is Setup Strike good in Slay the Spire 2?

Setup Strike is a common Ironclad attack in Slay the Spire 2. In combat it resolves as: Deal 7 damage. Gain 2 Strength this turn. It currently underperforms most alternatives, sitting at D tier in our Slay the Spire 2 card rankings.

Across 15 recorded runs, decks running it win 0.0% of the time, trailing the 12.0% average by 12.0%. It’s a more selective pick, turning up in just 2.6% of decks that could run it. Ironclad players keep it in 28.9% of their runs, so it’s a familiar sight in those decks. On average it shows up 1.5 times in the decks that take it.

It performs best next to Anger — together they post a 0.0% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic Burning Blood, which moves its win rate by 0.0%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 27.3% of runs and usually joins the deck around floor 6.

Upgraded, it gains +2 Damage, +1 Strength, which is why so many decks invest a rest-site upgrade in it. That’s 0 wins, 14 deaths, and 1 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Phrog Parasite Elite, which closes out 13.3% of its appearances. Read on for Setup Strike’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Ironclad run.

Best Cards to Pair with Setup Strike

Ranked by win-rate lift, Setup Strike performs best alongside Anger (0.0%), Bash (0.0%), and Battle Trance (0.0%).

Anger0.0%4 runsBash0.0%13 runsBattle Trance0.0%5 runsBloodletting0.0%10 runsBludgeon0.0%4 runsAggression0.0%3 runs

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

Setup Strike Win Rate by Class

Setup Strike is drafted only by the Ironclad, where it holds a 0.0% win rate across 15 runs.

The Ironcladappears in 28.9% of its runs (15 tracked)

Best Relics for Setup Strike

Setup Strike pairs best with the relics Burning Blood (0.0%), Gorget (0.0%), and Ornamental Fan (0.0%), ranked by win-rate lift.

Burning Blood0.0%15 runsGorget0.0%3 runsOrnamental Fan0.0%3 runsVery Hot Cocoa0.0%3 runs

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

Setup Strike Card Details

Setup Strike is a common attack costing 1 energy; it’s upgraded in 27.3% of runs and usually picked up by floor 6.

Deal 7 damage. Gain 2 Strength this turn.

Upgrade: +2 Damage, +1 Strength

What Ends Runs with Setup Strike

Setup Strike’s most common run-enders are Phrog Parasite Elite (13.3%) and The Insatiable Boss (13.3%).

• Phrog Parasite Elite13.3% of runs
• The Insatiable Boss13.3% of runs

See Also

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