Subroutine Power

Is Subroutine good in Slay the Spire 2?

Subroutine is an uncommon Defect power in Slay the Spire 2. In combat it resolves as: Whenever you play a Power, gain -cost. It’s a dependable, middle-of-the-pack option, landing at C tier in our rankings.

Across 693 recorded runs, decks running it win 27.6% of the time, comfortably clear of the 14.3% average, by 13.3%. It’s a more selective pick, turning up in just 2.6% of decks that could run it. Offer data backs the pick — taken 24.9% of the time it is shown, with 28.3% for runs that took it against 18.2% for runs that did not, a +9.9% pick lift across 512 decided runs. Silent players keep it in 0.2% 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 Apotheosis — together they post a +30.5% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic White Beast Statue, which moves its win rate by +32.3%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 38.8% of runs and usually joins the deck around floor 16.

Upgraded, it gains -1 EnergyCost, which is why so many decks invest a rest-site upgrade in it. That’s 190 wins, 499 deaths, and 4 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Kaiser Crab Boss, which closes out 5.5% of its appearances. Read on for Subroutine’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Defect run.

Pick or Skip: Subroutine

Out of 2357 recorded offers Subroutine is taken 24.9% of the time, and taking it is worth +9.9% in pick lift — 28.3% for runs that picked it against 18.2% for runs that skipped, across 512 decided runs.

Taken 587 times out of 2357 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 Subroutine

Subroutine is strongest when it joins the deck in Act 3, where runs win 67.0% across 92 runs — one of 4 recorded pickup windows.

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

Best Cards to Pair with Subroutine

Ranked by win-rate lift, Subroutine performs best alongside Apotheosis (+30.5%), Mad Science (+24.5%), and Energy Surge (+24.2%).

Apotheosis+30.5%24 runsMad Science+24.5%51 runsEnergy Surge+24.2%61 runsMayhem+23.4%17 runsHelix Drill+20.5%29 runsMachine Learning+20.0%104 runs

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

Subroutine Win Rate by Class

Subroutine is played across 2 classes, led by Silent (54.5%) and Defect (26.9%) by win rate.

The Silent54.5%11 runsThe Defect26.9%669 runs

Best Relics for Subroutine

Subroutine pairs best with the relics White Beast Statue (+32.3%), Forgotten Soul (+31.6%), and Jewelry Box (+30.5%), ranked by win-rate lift.

White Beast Statue+32.3%19 runsForgotten Soul+31.6%20 runsJewelry Box+30.5%24 runsData Disk+29.6%91 runsGame Piece+28.9%25 runsSignet Ring+28.7%18 runs

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

Subroutine Card Details

Subroutine is an uncommon power costing 1 energy; it’s upgraded in 38.8% of runs and usually picked up by floor 16.

Whenever you play a Power, gain -cost.

Upgrade: -1 EnergyCost

What Ends Runs with Subroutine

Subroutine’s most common run-enders are Kaiser Crab Boss (5.5%), Decimillipede Elite (4.5%), and Aeonglass Boss (4.5%).

• Kaiser Crab Boss5.5% of runs
• Decimillipede Elite4.5% of runs
• Aeonglass Boss4.5% of runs
• The Insatiable Boss4.3% of runs
• Test Subject Boss4.2% of runs

See Also

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