Characters

Five characters unlock sequentially as you complete runs. Each has unique mechanics, archetypes, and a distinct playstyle.

Early Access — tier rankings and card data reflect the March 2026 launch build.

Community Tier Consensus

S — Regent S — Silent A — Ironclad ? — Necrobinder ? — Defect

Rankings unsettled in Early Access. Necrobinder is called "strongest at launch" by some sources when mastered.

Ironclad

Ironclad

Starter Available from start

The returning berserker warrior. Straightforward, beginner-friendly. Best first character.

Starter Relic Burning Blood Heal 6 HP at end of combat. Upgrades to Black Blood (Heal 12 HP).
Strength Exhaust Self-Damage Block
Build Archetypes
Strength Scaling Barricade / Body Slam Exhaust / Corruption
Tier list · Key cards · Build guide View guide →
Silent

Silent

Unlock #2 Beat Ironclad

The returning huntress. Tactical sequencing, poison, shivs, and the new Sly discard engine.

Starter Relic Ring of the Snake Draw 2 additional cards at combat start.
Sly Poison Shiv Discard
Build Archetypes
Poison Stack Shiv / Accuracy Sly / Discard
Tier list · Key cards · Build guide View guide →
Regent

Regent

Unlock #3 Beat Silent

NEW character. Celestial heir of the Starrian race. Manages Stars as a separate resource and forges a retained weapon.

Starter Relic Divine Right Gain 3 Stars at combat start.
Stars Forge Sovereign Blade Minions
Build Archetypes
Stars Burst Forge / Sovereign Blade Minions / Guards
Tier list · Key cards · Build guide View guide →
Necrobinder

Necrobinder

Unlock #4 Beat Regent

NEW character. Wandering lich who commands undead. Most mechanically complex class.

Starter Relic Bound Phylactery Summon 1 at start of your turn.
Doom Osty Soul Graveyard
Build Archetypes
Doom Execution Osty Tank/Beatdown Soul Engine Exhaust Loop
Tier list · Key cards · Build guide View guide →
Defect

Defect

Unlock #5 Beat Necrobinder

The returning rogue automaton. Orb-based passive engine scaling through Focus.

Starter Relic Cracked Core Channel 1 Lightning Orb at combat start.
Orbs Focus Evoke Glass Orb (new)
Build Archetypes
Frost / Focus Turtle Dark Orb Nuke Claw Spam Lightning Storm
Tier list · Key cards · Build guide View guide →

New Mechanics in STS2

Sly (Silent)

Cards with Sly auto-play for free when discarded from hand instead of going to the discard pile.

Stars (Regent)

Separate resource pool that persists between turns AND between fights. Bank them for massive burst turns.

Forge (Regent)

Playing Forge cards stacks damage on the Sovereign Blade — a Retain weapon that hits harder each use.

Doom (Necrobinder)

Stacking debuff. Enemy is instantly executed when remaining HP falls below their Doom total.

Osty (Necrobinder)

Skeletal companion that starts each fight with you. Summon X raises Osty's Max HP — can absorb one full hit.

Glass Orb (Defect)

New 5th orb type. Evokes for AoE damage to all enemies — adds multi-target burst to the Defect's toolkit.