Live Meta  ·  Patch 0.98.1  ·  April 2026

Know What's
Winning
Right Now

Community-sourced tier lists, build guides, and patch breakdowns for Slay the Spire 2, Balatro, and the best roguelike deckbuilders — aggregated from Reddit, Discord, and high-Ascension players.

5 chars
Ranked in STS2
15+
Archetypes Rated
48h
Patch Updates
8 games
Covered in 2026

Character Rankings

Full tier list →
S
Necrobinder
The new Lich — highest damage ceiling in STS2
Doom Stacking · Osty Tank · Soul Cycling
S
Ironclad
Most consistent, best for beginners
Strength Ramp · Exhaust Cycle
A
Regent
High ceiling, inconsistent in Act 1
Star Accumulation · Forge Engine
A
Defect
Slow start, scales into late game
Frost/Lightning Orbs · Claw
B
The Silent
Rewards expertise, lower floor
Poison Stack · Shiv/Sly
View Full Tier List & Archetype Rankings →

We don't guess. We aggregate and distill community consensus into actionable guides.

1

Aggregate

We monitor Reddit, Discord, YouTube, and Steam communities for strategy discussions, win-rate data, and high-Ascension player reports across every major roguelike deckbuilder.

2

Analyze

We distill community consensus into structured tier lists and build guides. Every rating reflects collective player experience — not one person's opinion or a single streamer's take.

3

Update

Within 48 hours of every game patch, we re-evaluate and update our guides. If the meta shifts, we shift with it — keeping you ahead of the curve on every run.

What is a roguelike deckbuilder?

A roguelike deckbuilder combines card-based combat with procedurally generated runs. You build a deck of cards as you progress through encounters, choosing from random offerings each time. Each run is unique, and death means starting over. Popular examples include Slay the Spire, Balatro, Monster Train, and Inscryption.

How often is RogueMeta updated?

We update tier lists and build guides within 48 hours of every major game patch. For actively-updated games like Slay the Spire 2 (currently in Early Access), this means frequent updates as the meta shifts with each balance pass.

Where does RogueMeta get its data?

We aggregate strategy discussions and win-rate data from Reddit (r/slaythespire, r/roguelikedeckbuilder), official game Discord servers, YouTube strategy channels, Steam community forums, and high-Ascension player reports. Our rankings reflect community consensus — not any single person's opinion.

Is Slay the Spire 2 worth buying in Early Access?

Yes. STS2 launched on March 5, 2026 with 574K concurrent Steam players and a 97% positive rating. It already features 5 characters, 504 cards, 300+ relics, branching act paths, and 4-player co-op. The core gameplay loop is polished and deeply satisfying, even in its current Early Access state.

Who is the best character in Slay the Spire 2?

As of Patch 0.98.1, the Necrobinder and Ironclad share S-Tier. The Necrobinder has the highest damage ceiling with Doom Stacking and Osty Tank builds, while the Ironclad is the most consistent and beginner-friendly option. See our full tier list for detailed archetype rankings.