Slay the Spire 2 faces an enormous challenge. Mega Crit, the brilliant developer behind one of gaming’s most beloved roguelikes, must prove its sequel can stand tall against modern deckbuilding titans like Balatro and Monster Train 2. With a fresh art style and exciting new paths, the reveal of new characters is a major highlight. Having now seen the Necrobinder class in full detail, I’m already convinced it’s going to be my new obsession.
The wait for the Slay the Spire 2 release, anticipated for March, feels excruciating, but Mega Crit keeps us entertained with tantalizing glimpses. “The moment has arrived to explore the first new character unveiled for Slay the Spire 2: The Necrobinder, a cunning lich who commands a massive, reanimated hand named Osty in combat,” the developers shared. Osty’s animations are charming, and his presence is instantly endearing – a true ‘Thing’ from the Addams Family vibe that has me completely captivated.
The Necrobinder’s kit takes advantage of sinister mechanics such as Doom and Souls, which we’ll get to shortly, but let’s start with her faithful companion. Osty is an adorable giant hand, seemingly comparable in size to the Necrobinder herself. He’s treated as a separate entity with his own life pool, can target enemies independently, and isn’t affected by debuffs his master picks up.
Crucially, Osty can intercept any incoming damage meant for his master, provided he has sufficient health. This opens up diverse build strategies: you can invest heavily in his HP to create an unyielding guardian, or opt for a more aggressive approach, repeatedly summoning him after he falls. Cards like Bone Shards exemplify this latter style, allowing Osty to inflict nine damage on all foes and provide nine block before making a dramatic, albeit temporary, exit.
But the Necrobinder’s power extends beyond Osty. Her toolkit features the intriguing ‘Doom’ mechanic. Similar to Poison, Doom stacks on enemies but doesn’t inflict damage or diminish over turns. Instead, when an enemy’s accumulated Doom level surpasses or matches its current health, it’s instantly obliterated. This unique effect serves as an alternative damage source, allowing players to bypass frustrating healing mechanics.
Doom also offers strategic depth. Consider Neurosurge, a new Necrobinder power: it provides a substantial tempo boost, granting three extra energy and two card draws. The catch? It inflicts three Doom on you each turn, creating a self-imposed countdown. While no cards were explicitly shown today, it’s highly likely clever players will find ways to weaponize their own Doom stacks against opponents.
Rounding out today’s reveals (though certainly not all the Necrobinder has to offer) are Souls and transformations. Soul cards are potent, single-use skill cards created through various actions. They allow you to draw two cards for zero mana before exhausting, providing an astonishingly powerful draw engine.
Transformations represent a broader thematic element, applying unique keywords to cards throughout your deck. For instance, the one-mana attack Sculpting Strike deals eight damage and makes another card in your hand ethereal (it vanishes if not played that turn). Similarly, the Transfigure skill, also costing one mana, grants a card the ‘replay’ effect but increases its future cost.
These insights provide a tantalizing look at the lich and her extraordinary companion. Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano also addressed some community queries. He confirmed that ‘save scumming’—quitting and reloading to retry decisions—will still be possible in Slay the Spire 2, empowering players to ‘play how they want.’ Regarding potential collaboration events, Yano expressed uncertainty, noting that while he feels they can sometimes dilute a game’s identity, it ultimately ‘depends on the genre.’
Mark your calendars: Slay the Spire 2 is set to launch into early access in March 2026. For more updates, including community Q&A and glimpses of mysterious monster concepts, keep an eye on Mega Crit’s latest ‘Neowsletter’ announcements.
While you wait for StS 2, explore some of the best card games currently available on PC. And for those who love the original, consider enjoying it on the go with the top gaming handhelds of 2025.
What unique mechanics would you design for the Necrobinder? Share your ideas and join the conversation with thousands of fellow readers on the PCGamesN community Discord.