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This build leans into defense to dish out devastating damage. Your block sticks around turn after turn thanks to Barrier, and Body Slam turns every point of block straight into damage. Truly, the best defense is attacking.
4 Key Cards | 2 Key Relics | Tier A | Ironclad
4 Key Cards
This playstyle breaks away from Ironclad’s usual all-out aggression. Rather than boosting your Strength, your main goal is to amass Block, then unleash colossal damage with Body Slam. Barrier serves as the core of this combo. It preserves your Block through turn transitions, enabling you to gather hundreds of Block points across successive rounds. Defensive cards grant massive Block spikes, while Ignore efficiently adds Block and draws extra cards at the same time.
Act 1 - Early
In Act 1, pick up defensive cards such as Ignore, Iron Wave and True Grit. Body Slam still works well even before you get Barrier — a Block count of 15 to 20 can turn into solid damage. Inflame is great for upgrading your key cards in hand. Don’t focus solely on defense; you still need reliable damage output for regular hallway fights. Keep an eye out for Barrier at shops and card reward screens.Act 2 - Mid
Securing Barrier marks a major turning point for this build. Once it’s in play, every defensive card becomes a lasting asset. A single Invincible grants 30 Block, or 40 when upgraded — letting Body Slam deal 40 damage right on the next turn. Iron Wave and Crimson Mantle generate Block passively. Start cutting pure attack cards that don’t support your Block synergy. Second Wind exhausts all skills in your hand to gain Block for each one discarded.Act 3 - Late
By Act 3, your core combo will be fully operational: stack Block with Barrier active, then finish foes with Body Slam. During lengthy boss fights, focus purely on defensive cards for the first two to three turns. Once your Block climbs past 100, Body Slam delivers over 100 damage while your Block remains intact. Colossus grants a massive Block boost. Your biggest danger is the Time Eater stripping away your buffs, so always keep a backup plan ready.Card Pick Priority
Barricade
The build's keystone. Block no longer decays at end of turn. Everything else depends on this.Body Slam
Deals damage equal to current Block. Your primary and often only win condition.Impervious
30 Block for 2 Energy (40 upgraded). The single best Block card in the game.Shrug It Off
8 Block + draw 1 card. Efficient Block that cycles your deck toward key pieces.Stone Armor
Gain Plated Armor, adding passive Block every turn that Barricade preserves.Second Wind
Exhaust all non-Attack cards in hand, gaining Block for each. Massive Block burst.True Grit
7 Block and Exhaust a card. Thins your deck while adding Block.Iron Wave
5 Block + 5 damage in one card. Versatile early pickup that does both jobs.Flex / Alternative Cards
When core cards aren't available, these alternatives keep the build functional.
Relic Priority
Boss Strategy Tips
Guardian
The Guardian’s defensive stance poses no issue here. There’s no need to rush to take it down. Build up your Block over multiple turns, then strike hard with Body Slam when it goes on the offensive.Hexaghost
Against the Hexaghost, use Barricade to build up Block on your first turn, so you can fully absorb its Inferno attack on turn two After weathering this powerful strike, your Block will keep piling up, and the rest of the battle will be effortless.Slime Boss
Build Block before bursting past the 50% threshold When slimes split, your Body Slam will carry over all accumulated Block as damage to clean up.Time Eater
Dangerous: Time Eater can remove Barricade with its dispel Play Barricade as late as possible, and try to burst with Body Slam quickly after stacking Block.Collector
Let Block accumulate while minions attack uselessly Body Slam the boss directly — ignore minions unless they buff the boss significantly.A
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