Slay the Spire 2 Amalgamator – Ultimate Strike or Ultimate Defend?

Slay the Spire 2’s Amalgamator is one of my favorite events in the game. You can encounter it in Unknown Rooms during Act 2: Hive. This event lets you choose between removing two Strikes or Defends in exchange for an upgraded version of the card you select.

Here’s a detailed guide to the Slay the Spire 2 Amalgamator event, what it does, and which option is the better pick for your deck.

STS 2 Amalgamator event guide – Should you remove Strikes or Defends?

The Slay the Spire 2 Amalgamator event will make you choose between the following choices:

• Combine Strikes: Remove 2 Strikes. Add Ultimate Strike to your Deck.
• Combine Defends: Remove 2 Defends. Add Ultimate Defend to your Deck.

In Slay the Spire 2, removing Strikes and Defends is a great way to thin out your deck, especially when aiming for an infinite build. Doing so increases the chances of drawing only the cards that are actually useful as the run progresses into the late game. This makes events like this particularly valuable.

Deck thinning can be done through certain events or by paying gold at merchants. In this case, you’re effectively replacing basic cards with much stronger alternatives at the same cost.

So should you pick Ultimate Strike or Ultimate Defend?

Between the two options, Combine Strikes is a better option.

Generally speaking, receiving Ultimate Strikes is the best option as it’s better to get rid of Strikes instead of Defends. Blocks are always useful, especially if you have the Colorless Cards, Fasten. Moreover, Dexterity stats scale better for Defends, compared to Strengths with Strikes.

By picking Ultimate Strikes, you’ll end up with one fewer Strike, saving you the gold you would have spent removing it through the Merchant’s Card Removal service. You’re also left with a card that deals double the damage of a normal Strike.

Check out more Slay the Spire 2 guides!

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