Decktamer: Beginner’s Guide

This guide will help you get to and clear hard (explorer) mode

If you’re new to roguelikes, remember it’s normal to lose. Some runs are just unlucky

• The Starter should have utility, Accompanying starters should “sustain” themselves. Kilimaro and Furble are great early starters. Amethyst Ant is a top tier Accompany, with great heals and high speed. Bull Weevil and Bell Rat die eventually, but work as solid early tanks.
• Try to keep only 5-7 tames. Less RNG that way and it lets you cycle “when placed” skills
• The basic idea of my comp looks like 1-2 damage carries, 1-2 tanks, some kind of support, and a throwaway meat shield for emergencies. Support could increase survivablility OR buff damage so that “hits all enemies” or “attack hits X times” hits big numbers. But by rounds 6-8 this changes since your attackers and tanks ideally buff themselves
• Generally you need 2 tanks and 2 damagers by round 8

• Pillar Pole (2*) and Hollow Ape (2*): cards like these that tank huge hits or heal substantially are essential
• Peacarp (1*): highly effective early debuffer. It can stay relevant the entire run

  
  

• Spinehog (2*): insane damage when buffed. It can come with “attacks first”, “attacks all enemies”, AND “attacks twice”
• Xiphonoir (4*, with Berserk talent): a solid panic button tame when you have no DPS on round 7

Most monsters only have 1 talent/move that’s desirable. If you see a great skill (like +2 ATK on kill, or move first for 1 turn when placed) but it’s on a bad monster, it might still be worth taming just to extract it

By mid-run you’ll need a damager that can safely 1v1 huge threats. That can be 1 shotting, out sustaining, or high-speed finishing when they’re vulnerable (but that takes meatshield fodder or a good tank). A monster swinging for 5+ damage can leave you with no options in just a few turns

Here’s a straightforward end-game carry:

• Use these wisely. You only get ~5 a run
• Forget to pack a meatshield? Extract a monster’s OP skills before it dies
• Don’t risk curses on an essential card
• The Golden Syringe reward can be great, but if you don’t draw that new DPS+Tank+Debuff masterpiece you’ll just lose. Spread the skills around to multiple carries

• Always take the beetle reward
• Remember to use items BEFORE everyone starts dying
• Don’t waste healing items on Starting Accompany cards
• Strategize before the fight. You might want an OP tame but how much will you sacrifice to get it?
• Specific synergies (Ex: poison, speed debuffing, sleep) are generally less important than building 1 or 2 very strong tames to carry you. The key card in your comp can die unexpectedly, but a damage carry with Sturdy becomes VERY hard to kill