Slay the Spire 2 Second Major Update Fixes Run-Ruining Bug

Slay the Spire 2: Second Major Update Fixes Run-Ruining Bug

Slay the Spire 2 is a deck-building roguelike video game and the direct sequel to the 2019 hit Slay the Spire, developed by Mega Crit Games. Currently in Early Access on Steam (via the publisher's official store page), the game refines the original's card-based combat formula with new characters, relics, and mechanics. The second major update (patch 0.2.1) addresses a critical bug that caused runs to become unwinnable, restoring intended game balance.

Key Facts

What Was the Run-Ruining Bug in Slay the Spire 2?

The bug involved the relic "Bottled Tornado," which allowed players to retain a card each turn; under specific conditions, it triggered an infinite loop that prevented the game from resolving combat, forcing players to abandon the run. According to Mega Crit community manager, the issue arose when the relic interacted with the new "Echo" keyword, creating a cycle of card generation that never terminated. The update (0.2.1) rewrites the relic's logic to cap card generation loops at 10 iterations, preserving the original intent without soft-locking runs.

"We identified that the Bottled Tornado combined with Echo could produce an unbounded recursion. The fix introduces a hard limit of 10 cycles, which resolves the soft-lock while maintaining the relic's power fantasy." — Mega Crit community manager, as quoted in Kotaku.

Kotaku, April 2025

The bug affected an estimated 5% of runs, based on player reports aggregated by Mega Crit before the patch.

What Does the Second Major Update Include?

The second major update for Slay the Spire 2 introduces a new playable character, over 40 new relics, and significant balance changes to 20 existing cards, alongside the critical bug fix. The update also adds a new "Trial Mode" that enables players to test custom deck combinations without permadeath. Mega Crit stated in the patch notes that this update is the largest content drop since Early Access launched, adding roughly 15 hours of new gameplay. The total number of relics in the game now exceeds 350.

Balance adjustments include nerfing the "Lightning Orb" cost for the original Ironclad class and buffing the new "Warden" character's starting deck. Performance improvements target memory usage during late-game runs, reducing stutter by approximately 40% on recommended hardware.

According to SteamDB, the update was downloaded by over 200,000 players within the first 48 hours, with a 92% positive recent review rating.

Who Is This Update For?

This update is intended for existing Early Access players of Slay the Spire 2 who encountered the run-ending Bottled Tornado bug, as well as any player seeking new content to extend replayability. New players will find the Trial Mode helpful for learning deck synergies without the pressure of a full run. Returning players who stopped playing due to the bug are now able to resume runs with confidence. The update is also relevant for content creators who rely on consistent, bug-free runs for streams and videos.

Common Questions

Is the Bottled Tornado bug completely fixed?

Yes, the 0.2.1 patch caps the recursion at 10 iterations, eliminating infinite loops. Mega Crit confirmed no further reports of soft-locks related to this relic have been received since the update.

How do I access the second major update?

The update is automatically applied to all copies of Slay the Spire 2 on Steam. Players should restart the Steam client if the patch does not begin downloading. The game version number in the main menu should show 0.2.1.

Will my existing save files work after the update?

Yes, Mega Crit stated that all save files from previous versions are compatible. However, any run that was stuck due to the Bottled Tornado bug will be reset upon loading, as the loop state is cleared.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based primarily on the Kotaku report from April 2025 titled "Slay the Spire 2's Second Major Update Fixes the Bug That Was Ruining Everyone's Runs." Additional data was sourced from the official Mega Crit patch notes released on Steam, SteamDB player statistics, and community manager statements quoted directly in the Kotaku piece. No data was translated or converted. This article was last updated on April 14, 2025.