Leafy Poultice
S Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Transform 1 of your Strikes and 1 of your Defends and lose 10 Max HP.
Top-player reference
Slay the Spire 2 Ancient Tier
Ancient selections snowball entire runs, so this page now breaks them out by Ancient NPC instead of flattening everything together. Each Ancient gets its own S/A/B/C/D board, with hover notes focused on map timing, deck shape, and how reliable the payoff really is.
Hover the question-mark icon on any boon to see the short reasoning behind its tier inside that Ancient's pool.
What This Ranking Optimizes For
The page is adapted from the Ancient references you provided and cross-checked against the current Mobalytics Ancient guide. It now follows the actual pools for Neow, Orobas, Pael, Tezcatara, Nonupeipe, Vakuu, and Darv.
Neow
Opening-screen choices that define the first few fights and your earliest snowball.
S Tier
The cleanest Ancient boons: they either fix the early game immediately or create huge snowball with limited risk.
2 items
Lost Coffer
S Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, gain 1 card reward and procure 1 random potion.
A Tier
Excellent Ancient picks with strong average value, but slightly more dependence on map shape, deck state, or timing.
6 items
Cursed Pearl
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, receive Greed. Gain 333 Gold.
Golden Pearl
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, gain 150 Gold.
Lead Paperweight
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, choose 1 of 2 Colorless cards to add to your Deck.
Precarious Shears
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, remove 2 cards from your Deck and take 13 damage.
Silver Crucible
A Tier
Effect
The first 3 card rewards you see are Upgraded. The first Treasure Chest you open is empty.
Small Capsule
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, obtain a random Relic.
B Tier
Solid options with real upside, though they are either narrower, slower, or less consistent than the top tiers.
5 items
Arcane Scroll
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, obtain a random Rare Card to add to your Deck.
New Leaf
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Transform 1 card.
Nutritious Oyster
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, raise your Max HP by 11.
Pomander
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Upgrade a card.
Precise Scissors
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, remove 1 card from your Deck.
C Tier
Playable but awkward picks that often miss the fights and floor states where Ancient value matters most.
3 items
Booming Conch
C Tier
Effect
At the start of Elite combats, draw 2 additional cards.
Lava Rock
C Tier
Effect
The Act 1 Boss drops 2 Relics.
Neow's Torment
C Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, add 1 Neow's Fury to your Deck.
D Tier
Choices where the deck tax, randomness, or downside tends to outweigh the flashy upside.
3 items
Large Capsule
D Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, obtain 2 random Relics. Add an additional Strike and Defend to your Deck.
Scroll Boxes
D Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, lose all Gold and choose 1 of 2 packs of cards to add to your Deck.
Stone Humidifier
D Tier
Effect
Whenever you Rest at a Rest Site, raise your Max HP by 5.
Orobas
Act 2 options that mostly trade immediate stabilization against more speculative long-term upside.
A Tier
Excellent Ancient picks with strong average value, but slightly more dependence on map shape, deck state, or timing.
4 items
Alchemical Coffer
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, gain 4 potion slots filled with random potions.
Driftwood
A Tier
Effect
You may reroll each card reward once.
Glass Eye
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, obtain 2 Common cards, 2 Uncommon cards, and 1 Rare card.
Radiant Pearl
A Tier
Effect
At the start of each combat, add 1 Luminesce into your Hand.
B Tier
Solid options with real upside, though they are either narrower, slower, or less consistent than the top tiers.
2 items
Archaic Tooth
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Transform a starter card with an ancient version.
Touch of Orobas
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, replace your starter Relic with an Ancient version.
C Tier
Playable but awkward picks that often miss the fights and floor states where Ancient value matters most.
1 items
Electric Shrymp
C Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Enchant a Skill with Imbued.
D Tier
Choices where the deck tax, randomness, or downside tends to outweigh the flashy upside.
1 items
Prismatic Gem
D Tier
Effect
Gain 1 Energy at the start of each turn. Card rewards now contain cards from other colors.
Pael
Act 2 picks centered on draw loops, delayed value, and how much your deck can exploit them right away.
A Tier
Excellent Ancient picks with strong average value, but slightly more dependence on map shape, deck state, or timing.
2 items
Pael's Blood
A Tier
Effect
At the start of your turn, draw 1 additional card.
Pael's Wing
A Tier
Effect
You may sacrifice card rewards to Pael. Every 2 sacrifices, obtain a Relic.
B Tier
Solid options with real upside, though they are either narrower, slower, or less consistent than the top tiers.
3 items
Pael's Horn
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, add 2 Relax to your Deck.
Pael's Tears
B Tier
Effect
If you end your turn with unspent Energy, gain an additional Energy next turn.
Pael's Tooth
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, remove 5 cards from your Deck. After each combat, randomly add 1 back Upgraded.
C Tier
Playable but awkward picks that often miss the fights and floor states where Ancient value matters most.
3 items
Pael's Eye
C Tier
Effect
The first time each combat you end your turn without playing cards, Exhaust your Hand, and take an extra turn.
Pael's Flesh
C Tier
Effect
Gain an additional Energy at the start of your 3rd turn, and every turn after that.
Pael's Legion
C Tier
Effect
Doubles Block gained from a card, then goes to sleep for 2 turns.
D Tier
Choices where the deck tax, randomness, or downside tends to outweigh the flashy upside.
1 items
Pael's Growth
D Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Enchant a card with Clone.
Tezcatara
High-variance Act 2 choices with the widest gap between broken hits and run-killing misses.
S Tier
The cleanest Ancient boons: they either fix the early game immediately or create huge snowball with limited risk.
1 items
Storybook
S Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, add 1 Brightest Flame to your Deck.
A Tier
Excellent Ancient picks with strong average value, but slightly more dependence on map shape, deck state, or timing.
1 items
Yummy Cookie
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Upgrade 4 cards.
B Tier
Solid options with real upside, though they are either narrower, slower, or less consistent than the top tiers.
2 items
Golden Compass
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, replace the Act 2 Map with a single special path.
Very Hot Cocoa
B Tier
Effect
Start each combat with an additional 4 Energy.
C Tier
Playable but awkward picks that often miss the fights and floor states where Ancient value matters most.
2 items
Pumpkin Candle
C Tier
Effect
Gain 1 Energy at the start of each turn. Extinguishes at the start of Act 3.
Toy Box
C Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, obtain 4 Wax Relics. Every 3 combats, your left-most Wax Relic will melt away.
D Tier
Choices where the deck tax, randomness, or downside tends to outweigh the flashy upside.
3 items
Biiig Hug
D Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, remove 4 cards from your Deck. Whenever you shuffle your Draw Pile, add a Soot into your Draw Pile.
Nutritious Soup
D Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Enchant all Strikes in your Deck with Tezcatara's Ember.
Toasty Mittens
D Tier
Effect
At the start of your turn, Exhaust the top card of your Draw Pile and gain 1 Strength.
Nonupeipe
Act 3 options that reward decks already close to a clean boss-gauntlet plan.
S Tier
The cleanest Ancient boons: they either fix the early game immediately or create huge snowball with limited risk.
2 items
Beautiful Bracelet
S Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, choose 3 cards in your Deck. Enchant them with Swift 3.
Diamond Diadem
S Tier
Effect
Whenever you play 2 or fewer cards in a turn, take half damage from enemies.
A Tier
Excellent Ancient picks with strong average value, but slightly more dependence on map shape, deck state, or timing.
3 items
Blessed Antler
A Tier
Effect
Gain 1 Energy at the start of each turn. At the start of each combat, shuffle 3 Dazed into your Draw Pile.
Jewelry Box
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, add 1 Apotheosis to your Deck.
Throwing Axe
A Tier
Effect
The first card you play each combat is played an extra time.
B Tier
Solid options with real upside, though they are either narrower, slower, or less consistent than the top tiers.
3 items
Brilliant Scarf
B Tier
Effect
The 5th card you play each turn is free.
Glitter
B Tier
Effect
Enchant all card rewards with Glam.
War Hammer
B Tier
Effect
Whenever you kill an Elite, Upgrade 4 random cards.
C Tier
Playable but awkward picks that often miss the fights and floor states where Ancient value matters most.
2 items
Delicate Frond
C Tier
Effect
At the start of each combat, fill all empty potion slots with random potions.
Tri-Boomerang
C Tier
Effect
Choose 3 Attacks in your Deck. Enchant them with Instinct.
D Tier
Choices where the deck tax, randomness, or downside tends to outweigh the flashy upside.
1 items
Fur Coat
D Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, mark 7 random combats. Enemies in those rooms have 1 HP.
Vakuu
Act 3 choices with sharper downsides and more build-shaping effects than the average Ancient pool.
A Tier
Excellent Ancient picks with strong average value, but slightly more dependence on map shape, deck state, or timing.
1 items
Distinguished Cape
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, lose 9 Max HP. Add 3 Apparitions to your Deck.
B Tier
Solid options with real upside, though they are either narrower, slower, or less consistent than the top tiers.
3 items
Blood-Soaked Rose
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, add 1 Enthralled to your Deck. Gain 1 Energy at the start of each turn.
Fiddle
B Tier
Effect
At the start of each turn, draw 2 additional cards. You may not draw cards during your turn.
Music Box
B Tier
Effect
Create an Ethereal copy of the first Attack you play each turn.
C Tier
Playable but awkward picks that often miss the fights and floor states where Ancient value matters most.
2 items
Choices Paradox
C Tier
Effect
At the start of each combat, add 1 of 5 random cards into your Hand. Add Retain to the chosen card.
Jeweled Mask
C Tier
Effect
At the start of combat put a random Power from your Draw Pile into your Hand, it's free to play.
D Tier
Choices where the deck tax, randomness, or downside tends to outweigh the flashy upside.
3 items
Lord's Parasol
D Tier
Effect
When you encounter the Merchant, immediately obtain EVERYTHING he sells.
Sere Talon
D Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, add 2 random Curses and 3 Wishes to your Deck.
Whispering Earring
D Tier
Effect
Gain 1 Energy at the start of each turn. Vakuu plays your first turn for you.
Darv
Shared Act 2 and Act 3 options that function like universal boss-relic style pivots.
S Tier
The cleanest Ancient boons: they either fix the early game immediately or create huge snowball with limited risk.
2 items
Pandora's Box
S Tier
Effect
Transform ALL Strikes and Defends.
Runic Pyramid
S Tier
Effect
At the end of your turn, you no longer discard your Hand.
A Tier
Excellent Ancient picks with strong average value, but slightly more dependence on map shape, deck state, or timing.
1 items
Astrolabe
A Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, Transform 3 cards, then Upgrade them.
B Tier
Solid options with real upside, though they are either narrower, slower, or less consistent than the top tiers.
2 items
Dusty Tome
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, obtain an Ancient Card.
Empty Cage
B Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, remove 2 cards from your Deck.
C Tier
Playable but awkward picks that often miss the fights and floor states where Ancient value matters most.
3 items
Black Star
C Tier
Effect
Elites drop an additional Relic when defeated.
Calling Bell
C Tier
Effect
Upon pickup, obtain a unique Curse and 3 Relics.
Snecko Eye
C Tier
Effect
At the start of your turn, draw 2 additional cards. Start each combat Confused.