Strategies for Defeating Vantom in Slay the Spire 2

In Act 1 of Slay the Spire 2, Vantom stands out as the most challenging of the three bosses you might face. This encounter can be a significant hurdle, especially for newcomers, but don’t let the sight of his icon on the map make you want to restart your run in frustration!

With some strategic planning, you can take down this shadowy foe without too much trouble. Here’s how to conquer Vantom in Slay the Spire 2.

The primary challenge in battling Vantom is his Slippery status effect. In a standard solo run, he starts with nine points of Slippery, meaning that for the next nine hits he takes, you’ll only inflict 1 HP of damage. If you’re playing in co-op, enemy stats, including status effects, will scale up, but you’ll also have more chances to deal damage and chip away at his Slippery counter. Whether you’re going solo or teaming up with other spire-slayers, focus on maximizing the number of hits on Vantom rather than the damage per hit.

Vantom can be particularly annoying if your deck is built around high-damage attacks. Even if you come in swinging, your first three turns will barely scratch his HP. Before starting a run, check which boss awaits you at the end of the act and tailor your deck to counter them.

Early in your fight with Vantom, consider cards like Twin Strike, which lets you land multiple hits for just one energy. Alternatively, you can choose low-cost single attacks, but this will give Vantom more turns to wear you down.

Using a Duplication potion might not be worth it unless you’re in a tight spot; it’s better saved for later in the fight or for future acts. However, an attack potion is a solid choice for your strategy: it allows you to play an attack for free that turn, and it will remain in your deck for later use.

As the battle with Vantom unfolds, keep in mind that his damage output ramps up too. His attacks cycle through starting at a mere seven damage, eventually escalating to nearly 30 damage per turn, then repeating. Throughout this, he’ll also deal Wound cards that clutter your hand and hinder your ability to draw useful cards.

Since you’re at the end of an act and will fully heal before the next one, you can afford to let Vantom chip away at your health without jeopardizing your overall run. Just be mindful of where you are in his attack cycle and be ready to switch to a more defensive strategy when his menacing tail starts getting too close for comfort.