Velvet Choker in Slay the Spire is one of the most distinctive and strategic relics in the game, offering both significant benefits and crucial limitations. As players ascend through the spire, the relic choices they make define the rhythm of each run, and Velvet Choker stands out due to the unique restrictions it places on card play. For those unfamiliar with the mechanics, this relic appears simple at first glance, but its implications are far-reaching, especially for players who enjoy building fast-paced, combo-heavy decks. Understanding how Velvet Choker works and when to use it can mean the difference between a successful climb or an early defeat.
What Is Velvet Choker in Slay the Spire?
Velvet Choker is a boss relic in Slay the Spire that provides the player with one additional Energy each turn a powerful advantage in most deck builds. However, it comes with a drawback: you can only play up to 6 cards per turn. Once you play your sixth card, you can’t play any more for the rest of that turn, no matter how much energy or how many zero-cost cards you have.
Velvet Choker Details
- Type: Boss Relic
- Effect: Gain +1 Energy at the start of each turn
- Limitation: You cannot play more than 6 cards each turn
This dual effect makes the Velvet Choker one of the most divisive relics among players. While the extra energy provides greater flexibility and damage potential, the card limit can be especially punishing for decks that rely on long chains of low-cost or zero-cost cards.
Understanding the Strategy Behind Velvet Choker
To use Velvet Choker effectively, it’s crucial to build your deck with intention. It is not a relic that fits every archetype, and poor synergy can lead to major inefficiencies. For players focused on energy-hungry cards or big-damage turns with a few key plays, the choker is a massive boost. On the other hand, combo decks that depend on drawing and playing multiple cards in a single turn may be stifled by the card limit.
Decks That Work Well With Velvet Choker
Certain deck styles and character builds align naturally with the Velvet Choker’s strengths. These include:
- Ironclad Heavy Hitter Decks: Using high-cost cards like Bludgeon or Fiend Fire
- Silent Shivless Poison Decks: Focused on Noxious Fumes and Deadly Poison rather than Shiv generation
- Defect Orb-Focused Decks: Emphasizing passive damage from Frost or Lightning Orbs instead of card spam
- Watcher Retain Decks: Utilizing retained cards like Lesson Learned or powerful attacks with high impact
Each of these deck types tends to use fewer cards per turn but needs more energy to power large individual plays. The Velvet Choker fits naturally here, turning one extra energy into powerful attacks or defenses.
Decks That Struggle With Velvet Choker
While some builds benefit from the relic, others struggle. Velvet Choker can seriously limit strategies that rely on chaining many cards in rapid succession.
Decks to Avoid When Using Velvet Choker
- Silent Shiv Decks: Often play 10+ cards per turn, especially with Accuracy and Infinite Blades
- Watcher Wrath Loop Decks: Utilize card draw and zero-cost cards to explode in a single turn
- Defect Claw or Echo Form Decks: Require lots of small cards to gain value over time
In these cases, the six-card-per-turn limitation becomes a major bottleneck. Even with high energy, players can’t use all their resources effectively if their turn ends prematurely after just six actions. This can lead to wasted turns and missed kill windows, especially in elite or boss fights.
Velvet Choker and Card Draw Synergy
Another point to consider when choosing Velvet Choker is how it interacts with draw-heavy decks. If your strategy involves drawing 4 or 5 cards in a single turn beyond your opening hand, you might find yourself frustrated by the inability to use all of them. In fact, relics or cards that enhance card draw, such as Battle Trance or Acrobatics, can become less useful or even counterproductive under the six-card limit.
How to Manage Card Draw With Choker
- Prioritize cards that draw and play simultaneously like Backflip (block + draw)
- Avoid pure draw cards unless they offer immense value
- Be selective with your turn sequence to play the most important cards first
- Consider scry mechanics to control hand content without drawing
By limiting unnecessary draws and focusing on meaningful plays, players can still perform well even within Velvet Choker’s limitations.
Advanced Tips for Using Velvet Choker
To master the Velvet Choker in Slay the Spire, players must shift their mindset and approach to deckbuilding. Instead of relying on long turns and explosive chains, the focus turns toward maximizing each card’s impact. Planning your turn before playing the first card becomes crucial, especially when facing enemies that require careful resource management.
Best Practices With Velvet Choker
- Count Your Plays: Always keep track of how many cards you’ve played.
- Prioritize Efficiency: Use high-impact cards that deliver value per energy and per card.
- Avoid Auto-Pilot: Don’t click cards out of habit think ahead and plan each move.
- Pair With Damage-Over-Time Effects: Poison, orbs, or strength scaling can provide power beyond card plays.
Veteran players often avoid this relic in decks that favor improvisation or card spam, but when used correctly, Velvet Choker offers a reliable framework for powerful turns that require less thinking time and yield consistent outcomes.
Velvet Choker in Ascension Runs
In higher Ascension levels, efficiency becomes even more important. Enemies hit harder and have more HP, so misplays are punished more severely. Velvet Choker can be a valuable relic in these scenarios when paired with a clear game plan. Since planning and control are vital in high-difficulty runs, Velvet Choker forces discipline and reduces reckless turn-spamming that could otherwise lead to poor outcomes.
When to Pick Velvet Choker in Ascension
- When your deck contains 2-3 cost cards with strong synergy
- If you have limited draw and no need for long combo turns
- When you already removed low-impact cards and are trimming the deck
- If other boss relics on offer are worse (e.g., Ectoplasm in a shop-heavy run)
Evaluating boss relic choices should always be contextual, but Velvet Choker is rarely a terrible pick when used with foresight and a deck that’s built around its strengths.
Velvet Choker in Slay the Spire is a relic that challenges players to rethink their turn strategy. While it adds valuable energy, it demands precise decision-making by limiting card plays. It’s not a universal solution, but in the right deck, Velvet Choker can be a game-winning asset. Whether you’re building a heavy-hitting Ironclad, a poison-focused Silent, or a power-stacking Defect, knowing when and how to use Velvet Choker will greatly improve your overall success in the spire. The relic is a lesson in restraint, focus, and maximizing value a true test for strategic players aiming to reach the top floor.