Slay the Spire 2 Card

Expect a Fight

Expect a Fight is an Uncommon Ironclad Skill that costs 2 energy. Gain 1 Energy for each Attack in your Hand. You cannot gain additional 1 Energy this turn.

Tracked beta change (v0.111.0 beta): Reworked into a 3-cost Skill: gain 15(16) Block plus 5(8) Block for each Strength you have. Official sourceThe facts below remain the current main-branch data until this beta is promoted.

Character: Ironclad
Type: Skill
Rarity: Uncommon
Cost: 2 Energy
Target: Self
Keywords: None

Compare this card

Quick verdict

Count the Attacks already in hand before spending 2 Energy

At the displayed 2-Energy cost, the card needs enough Attacks in hand to repay the setup. It is best in hands that convert the refund into a strong attack sequence immediately.

Card text

Gain 1 Energy for each Attack in your Hand. You cannot gain additional 1 Energy this turn.

Upgraded card text

This card has no separate upgraded text in the current data set.

How to evaluate it

Judge Expect a Fight by the job it fills in your current deck, the fights ahead, and whether its 2 energy competes with a more urgent play. A card being uncommon does not make it an automatic pick. Check its class guides and the current patch notes before treating any single-card rating as universal.

Related strategy

Use the guide search to find builds and boss plans that mention Expect a Fight, Ironclad, or skill.

Expect a Fight energy math

The card text grants 1 Energy for each Attack in your hand. With two Attacks visible, the listed gain matches the card's 2-Energy cost; three or more creates a positive Energy swing before other restrictions or effects are considered.

Count the hand you actually have, not the average Attack density of the deck. Drawing it beside Powers, Skills, or Status cards can make the same copy inefficient.

Best timing

Play it when the refreshed Energy enables attacks you can use right now. Draw and hand manipulation improve its consistency because they let you assemble the Attack-heavy hand before committing the 2 Energy.

Two Attacks: roughly break-even on the printed Energy exchange.
Three or more Attacks: potential positive Energy, if the attacks are worth playing.
Zero or one Attack: usually a poor use of the turn unless another effect changes the calculation.

Used in real decisions

Guides that mention Expect a Fight

Expect a Fight v0.111 Guide: Ironclad Strength BlockExpect a Fight was reworked in v0.111. Learn its Strength-to-Block math, when 3 Energy is worth it, and when Ironclad should pass.Slay the Spire 2 v0.111 Beta Patch Strategy GuideWhat changes in Slay the Spire 2 v0.111 beta: Hyperbeam, Expect a Fight, Regalite, enemy breakpoints, saves, and what to test first.Mangle or Pact's End: two different Ironclad answers in betaCompare beta Mangle's costly targeted turn with Pact's End's conditional group damage, and decide which problem your Ironclad deck needs to solve.Aeonglass Boss Guide: Moves, Turn Plan, and CountersBeat Aeonglass with a practical turn plan for Ebb, Eye Lasers, and Increasing Intensity, plus current branch values, potion jobs, and deck checks.

Quick answers

Expect a Fight FAQ

How many Attacks make Expect a Fight worth it?

At its listed 2-Energy cost, two Attacks repay the printed cost and three or more can produce a positive Energy swing. The attacks still need to be useful that turn.

Does Expect a Fight have different upgraded text?

The current data set does not list separate upgraded rules text for this card.