Stats note: Mega Crit's May 2026 Neowsletter reported more than 240 million runs and shared broad win-rate numbers, including an A10 win rate around 17 percent at the time. This guide explains how to turn that information into better run decisions.
Source: The Neowsletter - May 2026 on Steam.
Why A10 Feels So Strange
The official stats created an interesting discussion: if A10's reported win rate is around 17 percent, why do so many players still feel like they are getting crushed?
The answer is that averages hide texture. A global win rate includes experienced players, streak attempts, experimental runs, abandoned habits, strong characters, weak characters, beta branch changes, and players still learning basic route evaluation. A 17 percent average does not mean your personal run should feel fair every time. It means the game is asking for consistent decisions, and small mistakes still compound quickly.
A10 is difficult because it punishes the middle layer of play. New players lose to obvious mistakes. Strong players recover from awkward starts. A10 learners often know the concepts but apply them too late.
The Four Most Common A10 Losses
Most A10 losses come from one of four patterns.
| Loss Pattern | What It Looks Like | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Early damage gap | Hallway fights cost too much health | Draft efficient attacks earlier |
| Deck bloat | Good cards appear too rarely | Skip mediocre rewards and buy removal |
| Elite greed | You take relic fights without support | Check damage, potion, and campfire access |
| Boss mismatch | The deck reaches the boss but has no scaling or block plan | Draft for the boss before the final shop |
The useful thing about these patterns is that they are visible before the run dies. If you learn to notice them earlier, your A10 win rate improves without needing perfect card knowledge.
Act 1: Stop Building a Future Deck Too Early
A10 Act 1 is about surviving while building enough power to snowball. The biggest mistake is drafting for a beautiful Act 3 deck before the deck can handle the next four fights.
Your first priority is front-loaded damage. Not every attack is exciting, but early damage protects health, makes elites possible, and lets campfires become upgrades instead of emergency rests.
After damage, you need practical defense. Do not draft only block, but do not pretend damage solves every fight. The best Act 1 rewards are cards that let you attack and defend without needing perfect hands.
Ask after every reward:
- Does this help in the next elite?
- Does it make my best cards harder to draw?
- Does it solve a real weakness or just look strong?
If a card does not answer those questions well, skipping is allowed.
Act 2: Respect the Health Tax
Many A10 runs die in Act 2 because the player leaves Act 1 feeling strong and then spends health too casually. Act 2 punishes decks that have only one mode.
You need block for large turns, damage for scaling enemies, and draw or energy so the deck does not collapse when the wrong half appears first.
Before choosing an aggressive route, check your health and potion slots. A good potion can justify an elite. An empty potion belt should make you more conservative. A campfire before or after danger changes everything.
The best A10 players are not fearless. They are selective. They know when a route is worth the risk.
Act 3: Boss Prep Starts Before the Boss
If you reach the final boss and only then realize your deck cannot scale, it is already late. Boss preparation starts as soon as the act begins.
Check four jobs:
- Can I block a bad attack turn?
- Can I deal enough damage before the fight gets out of control?
- Can I scale for long fights?
- Do I have a potion or relic that covers a weak point?
If one job is missing, use card rewards, shops, campfires, and potions to patch it. Do not spend the final shop on general value if the boss requires a specific answer.
How to Use Potions Better
Potion mistakes are one of the easiest A10 leaks to fix. Many players save potions for a perfect moment that never comes. Others use them after the fight is already lost.
Use potions when they convert into permanent value:
- Saving 15 health
- Letting you take an upgrade instead of resting
- Winning an elite that gives a relic
- Preventing a boss fight from spiraling
- Keeping a strong route alive
A potion used to preserve a run is not wasted. It is part of the deck's temporary power budget.
Character Choice and A10 Learning
The official Neowsletter also noted that character play is fairly evenly distributed, with a slight lean toward Ironclad and Silent. That makes sense. They are available earlier and their basic plans are easier to read.
For learning A10, do not switch characters every run. Spend several runs with one character until you recognize the starter deck's problems. Ironclad often wants clean damage and sustain timing. Silent often wants efficient attacks and draw discipline. Regent needs Stars without sacrificing defense. Necrobinder needs to balance Osty, Doom, and real tempo. Defect needs smoother orb, draw, and energy planning.
Switching is fun, but repetition teaches.
A Simple A10 Review Habit
After each loss, write one sentence:
"I lost because my deck lacked ____ before ____."
Examples:
- I lost because my deck lacked early damage before the first elite.
- I lost because my deck lacked block before Act 2 burst turns.
- I lost because my deck lacked scaling before the boss.
- I lost because my route took two elites without potion support.
This is more useful than blaming one bad draw. Bad draws happen. The question is why the deck had no backup plan.
Best Default Plan
To improve A10 quickly, simplify your decisions. Draft early damage. Skip weak cards. Use potions before the run breaks. Take elites when the deck has support, not because relics are exciting. Prepare for bosses before the final room.
The global win rate says A10 is winnable. Your job is to make each run less dependent on perfect luck.
FAQ
What is the reported A10 win rate in Slay the Spire 2?
The May 2026 Neowsletter reported an A10 win rate around 17 percent at the time of writing, compared with about 16 percent on A0.
Why can A10 feel harder than the stats suggest?
Average win rate hides uneven experience. Strong players pull the number up, while learning players often lose to early pathing, deck bloat, elite greed, or boss preparation gaps.
What is the fastest way to improve at A10?
Focus on repeatable decisions: early damage, cleaner card rewards, potion use before danger, realistic elite pathing, and boss preparation before the last campfire.