Patch read: Ironclad gains better top-end numbers in v0.109, but several familiar cards move between rarity bands. The class can hit harder; the old draft path is less predictable. Build the Energy plan you have, not the common Bloodletting you hope to see later.
Every confirmed Ironclad change
| Card | v0.109 change | Draft consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Demon Form | 3(4) Strength per turn, up from 2(3) | Faster payoff after the setup turn |
| Expect a Fight | Additional Energy can be gained again | Combo and high-output turns reopen |
| Primal Force | 20(24) damage, up from 16(20) | Better immediate answer to early HP checks |
| Giant Rock | 20(24) damage, up from 16(20) | Same stronger front-loaded role |
| Taunt | 6(7) Block and now Common | Slightly weaker copy, much easier to find |
| Bloodletting | Common to Uncommon | Energy access is less reliable |
| Cruelty | Rare to Uncommon | Its package can appear more often |
| Dominate | Uncommon to Rare | A familiar payoff becomes less consistent |
Rarity changes are balance changes even when card text is untouched. They alter what a deck can reasonably expect before the next boss.
Demon Form reaches the payoff sooner
Demon Form still costs a setup turn. The buff does not make that turn safe; it shortens the time before the Strength repays the investment.
At base, the new card produces three additional Strength after one trigger instead of two. Multi-hit attacks convert that difference quickly, while a deck full of expensive single hits may still struggle to play the Power and survive.
Take it more confidently when:
- the deck already blocks the first dangerous boss turns;
- several attacks scale with Strength or hit multiple times;
- draw can find Demon Form before the fight is nearly over;
- the route contains long fights where repeated triggers matter.
Pass when the next elite demands immediate damage, the deck cannot spare three Energy, or another scaling engine is already sufficient. A buffed slow card is still slow.
Bloodletting is no longer a draft assumption
Moving Bloodletting from Common to Uncommon changes expensive decks. A player could previously take a speculative high-cost card and expect that common Energy support had a fair chance to appear. That line is now less reliable.
Use this curve check after each reward:
| Question | Healthy answer |
|---|---|
| How many two- and three-cost cards are competing? | Few enough that an ordinary hand can function |
| What creates extra Energy right now? | A card or relic already owned, not a future hope |
| Can the deck act after playing Demon Form? | Block, a potion, or a safe enemy turn exists |
| Does draw find the Energy card and payoff together? | The deck has enough draw or a small enough cycle |
The draw and Energy guide becomes more relevant under this rarity distribution. Energy without draw can produce an empty hand; draw without Energy produces an expensive queue.
Expect a Fight and combo turns
Expect a Fight no longer prevents additional Energy gain during the turn. That removes a rule that capped some sequences and allows Energy generation to stack again. The correct response is not to force an infinite immediately. First check whether the pieces improve normal combat before the full loop exists.
A robust combo shell should:
- draw through the deck without relying on one exact opening;
- remove or Exhaust starter cards that interrupt the loop;
- survive enemies that add statuses or punish repeated actions;
- still produce damage rather than cycling without progress;
- function when one key card is on the bottom of the draw pile.
Feel No Pain and Dark Embrace illustrate why Exhaust packages can remain useful before becoming infinite. Defense and draw are real jobs at every stage.
Taunt, Cruelty, and Dominate change availability
Taunt loses one Block but becomes Common. That makes it a more regular defensive tool and reduces the cost of missing one copy. Evaluate it as a role player rather than comparing only the old and new block number.
Cruelty moving to Uncommon means its strategy can appear earlier and more often. Dominate moving to Rare does the opposite. A Dominate-centered plan should now start only when the card is already owned or when the deck has alternative payoffs. Do not draft three setup cards for a Rare that may never appear.
This is where static tier lists fail. A powerful Rare and a slightly weaker Common answer different draft questions.
Primal Force and Giant Rock improve early checks
Both attacks rise to 20(24) damage. Four extra base damage can cross an elite or hallway breakpoint, especially before Strength scaling is online. Their opportunity cost still includes Energy and deck space, so compare them to the next map segment.
If the deck already wins short fights but loses bosses, another front-loaded attack may not solve the actual problem. If the first elite is two floors away, the immediate number can be exactly what the route needs.
Updated Ironclad draft order
- Secure enough front-loaded damage for the first dangerous fights.
- Add defense that works without perfect draw.
- Build an Energy plan from cards and relics already owned.
- Choose scaling that fits the attack package.
- Use rarity knowledge to judge how likely missing support is to appear.
The Ironclad guide covers the stable class fundamentals, and the Exhaust build guide explains how to make removal effects useful before a full engine exists.
Source and branch note
The values and rarity shifts were checked against Mega Crit's official v0.109.0 beta notes and the Untapped summary. Linked database cards still show current main-branch v0.107.1 data until the beta is promoted.
FAQ
Is Demon Form an automatic pick now?
No. It scales faster, but the setup turn and Energy cost still matter. Take it when the deck can survive long enough to collect the new payoff.
Does Bloodletting still work the same way?
The v0.109 patch changes its rarity from Common to Uncommon. The strategic effect is lower availability, which matters to decks that assumed it would complete an expensive curve.
Did Dominate's text get nerfed?
The listed change is rarity, not effect. Moving to Rare is still a consistency nerf because fewer runs will see it.
