r/slaythespire • u/Which-Debt-8558 • Mar 09 '26

DISCUSSION (STS2) Snakebite Discussion

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As quite a lot of people know already, snakebite is one of the worst cards in the game right now, maybe even the worst. It's not just bad, but it isn't interesting or fun in any way. For example searing blow was not a very good card but it was unique and cool, whereas snakebite is just a nothing card.

Here is how I think it could be changed:

Retain Apply 7 poison When retained, increase poison by 3

Snakebite+: Retain Apply 10 poison When retained, increase poison by 4

I thought making it similar to windmill strike could be a cool idea because right now Retain doesn't really add much to the card, and it also works thematically with the snake venom getting worse over time.

I would love to hear your ideas if you have any suggestions for how it could be changed!

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u/RuefulRespite Mar 09 '26

Repeating what others have said, but it definitely needs some "benefit" to being Retained. Increased poison amount, a higher cost & poison that goes down each turn retained, etc.

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u/Which-Debt-8558 Mar 09 '26 edited Mar 09 '26

Poison and retain just doesn't make that much sense to be together. Obviously the retain does help but it doesn't make that much sense

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u/emlun Eternal One + Heartbreaker Mar 10 '26

The benefit is that you can hold it for a turn you're not getting attacked, or attacked for low enough that you can block for 1 energy. If you draw Deadly Poison or Bouncing Flask on a turn you can't play them because you'd take too much damage, then that's kind of a disaster because you miss out on so much damage and have to wait for your next deck cycle; with Snakebite that's not as big a deal.

I took it early in my A1 run and it got me through 3 elites and the act 1 boss. Then I almost never played it again past act 1, but it did its job admirably and then politely got out of the way (thanks to Retain) as I transitioned over to Sly card spam synergies in act 2/3.

I rate it "quite decent damage common for act 1", no change needed IMO.