Synergy Chain
How the core cards connect
Corruption
Power · 3 cost
Fiend Fire
Attack · 2 cost
How It Plays
This archetype turns a weakness into strength — exhausting cards thins your deck and triggers payoff effects simultaneously. The ideal setup is to have payoff powers in play, then exhaust aggressively to generate Block, draw cards, and deal damage all at once. Corruption makes all Skills free but exhausts them, which is an insane combo with exhaust payoffs. By late game, your deck is razor-thin and you draw your best cards every single turn.
Core Cards
Must-have cards for this archetype
Support Cards
Good additions that strengthen the build
Key Relics
Dead Branch
Strange Spoon
Charon's Ashes
Gambling Chip
Act-by-Act Strategy
Act 1
Pick up exhaust cards like Whirlwind and True Grit. Even without payoff cards yet, exhausting Strikes and Defends improves your deck consistency.
Act 2
This is where the archetype comes online. Look for Corruption (the single best card for this build) and any exhaust payoff powers. Fiend Fire is premium removal that doubles as massive damage.
Act 3
With payoffs online, exhaust as aggressively as possible. Corruption + exhaust payoffs creates turns where you play your entire hand for free while generating massive Block and damage. Offering fuels huge turns.
Boss Matchups
Strong Against
Weak Against
Exhaust builds are strongest in long fights where you can get your payoff powers online. Be careful not to exhaust your key attack cards too early. Against bosses that add cards to your deck, exhaust those immediately to keep your engine clean.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- +Deck thinning makes every draw better
- +Corruption makes Skills cost 0 energy
- +Multiple simultaneous payoffs create explosive turns
- +Strong against encounters that add junk to your deck
Weaknesses
- -Relies on finding specific payoff powers
- -Can accidentally exhaust cards you still need
- -Weak before payoff powers are in play
- -Long fights can exhaust your entire deck if not careful
Other Ironclad Archetypes
Strength Engine
BeginnerStack Strength to amplify every attack, then unleash devastating multi-hit or heavy attacks. The classic Ironclad power fantasy.
Barricade Fortress
AdvancedStack Block permanently with Barricade, then double it with Entrench. Once your Block is sky-high, Body Slam converts it into massive damage.