Slay the Spire 2 starts with one character and expands the roster as you log runs with the classes you unlock along the way.
Quick answer: The Ironclad is unlocked from the start, then you unlock The Silent by playing one run with The Ironclad, The Regent by playing one run with The Silent, The Necrobinder by playing one run with The Regent, and The Defect by playing one run with The Necrobinder.
Slay the Spire 2 character unlock order
| Character | Unlock requirement | How you know it worked |
|---|---|---|
| The Ironclad | Available immediately | It appears on the character select screen from the start |
| The Silent | Play one run with The Ironclad | The Silent becomes selectable after that run ends |
| The Regent | Play one run with The Silent | The Regent appears on the character select screen |
| The Necrobinder | Play one run with The Regent | The Necrobinder becomes selectable after the run |
| The Defect | Play one run with The Necrobinder | The Defect appears as a playable option |
What counts as a run for character unlocks
A completed run is not required. Starting a run with the required character and ending it is enough, whether the run ends in a win, a loss, or a manual give-up.
The menu progression is tied to participation with that character, not to clearing the game. That means the unlock chain can move very quickly if your only goal is to open the full roster.
After your first ended or abandoned run, the Timeline menu also becomes visible. That menu tracks account progression and unlocks tied to your play history.
Fastest way to unlock every character
Step 1: Start a run with The Ironclad. Once the run begins, open the pause menu and choose Give Up if you want the fastest possible unlock path.
Step 2: Return to character select and choose The Silent. Start that run and end it the same way if speed is the only priority.
Step 3: Repeat the process with The Regent. Ending that run unlocks The Necrobinder.
Step 4: Start and end a run with The Necrobinder. When that run finishes, The Defect unlocks.
Starting stats and relics for every character
| Character | Starting HP | Starting coins | Starting relic |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Ironclad | 80 | 99 | Burning Blood |
| The Silent | 70 | 99 | Ring of the Snake |
| The Regent | 75 | 99 | Divine Right |
| The Necrobinder | 66 | 99 | Bound Phylactery |
| The Defect | 75 | 99 | Cracked Core |
What each character does
| Character | Core identity | Main mechanic |
|---|---|---|
| The Ironclad | Durable front-line attacker | Health tradeoffs, heavy hits, Exhaust-focused play |
| The Silent | Fast combo and damage-over-time class | Poison, draw and discard, shivs |
| The Regent | Resource-management class | Stars as a second energy type, Forge cards |
| The Necrobinder | Summoner and debuff class | Osty, Summon effects, Doom |
| The Defect | Flexible orb-based class | Channeling Orbs for offense, defense, and utility |
Common reasons a character does not unlock
The unlock will not trigger if you have not actually started a run with the required previous character. Simply highlighting a character on the select screen does nothing.
It also will not trigger if you skip the required order. The chain is fixed. You cannot unlock The Defect before running The Necrobinder, and you cannot access The Necrobinder before running The Regent.
If you are checking menus too early, finish or abandon the run first. The roster updates after the run ends.
The full unlock path is linear and simple. If you want to play naturally, each first run opens the next character in line. If you want immediate access to the whole cast, end one run with each required character in sequence, and the roster fills out almost instantly.