Slay the Spire 2 builds on its predecessor with a brand-new progression system that keeps every run feeling fresh and rewarding. If you have noticed the words Epoch Unlocked or Epoch Discovered flashing on screen and wondered what they mean, this guide breaks down exactly how the Epoch system works, what you can unlock, and how to make the most of the Timeline.
What Is the Epoch System in Slay the Spire 2?
The Epoch system is the main metaprogression mechanic in Slay the Spire 2, replacing the character-specific unlock tiers from the original game. Rather than levelling up each character individually to earn new cards and relics, Slay the Spire 2 tracks milestones across all of your runs and converts them into Epoch progress.
Each Epoch you unlock expands the game with new content, including:
- New cards and relics
- New potions
- Playable characters
- Ancients that offer powerful run-defining boons
- Additional lore and narrative that explains why the Spire needs slaying a second time
Because most Epoch rewards apply across all characters, the system actively encourages you to experiment with different builds and playstyles rather than sticking to one character. Since Slay the Spire 2 is currently in Early Access, around 37 to 39 Epochs are active right now, with more planned for post-launch content.
How Do You Unlock Epochs?
Epochs unlock through two main routes:
1. Accumulating run score After every run, whether you win or die at the boss, the game tallies your performance. Metrics like floors climbed, elites defeated, gold gained, and bosses killed all feed into the Epoch progress bar. Winning a run accelerates this progress noticeably. Enough accumulated score pushes you to the next score-based Epoch.
2. Completing character-specific milestones Certain Epochs unlock only when you hit specific goals with individual characters, such as clearing a particular Act, defeating a set number of bosses, or reaching a new Ascension level. When you fulfil one of these requirements mid-run without expecting it, the game surfaces the Epoch Discovered notification on screen.
What Is the Timeline in Slay the Spire 2?
The Timeline is the hub where all your unlocked Epochs live. You access it from the main menu, and it presents your progression chronologically so you can see both what you have already unlocked and what goals lie ahead.
One important detail to note: unlocking an Epoch does not automatically add its rewards to your runs. You need to visit the Timeline and interact with each newly unlocked Epoch to activate its content. Checking the Timeline regularly after your runs is worth making a habit of, otherwise you might be missing relics and cards that are already waiting for you.
How Do You Unlock Each Character?
The five playable characters in Slay the Spire 2 unlock in a specific chain via Epoch progression. Ironclad is available from the start, and each subsequent character unlocks by playing a run with the previous one:
| Step | Action | Character Unlocked |
| Start | Available immediately | Ironclad |
| Fog Rolls In | Play a run with Ironclad | Silent |
| Anomalous Planet | Play a run with Silent | Regent |
| Life and Death | Play a run with Regent | Necrobinder |
| Booting Up | Play a run with Necrobinder | Defect |
Note that Defect does not have a dedicated “play” Epoch the way the other characters do, as it sits at the end of the unlock chain.
All Epochs in Slay the Spire 2 and How to Unlock Them
Shared and Score-Based Epochs
These Epochs unlock either through general run score accumulation or by completing specific cross-character goals. The score-based entries fill as your overall progress bar builds across runs.
| Epoch | How to Unlock | Rewards (Examples) |
| Neow | Finish your first run | Ancient: Neow |
| Seeds | Complete Act 3 three times | Custom mode |
| The Daily | Complete Act 3 with all five characters | Daily mode |
| Orobas | Play a run with every character | Ancient: Orobas |
| Darv | Meet all the Ancients | Ancient: Darv |
| Ancients | Score-based | Relics: Book of Five Rings, Kusarigama, Ice Cream |
| Open | Score-based | Potions: Beetle Juice, Mazaleth’s Gift, Droplet of Precognition |
| Preon | Score-based | Cards: Automation, Catastrophe, Entropy |
| Scribbles | Score-based | Relics: Reptile Trinket, Unsettling Lamp, Intimidating Helmet |
| The Architect | Score-based | Cards: Prep Time, Eternal Armor, Jackpot |
| The Calm | Score-based | Potions: Powdered Demise and others |
| Traitors | Score-based | Cards: Prowess and others |
| Civilization | Score-based | Relics: Festive Popper and others |
| Slumber | Score-based | Cards |
| Consequences | Score-based | Relics |
| Buy Something! | Score-based | Cards |
| The Spire / Arise / Cultists / They Return | Score-based | Event-related unlocks |
| Underdocks | Score-based | Alternate Act 1 |
Ironclad Epochs
| Epoch | How to Unlock | Rewards (Examples) |
| Fog Rolls In | Play a run with Ironclad | Unlocks Silent |
| The Ironclad | Complete Act 1 with Ironclad | Cards: Molten Fist and others |
| Devastation | Complete Act 2 with Ironclad | Ironclad content |
| The Pact | Complete Act 3 with Ironclad | Ironclad content |
| Ablaze | Kill 15 Elites with Ironclad | Ironclad content |
| Snuffed | Kill 15 Bosses with Ironclad | Ironclad content |
| My Face | Beat Ascension 1 with Ironclad | Ironclad content |
Silent Epochs
| Epoch | How to Unlock | Rewards (Examples) |
| Anomalous Planet | Play a run with Silent | Unlocks Regent |
| Bigger Prey | Complete Act 1 with Silent | Silent content |
| Ill | Complete Act 2 with Silent | Silent content |
| Trophies | Complete Act 3 with Silent | Silent content |
| Prisoner | Kill 15 Elites with Silent | Cards: Reflex and others |
| Nemesis | Kill 15 Bosses with Silent | Silent content |
| Soup | Complete Ascension 1 with Silent | Silent content |
Regent Epochs
| Epoch | How to Unlock | Rewards (Examples) |
| Life and Death | Play a run with Regent | Unlocks Necrobinder |
| I Arrive | Complete Act 1 with Regent | Regent content |
| We Need a Hero | Complete Act 2 with Regent | Regent content |
| Grand Strategy | Complete Act 3 with Regent | Regent content |
| Friends | Kill 15 Elites with Regent | Regent content |
| Discontent | Kill 15 Bosses with Regent | Regent content |
| Little King | Complete Ascension 1 with Regent | Regent content |
Necrobinder Epochs
| Epoch | How to Unlock | Rewards (Examples) |
| Booting Up | Play a run with Necrobinder | Unlocks Defect |
| The Twelve | Complete Act 1 with Necrobinder | Necrobinder content |
| Futility | Complete Act 2 with Necrobinder | Necrobinder content |
| Spireborn | Complete Act 3 with Necrobinder | Necrobinder content |
| The Giant | Kill 15 Elites with Necrobinder | Necrobinder content |
| Annihilation | Kill 15 Bosses with Necrobinder | Necrobinder content |
| To Kill | Complete Ascension 1 with Necrobinder | Necrobinder content |
Defect Epochs
| Epoch | How to Unlock | Rewards (Examples) |
| Tricked | Complete Act 1 with Defect | Defect content |
| Hello! Hello! | Complete Act 2 with Defect | Defect content |
| Resolving Bugs | Complete Act 3 with Defect | Defect content |
| Confrontation | Kill 15 Elites with Defect | Defect content |
| Laser Beams | Kill 15 Bosses with Defect | Defect content |
| Ooh Shiny! | Complete Ascension 1 with Defect | Defect content |
Do Co-Op Runs Count Toward Epoch Progress?
Yes, co-op runs contribute to your personal Epoch progression. Completing major milestones during a cooperative run, such as defeating bosses or clearing acts with a character, counts toward your individual Epoch progress bar. However, because Slay the Spire 2 is still in Early Access, the exact details of how co-op interacts with the system may change as updates roll out.
Tips for Unlocking Epochs Faster
- Check the Timeline regularly. Rewards do not activate automatically, so visiting the Timeline after each session ensures you are always playing with everything you have earned.
- Rotate between characters. Several of the most impactful Epochs, such as Orobas and The Daily, require you to play with multiple characters. Spreading your runs across the roster unlocks content faster than grinding a single character.
- Prioritise Elite fights. Multiple Epochs across every character require killing 15 Elites. Pathing toward Elites consistently is one of the most efficient ways to clear these milestones while also collecting relics.
- Push Act completions in order. The Act-based Epochs per character chain naturally from Act 1 through to Act 3. Clearing them in sequence knocks out three Epochs per character in a logical progression.
- Win runs to speed up score-based Epochs. Winning accelerates how quickly your score bar fills, so the score-based shared Epochs unlock faster the stronger your runs become.
- If you feel stuck, switch characters. Progress on one character directly benefits the rest of your roster, so trying a different character is never wasted effort in Slay the Spire 2.
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