In Slay the Spire 2 Howl from Beyond is a powerful attack card that deals 16 damage (and 21 damage once upgraded) to all enemies at the very same time. But it costs three Energy, which is expensive. Although, the real power lies in its Exhaust Pile. At the start of the next turn, it’ll trigger an attack that costs no energy. Let’s break it down.
What you will read
Howl from Beyond Card Stats
First things first, take a look at Howl from Beyond’s stats, plus when you upgrade it:
| Character | Type | Damage | Cost | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ironclad | Attack | 16 (21 once upgraded) | 3 Energy | Uncommon |
This card deals 16 damage (and 21 damage once upgraded) to all enemies simultaneously, which is absolutely devastating.
How Does Howl from Beyond Work?
There are obviously two ways to go about how you want to play your Howl from Beyond card:
- Play it normally, which costs you 3 Energy and, after dealing the damage, sends it straight to your Discard pile. Choose this route if you desperately need the damage or kill right now. Though keep in mind, you won’t be able to benefit from its auto-cast effect afterwards. I wouldn’t do that unless it’s super duper urgent.
- Exhaust it. That’s how, I believe, Howl from Beyond is meant to be played. You can also save your energy this way. At the start of your next turn, Howl from Beyond will trigger an attack that costs no energy.
Best Card Synergies for Howl from Beyond
In order to Exhaust a card like Howl from Beyond, you need an enabler card that costs 1 Energy. If you have no other Attack card in your hand, use Thrash to easily consume it.
You can also use Havoc to instantly Exhaust it, provided it sits on top of your deck. Burning Pact wouldn’t be a bad idea, the reason being it lets you draw two new cards while also Exhausting it.
Fiend Fire is especially good because it deals massive single-target damage. Rest assured, Howl from Beyond perfectly covers its weakness since it deals damage to the rest of the enemies. Cards like True Grit, Brand, Stoke, and the relic Pael’s Eye are all actually good, too.
Howl from Beyond Combos and Strategy
To give you an upper hand during your game, you can prep the Exhaust trigger right before enemies spawn multiple minions. The best strat would be to, first of all, play it normally. Then, place it back on top of your deck with Headbutt.
Now, all that’s left to do is use Havoc to play and instantly Exhaust it. This way, you will have a third free strike in your following turn.
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* Slay the Spire 2 Wax Relics
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Now for Fiend Fire, it requires a two-card combo to work effectively. That’s why it’s best if you keep Howl from Beyond in your hand until you draw your enabler. Any card or relic that grants Retain is a massive help to set up the Exhaust trigger.
For example, Charon’s Ashes is that relic you don’t want to miss out on. This is a dream relic for this build. It deals damage to all enemies every time you Exhaust a card. That means you get massive damage the moment you send Howl from Beyond to the Exhaust pile. On the next turn, you get its free damage, which is crazy.
In a specific Act 3 fight, all your cards gain the Ethereal status, which means they automatically Exhaust at the end of your turn if left unplayed. Howl from Beyond shows its worth here because it Exhausts itself for free and triggers its auto-cast on its own, without the need for any enablers.
Is Howl from Beyond Worth It?
If your deck revolves around the Exhaust mechanic, I’d say it’s definitely worth it. You can constantly wipe out enemy groups while also saving your energy, which is a big plus in a game like Slay the Spire 2.
At the end of the day, Howl from Beyond scales ridiculously well with Strength buffs and Vulnerable debuffs. You might wanna consider that. Now, that’s everything I have to share with you right now. Feel free to leave a comment and tell us how you’ve been playing with this amazing card.
