I played through many events. The Trial is one of the weirdest parts in the game for sure. It usually appears in Act 3 when you are already stressed. If you are into these kinds of games, our Slay the Spire 2 guide will help you a lot! Let me explain all the details about this courtroom trap.
What we cover:
Should You Accept?
You might not have time to read the whole text. Here is the short answer on what you should do in this event.
- Accept the event: You survive and get to pick a reward based on three random scenarios.
- Reject the event twice: Your run ends immediately without any secret rewards.
What is The Trial Event?
During act 3, you find yourself in a line of people that are entering a building. You pass under a golden archway with horns blaring and confetti exploding. A mysterious figure named the Grand Arbiter labels you Entrant 271. He wants you to be the Decider for the day.
The game gives you a clear warning on the screen. It tells you that you are not allowed to reject the order.
What Happens If You Say No?
Many players want to know that saying no unlocks a hidden path or not. I actually tried this because I thought there would be an Easter egg or a secret boss fight.
The game asks you again and if you double down and reject the order twice, you get a prompt to abandon the run. You just die instantly. I even tried to outsmart the game by holding a fairy in a bottle to resurrect myself. The game ignores the fairy entirely.
What Happens If You Accept?
You sit in the chair of decision-making to start the trial. The game randomly selects one of three different cases for you to judge. You face two choices for each case.
All Three Trial Scenarios
Here is the outcome for every possible decision in the game:
| Trial Type | Verdict | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant Trial | Guilty | Add a Regret curse. Obtain 2 random Relics. |
| Merchant Trial | Innocent | Add a Shame curse. Upgrade 2 cards. |
| Noble Trial | Guilty | Heal 10 HP. |
| Noble Trial | Innocent | Add a Regret curse. Gain 300 Gold. |
| Nondescript Trial | Guilty | Add a Doubt curse. Gain 2 card rewards. |
| Nondescript Trial | Innocent | Add a Doubt curse. Transform 2 cards. |
Strategy: Dealing with Curses
You will notice that many of the best rewards force you to take a curse card. Curses like Regret and Doubt will severely punish you during tough boss fights. You should only take these cursed deals if you have a clear plan.
For example, the Omamori relic prevents the next curses from entering your deck completely. The Blue Candle allows you to exhaust a curse for just 1 HP. Also, a massive payout of 300 gold is useless if you do not have a merchant shop on your upcoming path. Keep in mind that taking any curse requires having solid STS 2 builds to survive the bad card draws.
Is There a Secret for Refusing?
Players on the community forums tested this event thoroughly. Everyone hoped for a hidden test or a special achievement in the full release. So far, no secret reward exists. You just lose your entire run if you keep refusing.
The Trial seems incredibly risky at first glance. It acts primarily as a fun narrative moment to test your deck economy. Accepting your role as Decider is the safest and most rewarding route. Just read your options carefully and pick the verdict that fits your current setup.
