Slay the Spire 2 introduces new mechanics to challenge players. Act 2 gets very difficult. You will meet an Ancient named Tezcatara during this time. She offers a unique blessing called the Toy Box. This box gives you four Wax Relics to boost your run.
Here is a quick summary of how they work:
- What they are: Four temporary items that grant an instant power boost.
- How they melt: One relic disappears permanently after every three combat encounters.
- Who gives them: Ancient Tezcatara at the beginning of Act 2.
- Best use case: Surviving early Act 2 and hunting Elites aggressively.
What we cover:
What Are Wax Relics in Slay the Spire 2?
Tezcatara gives the Toy Box at the start of Act 2. It is one of three random choices, so you do not always see it.
Wax Relics are basically temporary copies of any relic you have already unlocked. They are completely random. You could pull something amazing like Bronze Scales or something simple like Anchor. That’s why the Toy Box feels like a gamble, but a really strong one early in Act 2.
How Does the Wax Melting Mechanic Work?
You lose one relic after every three fights. Therefore, all four will likely vanish before you reach the end of Act 2 or early Act 3.
Important Tip: Here is something most players miss at first. The relics only melt after combat. Opening chests, visiting shops, hitting unknown events or resting at campfires does not count. You can actually keep your wax relics much longer if you path through a bunch of non-combat rooms.
You cannot change the order of your items once you collect them. The system always targets the leftmost Wax Relic first. You must pick them up in a specific sequence to maximize their value.
- Pick your weakest or least important relic first.
- Your first choice will sit on the far left and melt first.
- Pick your best relics last.
- Your final choices will sit on the right side and last the longest.
You can save your most valuable items, like the Wax Mummified Hand for a Necrobinder power deck, by picking them at the end.
The Order Trick That Changes Everything
I took the 4 wax relics once and it changed how I play Act 2 forever. The order you click them decides which one melts first. The first one you pick sits on the left and disappears after 3 fights. The last one you pick sits on the right and lasts the longest. So here’s the simple rule:
- Pick the weakest or “on pickup” relics first.
- Save your best ones for last. One player I saw picked Pantograph last and still had it at the Act 2 boss. Another grabbed Bronze Scales last and kept the armor scaling all the way into Act 3. It feels like a tiny thing, but it makes a huge difference.
Relics That Give You Permanent Benefits
Some Wax Relics are even better than they look. If you get ones that say “On Pickup”, the effect stays forever even after the relic melts. Here are the most common ones players love:
- Potion Belt → you keep the extra 2 potion slots
- Whetstone → you keep the 2 upgraded attacks
- Regal Pillow → you keep the extra heal on rest One guy on Reddit took Regal Pillow + Potion Belt + Whetstone + Bronze Scales. After everything melted he still had the potion slots and the upgrades. That’s free power for the rest of the run.
Should You Choose Wax Relics?
You should view this choice as a temporary safety blanket. Act 2 features enemies that hit very hard. A sudden boost can help you survive if your deck feels weak early on. It also lets you focus on exploring unknown rooms instead of hunting for cards.
Aggressive players can use this borrowed power to hunt Elites. You can path through dangerous routes to gather permanent loot before the wax melts away.
| Pros of Wax Relics | Cons of Wax Relics |
|---|---|
| Massive instant power right when Act 2 gets brutal | They melt after 12 combats total |
| Perfect for hunting elites and grabbing permanent loot | Useless by the Act 3 boss if you are not careful |
| Can turn a weak deck into a strong one for 9-12 fights | But with the right order and “On Pickup” relics, you still keep real value |
Wax Relics vs. Other Tezcatara Options
Tezcatara provides other choices if you want permanent benefits. You should avoid the Toy Box if your deck already scales well.
The Yummy Cookie blessing is a great alternative. It upgrades four of your cards instantly. This works perfectly when you already possess a strong combo. Ironclad players can also look for Toasty Mittens. This item grants one strength while exhausting the top card of your draw pile every turn. These options offer lower immediate power but guarantee long-term stability.
