Mega Crit has rolled out another balance patch for Slay the Spire 2. The big news? A buff to Monarch’s Gaze has players calling the rework “busted” in a positive way. This patch comes as the game moves through its early access phase, following its March 6, 2026 launch. Mega Crit is quickly adjusting card balance and fixing bugs across the board.
Monarch’s Gaze used to be a situational pick at best. Now, the buff has greatly increased its power ceiling. The community’s response has been immediate. Players on Reddit and Steam are already brainstorming new synergies around the card. When a card that was once average suddenly grabs this much attention, it typically signals a major shift in the game’s meta.
Besides the Monarch’s Gaze buff, this patch also brings a significant number of bug fixes. Since the game launched, Mega Crit has kept a steady update schedule. A previous patch in late May revamped cards, enemies, and gave the Aeonglass boss a boost. This pattern of quick updates has been a key part of the studio’s early access strategy, similar to the original Slay the Spire, which spent nearly two years in early access before its full release.
The timing is important. Slay the Spire 2 weathered a review bomb in mid-May, yet its sales mostly held strong. With a 94% positive rating from 57,596 Steam reviews, it looks like the core audience has stayed loyal. Ongoing patch activity signals that the developer is actively nurturing community trust during this early access phase.
Priced at $24.99 on Steam and boasting 127,819 current players, Slay the Spire 2 is doing well for a game still months away from its full release. For comparison, many early access titles see their player counts drop sharply after just a few weeks. Holding onto six figures this deep into early access is a solid retention indicator.
| Steam Review Score | 94% Positive |
| Total Steam Reviews | 57,596 |
| Current Players | 127,819 |
| Current Price (Steam) | $24.99 |
| Early Access Launch Date | March 6, 2026 |
Overall, community sentiment around this patch is positive, but there are still skeptics among the broader player base. One Steam reviewer mentioned the game is “totally RNG based,” a common critique in the roguelike genre, no matter how deep the mechanics are. However, the players most invested in card balance — the ones most likely to appreciate a Monarch’s Gaze buff — are exactly the ones keeping the concurrent player numbers high.
What To Watch
- Whether the Monarch’s Gaze buff gets reverted in a future patch. “Busted” reactions from the community often lead to nerfs within days or weeks.
- Mega Crit’s next major content release. The studio has been rolling out both balance changes and structural reworks (cards, enemies, bosses) simultaneously instead of bundling them.
- How long the game keeps its six-figure concurrent player counts as early access progresses. That retention curve will strongly indicate momentum as the 1.0 release approaches.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
