Guide: Deck Manipulation

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Most Decks in Balatro start with the standard 52 cards, however there are many ways to change this in your favour. Deck Manipulation (or Deck Fixing) is an important aspect of getting high scores and keeping up with ante scaling, which is often the difference-maker in beating a blind or not. It is especially important with higher Stakes due to having -1 discard, and when playing decks with limited Joker slots such as Painted Deck and the ‘Jokerless’ Challenge Deck. Also, Deck Manipulation is necessary for all late-game strategies, such as playing Flush Five or using Steel Kings.

Effects for Deck Manipulation

These are all the effects that can be used for Deck Manipulation in the game, some of which are determined, and you can specify the cards to be affected, while others are random.

Card Addition

Determined
Name Type Trigger condition Added Card(s) Net Deck Size Increase Note
Cryptid Spectral Card 2 copies of the selected card 2 Card modifiers are also copied.
DNA Joker The first hand of round, with only 1 card 1 copy of the played card 1

Also, cards can be bought from shop, from Standard Packs or with Magic Trick voucher.

Random
Name Type Trigger condition Added Card(s) Net Deck Size Increase Note
Familiar Spectral Card 4 random Enhanced numbered cards 3 Also destroying 1 random card in your hand
Grim 2 random Enhanced Aces 1
Incantation 3 random Enhanced face cards 2
Marble Joker Joker The beginning of each Blind 1 random Stone Card 1 Stone Cards have suits and ranks obscured
Certificate 1 random card with a random seal

Card Removal

Determined
Name Type Trigger condition Removed Card(s) Net Deck Size Decrease Note
The Hanged Man Tarot Card (Up to) 2 selected cards (Up to) -2
Trading Card Joker The first discard of round, with only 1 card The discarded card -1 Also gives $3
Sixth Sense The first hand of round, with a single 6 The single 6 played -1 Also create a Spectral card

Also, Glass Cards have a 1 in 4 chance to be destroyed after played.

Random
Name Type Removed Card(s) Net Deck Size Decrease Note
Immolate Spectral Card 5 random cards in hand -5 Also gives $20
Familiar/ Grim/ Incantation 1 random card in hand See Notes Also adding cards (see above), thus cannot be used to decrease deck size

Card Modification

Determined
Name Type Modified Card(s) Modification Note
Death Tarot Card Left selected card Suit and rank to the right selected card Card modifiers are also copied.
The Star (Up to) 3 selected cards Suits to  Diamond
The Sun Suits to  Heart
The Moon Suits to  Spade
The World Suits to  Club
Strength (Up to) 2 selected cards Ranks increase by 1 Aces will become 2s
Random
Name Type Modified Card(s) Modification Note
Sigil Spectral Card All cards in hand Suits to a single, random suit
Ouija Ranks to a single, random rank Also reducing total hand size by 1

Synergies with Deck Manipulation

The functions of these Jokers/hands can be made more through specific deck manipulations:

Jokers

  • Generally, any Joker that takes effect upon cards of certain suits (like Lusty Joker and Bloodstone) or ranks (like Fibonacci and Wee Joker) will benefit from deck manipulation, by getting more cards of the certain suits or ranks.
  • For Jokers that choose suit/rank randomly in the deck ( Castle and The Idol, not including Ancient Joker), removing cards of certain suits/ranks can make these jokers more consistent.
  • Blue Joker works better with a large deck, Erosion works better with a small deck.

Poker Hands

  • Multiples (Pairs, 3/4/5 of a Kind, Full House) - create copies of a specific rank and modifying/removing others.
  • Straights - Mathematically, a larger deck is generally unfavorable for straight cards. It's better to removing cards of low or high ranks (depending on owned joker—most of the time keeping higher ranks are more beneficial, due to higher chips and more combinations of face cards) to make continuous rank more likely to occur.
  • Flushes - Create more cards of a specific suit.
  • All secret hands require deck manipulation to be acquired.

Boss Blinds

Although often more beneficial, deck manipulation would make play style of the round extremely fragile to certain Boss Blinds, for example:

Therefore, any method that can avoid specific Boss Blind (jokers Luchador or Chicot, vouchers Director's Cut or Retcon) should be considered.

Strategies for Deck Manipulation

A good economy is essential for Deck Manipulation, due to the need of many Tarot or Spectral Cards. These Jokers can also help:

  • Perkeo - can create a copy of a useful Tarot or Spectral card each round.
  • Sixth Sense removes a card from your deck and gives a Spectral card, which could be used for further deck fxing.
  • Cartomancer creates a Tarot card that could be used for deck fixing each round.

Unlocks requiring Deck Manipulation

These unlocks/achievements require deck manipulation to be achieved:

  • Bloodstone - Have at least 30 cards with Heart suit in your deck.
  • Rough Gem - Have at least 30 cards with Diamond suit in your deck.
  • Onyx Agate - Have at least 30 cards with Club suit in your deck.
  • Arrowhead - Have at least 30 cards with Spade suit in your deck.
  • Hit the Road - Discard 5 Jacks at the same time.
  • Seeing Double - Play a hand that contains four 7 of Clubs.
  • Big Hands - Have 80 or more cards in your deck.
  • Tiny Hands - Thin your deck down to 20 or fewer cards.
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