Dread unlocks in Slay the Spire 2 once you have reached Ascension 10 on every character, the new Fool included, and it is only on the public-beta branch. That means six characters at the top of the Ascension ladder: the Ironclad, Silent, Regent, Necrobinder, Defect and the Fool.
Mega Crit added Dread in Beta Patch Notes v0.113.0 on November 12, 2026, as “a brutally difficult mode” for players “seeking the ultimate challenge.” Below: how to unlock it, exactly what it changes, the high-Ascension numbers that moved in the same patch, and how to plan the climb.
How to Unlock Dread
- Switch to the beta. In Steam, right-click Slay the Spire 2, open Properties, then Game Versions and Betas, and select
public-beta. Our beta branch guide has the details. - Unlock all six characters. On main, each of the five opens by finishing a run with the one before it (our unlock guide). Our Fool guide covers the sixth.
- Reach Ascension 10 with each of them. Beat Act 3 to open Ascension 1, then win at your highest level to open the next, as our Ascension guide explains.
The v0.113.0 notes word it as players “who have reached Ascension 10 on all characters (including the new one).” Ascension 10 opens after a win at Ascension 9, so at minimum that is a win at Ascension 9 with each of the six. The notes do not say whether you must also win at Ascension 10 itself.
The Fool is the long pole. He is new, so every player starts him at Ascension 0. Even with the five originals already at the top, you need at least ten wins with him: one to open Ascension 1, then one at each level from 1 to 9.
What Dread Changes
The notes list four things:
- All Ascension modifiers are enabled.
- Bosses are stronger and buff all enemies in their Act.
- Curses pile up as you climb the Spire.
- “Death is expected.” That is Mega Crit’s line, not ours.
With every modifier on, Dread stacks all ten standard Ascension levels:
| Level | Name | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swarming Elites | More Elites on the map |
| 2 | Weary Traveler | Ancients heal only 80% of your missing HP |
| 3 | Poverty | 25% less gold from enemies and chests |
| 4 | Tight Belt | One fewer potion slot |
| 5 | Ascender’s Bane | You start with the Ascender’s Bane curse |
| 6 | Inflation | Card removal starts at 100 gold |
| 7 | Scarcity | Rare and upgraded cards appear half as often |
| 8 | Tough Enemies | Enemies have more HP |
| 9 | Deadly Enemies | Enemies deal more damage |
| 10 | Double Boss | Two bosses at the end of Act 3 |
So a Dread run starts with a curse and fewer potion slots, faces two bosses at the end of Act 3, and adds the mode’s own pile of Curses and boss buffs on top. The notes do not say how much stronger bosses get or how often Curses are added.
High-Ascension Numbers That Changed in v0.113.0
Because Dread runs at full Ascension, the bracketed high-Ascension values in the patch notes are the ones you will face. The same patch changed three enemies:
| Enemy | Change |
|---|---|
| Axebot | HP is now fixed: 70, or 80 at Ascension 8 (was 70 to 78, or 76 to 86) |
| Infested Prism | Pattern is now Jab, Jab, Whirlwind, Pulsate; Pulsate applies 1 Vulnerable instead of gaining 20 Block (22 at Ascension 8) |
| Tunneler | Attack from Below is now From Below, hitting for 24, or 28 at Ascension 9 (was 23 and 26) |
How to Plan the Climb
- Climb on the beta. Dread and the Fool are beta-only, and Mega Crit has not published a full statement on moving saves between branches, so back up your save before you switch.
- Use one deck plan per character. Our build guides for the Ironclad, Silent, Regent, Necrobinder and Defect cover what wins at high Ascension.
- Practice the double boss. Ascension 10 ends Act 3 with two bosses, and Dread keeps that. Our Architect guide covers the final fight.
- Expect the target to move. Mega Crit expects “a great number of content and balance changes” before the Fool reaches main, and the beta has reverted changes within weeks before.
Dread in Co-op
Casey Yano said in the October 2026 Neowsletter that the new modes “will work for both singleplayer and multiplayer,” so Dread is not solo-only. Every player needs the public-beta branch and the same version (multiplayer guide). The notes do not say whether co-op Ascension wins count toward the unlock, so plan on solo climbs. For a gentler new mode, Blitz unlocks after any Ascension run (Blitz guide). Every guide is on our Slay the Spire 2 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you unlock Dread in Slay the Spire 2? Reach Ascension 10 on all six characters, including the Fool, on the public-beta branch.
Does the Fool count toward Dread? Yes. Mega Crit’s notes say Ascension 10 is needed on all characters “including the new one.”
What does Dread change? Every Ascension modifier is on, bosses are stronger and buff all enemies in their Act, and Curses pile up as you climb.
Is Dread on the main branch? No. Dread is beta-only for now, and Mega Crit has not given a date for it to reach main.
Can you play Dread in co-op? Mega Crit says the new modes work in singleplayer and multiplayer, with everyone on the same beta version.