To play as the Fool in Slay the Spire 2, switch the game to the public-beta branch in Steam: right-click it in your Library, choose Properties, open Game Versions and Betas, and pick public-beta. The Fool arrived in Beta Patch Notes v0.113.0 on November 12, 2026, and he is not on the main branch, so a default install will not show him.
Mega Crit calls him “a silly musician who wields a bow,” the first new character of Early Access. Below we cover the exact steps, everything the patch notes say about him (and what they leave out), how he fits Ascension and the two new modes, co-op, and what to check before you switch.
How to Get the Fool, Step by Step
These steps come from Mega Crit’s own v0.113.0 patch notes, which repeat them for anyone new to the beta:
- Open your Steam Library.
- Right-click Slay the Spire 2 and choose Properties.
- Select Game Versions and Betas.
- Pick public-beta from the dropdown. No password is needed.
- Let Steam download the update, then launch the game as usual.
To go back, repeat the steps and choose None, the default main branch. Our beta branch guide covers the Steam Deck route, which version each branch is on, and the catches in more detail.
The notes give no separate unlock condition for the Fool. On the main branch, each of the five characters opens by finishing a run with the one before it, as our character unlock guide explains. Mega Crit has not said whether the Fool follows a chain like that or is open as soon as the beta loads.
What Mega Crit Has Said About the Fool
The v0.113.0 notes keep the Fool’s kit a surprise. Here is everything they do say, and what they do not:
| Detail | What the v0.113.0 notes say |
|---|---|
| Who he is | “A silly musician who wields a bow,” and a bard |
| When he arrived | November 12, 2026, with the notes posted at 3:30 PM Eastern |
| Where he is | The public-beta branch only |
| Starting HP, relic and deck | Not listed |
| Unlock condition | Not listed |
| Main-branch date | None given |
| Blitz | The mode’s five Ascension levels are shared across all characters |
| Dread | Needs Ascension 10 on every character, “including the new one” |
Mega Crit also sets expectations plainly: “We expect to make a great number of content and balance changes before the Fool is ready for the main branch.” Treat his cards and numbers as a first draft. The studio’s sign-off is an invitation to experiment: “be sure to have fun figuring out all the strategies and story” of the character.
The Fool and Ascension
The Fool is new, so everyone starts him from scratch at Ascension 0. He climbs the same ladder as the other five: beat Act 3 with him to open Ascension 1, then each win at your highest level opens the next. Our Ascension guide lists what all ten levels add.
That climb matters for the hardest new mode. Dread asks for Ascension 10 on every character, the Fool included, so even a player with all five originals at the top still needs at least ten wins with him (one to open Ascension 1, then one at each level from 1 to 9).
Blitz is different. Its five Ascension levels are shared across all characters, so it is a lower-stakes place to try him out once you have it unlocked.
What Else on the Beta Changes a Fool Run
The Fool plays on the v0.113.0 rules, which change things for every character. The ones that touch a run most:
- Rest sites can now appear one floor earlier in every act.
- Neow’s Dowsing Rod relic is stronger: its Dowsing card transforms after 4 ? rooms instead of 5, and the ? room that transforms it can no longer be a combat.
- Nonupeipe’s Brilliant Scarf relic now triggers on the 6th card instead of the 5th.
- New events: Waterfall of Obvious Secrets and Wuppy in Trouble in the Underdocks, Museum of Torture in Act 2, and Shrine of the Warlord and Thermae Nonupeipe in Act 3, with new event cards (Dingy Dagger, Mighty Weapon, Mighty Shield) and relics such as Wuppy, Thumbscrew, Mighty Wings and Bath Robes.
- A new Colorless card, My Shinies, and a nerf to Salvo, from 12(16) damage to 10(14).
Our card unlock guide explains how the Timeline opens new cards and relics as you play.
Playing the Fool in Co-op
You and your friends all need to be on the public-beta branch, on the same version, to play together. Slay the Spire 2’s co-op is for up to four Steam friends; our multiplayer guide covers how to host and join. The v0.113.0 notes also fix a batch of multiplayer softlocks, including several with the Tutor card, and joining a friend on a different version now shows the right error.
Before You Switch
- Back up your save. Mega Crit has not published a full statement on moving saves between branches.
- Finish your run before switching back. The notes say a run saved by a newer version now tells you to update the game instead of reporting a corrupt save, so a beta run will not open on main.
- Separate leaderboards. Beta scores go to a beta-only leaderboard.
- Send feedback in the game. Asked how players should report issues, Casey Yano said in the October 2026 Neowsletter: “please keep using the in-game feedback tool,” calling it “the best way by far.” The v0.113.0 notes fix the feedback tool sometimes failing to send.
Not sure who to main while the Fool settles? Our best character guide ranks the five on main, and every guide is on our Slay the Spire 2 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Fool in the main version of Slay the Spire 2? Not yet. He is only on the public-beta branch, and Mega Crit has not given a date for him to reach main.
How do I switch to the beta to play the Fool? In Steam, right-click Slay the Spire 2, open Properties, then Game Versions and Betas, and select public-beta.
What is the Fool’s starting relic? Mega Crit’s patch notes do not list his starting relic, HP or deck, and the studio expects to change his content a great deal during the beta.
Can I play the Fool with friends? Yes, as long as every player is on the public-beta branch and the same version.
Do I need the Fool for Dread mode? Yes. Dread needs Ascension 10 on every character, and the notes name the new one as included.