Version

Adaptive Strike

DefectAttackRare
Deal 18 damage.
Add a 0 copy of this card into your Discard Pile.

It hits once for 18 damage, 23 upgraded, then drops a copy of itself into your discard pile with its cost set to 0 for the combat. The copy is a full card, so when you play it later it makes another free copy. After the first play every reshuffle hands you a growing pile of free 18-damage attacks. It is tagged as a Strike.

Character
Defect
Type
Attack
Rarity
Rare
Cost
2 Energy
Target
One enemy

When to take Adaptive Strike

Best in long and boss fights, where its free copies keep coming back. In Act 1 it is just a fair 2-cost hit with upside, so upgrade it early if it is your main damage.

Cards that synergize with Adaptive Strike

All for One
Attack
2
Deal 10 damage.
Put ALL 0 cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
All for One pulls every free copy from the discard pile straight into your hand.Deal 10 damage.
Put ALL 0 cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
Feral
Power
2
The first time you play a
0 Attack each turn,
return it to your Hand.
Feral returns a 0-cost copy to your hand the first time you play it each turn.The first time you play a
0 Attack each turn,
return it to your Hand.
Reboot
Skill
0
Shuffle ALL your cards into your Draw Pile.
Draw 4 cards.
Exhaust.
Reboot shuffles the copies back in early.Shuffle ALL your cards into your Draw Pile.
Draw 4 cards.
Exhaust.
Hologram
Skill
1
Gain 3 Block.
Put a card from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
Exhaust.
Hologram fetches one from the discard pile when you need it.Gain 3 Block.
Put a card from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
Exhaust.

Relics that synergize with Adaptive Strike

Strike Dummy
Strike Dummy adds 3 to the original and to every copy.Cards containing “Strike” deal 3 additional damage.
Intimidating Helmet
Intimidating Helmet triggers on cards that cost 2 or more, and Adaptive Strike is oneWhenever you play a card that costs or more, gain 4 Block.
✦
All for One
Attack
2
Deal 10 damage.
Put ALL 0 cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
Flak Cannon
Attack
2
Exhaust ALL your Status cards.
Deal 8 damage to a random enemy for each card Exhausted.
Hyperbeam
Attack
2
Deal 28 damage to ALL enemies.
Lose 3 Focus.
Helix Drill
Attack
0
Deal 3 damage for each previously spent this turn.
Ice Lance
Attack
3
Deal 19 damage.
Channel 3 Frost.
Meteor Strike
Attack
5
Deal 24 damage.
Channel 3 Plasma.
Null
Attack
2
Deal 10 damage.
Apply 2 Weak.
Channel 1 Dark.
Rocket Punch
Attack
2
Deal 13 damage.
Draw 1 card.
Whenever you create a Status, reduce this card's cost to 0 until played.

Changes by version

  1. 9 Apr 2026ArtBeta branch
    Added portrait art
  2. 8 Jan 2026Damage17(21)18(23)Internal playtest
    Damage increased from 17 to 18 (upgraded 21 to 23)
  3. 25 Sep 2025TextInternal playtest
    Adaptive Strike card now says "Add a 0 (energy symbol) copy..." instead of "Add a 0 cost copy..."
All 6 patch notes3 older
  1. 10 Jul 2025RarityUncommonRareInternal playtest
    Rarity changed from Uncommon to Rare
  2. 20 Jun 2025ArtInternal playtest
    Added beta art
  3. 12 Jun 2025AddedInternal playtest
    Added new Adaptive Strike card

Internal playtest notes are from before the Early Access release. Names and numbers in them can differ from the game today.

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