Version

Delay

NecrobinderSkillUncommon
Gain 11 Block.
Next turn,
gain .

Two energy for 11 Block now (13 upgraded), plus a power that pays 1 Energy (2 upgraded) right after your energy resets next turn and then removes itself. Several copies stack their payouts. Because it costs 2, it triggers Danse Macabre and Intimidating Helmet on top of its own Block.

Character
Necrobinder
Type
Skill
Rarity
Uncommon
Cost
2 Energy
Target
Yourself

When to take Delay

Best in decks banking one big turn for Bury, Eradicate or Reanimate. Take it from Act 1 if you have 2 cost payoffs, but pass if you already struggle to spend energy.

Cards that synergize with Delay

Danse Macabre
Power
1
Whenever you play a card that costs or more, gain 4 Block.
Danse Macabre adds 4 Block for playing a 2-cost card.Whenever you play a card that costs or more, gain 4 Block.
Right Hand Hand
Attack
0
Osty deals 4 damage.
Whenever you play a card that costs or more, return this to your Hand from the Discard Pile.
Right Hand Hand returns to hand when you play it.Osty deals 4 damage.
Whenever you play a card that costs or more, return this to your Hand from the Discard Pile.
Eradicate
Attack
X
Retain.
Deal 11 damage X times.
Eradicate and Bury cash the banked energy.Retain.
Deal 11 damage X times.
Bury
Attack
4
Deal 52 damage.
Eradicate and Bury cash the banked energy.Deal 52 damage.
Invoke
Skill
1
Next turn, Summon 2 and gain .
Invoke stacks another next-turn payout, and Melancholy is the other big 2-cost Block card.Next turn, Summon 2 and gain .
Melancholy
Skill
3
Gain 13 Block.
Reduce this card's cost by whenever ANYONE dies.
Invoke stacks another next-turn payout, and Melancholy is the other big 2-cost Block card.Gain 13 Block.
Reduce this card's cost by whenever ANYONE dies.
Dirge
Skill
X
Summon 3 X times.
Add X Souls into your Draw Pile.
Exhaust.
Dirge costs X, so every Energy Delay gives goes into itSummon 3 X times.
Add X Souls into your Draw Pile.
Exhaust.
Volley
Attack
X
Deal 10 damage to a random enemy X times.
Volley costs X, so every Energy Delay gives goes into itDeal 10 damage to a random enemy X times.
Beacon of Hope
Power
1
Whenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block.
Beacon of Hope makes Block count for more, and Delay gains itWhenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block.
Entrench
Skill
2
Double your Block.
Entrench makes Block count for more, and Delay gains itDouble your Block.
Prolong
Skill
0
Next turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.
Prolong makes Block count for more, and Delay gains itNext turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.

Relics that synergize with Delay

Intimidating Helmet
Intimidating Helmet adds 4 more.Whenever you play a card that costs or more, gain 4 Block.
Parrying Shield
Parrying Shield makes Block count for more, and Delay gains itIf you end a turn with at least 10 Block, deal 6 damage to a random enemy.
Sturdy Clamp
Sturdy Clamp makes Block count for more, and Delay gains itUp to 10 Block persists across turns.
Pael's Legion
Pael's Legion makes Block count for more, and Delay gains itDoubles Block gained from a card, then goes to sleep for 2 turns.
Vambrace
Vambrace makes Block count for more, and Delay gains itThe first time you gain Block from a card each combat, double the amount gained.
✦
Borrowed Time
Skill
1
Gain 4.
Cards cost an additional this turn.
Invoke
Skill
1
Next turn, Summon 2 and gain .
Wisp
Skill
0
Gain .
Exhaust.
Friendship
Power
1
Lose 2 Strength.
Gain at the start of each turn.
Demesne
Power
3
Ethereal.
At the start of your turn, gain and draw 1 additional card.
Neurosurge
Power
0
Gain .
Draw 2 cards.
At the start of your turn, apply 3 Doom to yourself.
Production
Skill
0
Gain .
Exhaust.
Restlessness
Skill
0
Retain.
If your Hand is empty, draw 2 cards and gain .

Changes by version

  1. 18 Sep 2025ArtInternal playtest
    Delay card now uses old Spectral portrait art
  2. 14 Aug 2025ArtInternal playtest
    Delay card now uses Ghostly Armor card's portrait art
  3. 6 Feb 2025Upgraded Block1513Energy2(2)1(2)Internal playtest
    Upgraded Block decreased from 15 to 13 and Energy decreased from 2 to 1
All 4 patch notes1 older
  1. 16 Jan 2025AddedInternal playtest
    Added to the game

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

Purchase today
If you haven't bought Slay The Spire 2 yet, it's time. Support the devs, they made an amazing game.Get it on Steam