Expect a Fight

IroncladSkillUncommon
Gain for each Attack in your Hand.
You cannot gain
additional this turn.
  • Effect: when it resolves it counts the Attacks in your hand, itself no longer being there, and gives you 1 Energy per Attack.
  • Debuff: then it applies one that zeroes every further Energy gain for the rest of the turn, from cards and relics alike, and clears at end of turn, so next turn's refill is normal.
  • Example: three Attacks refund 3 for the 2 you spent.
  • Upgrade: at cost 1, two Attacks are a profit.
Character
Ironclad
Type
Skill
Rarity
Uncommon
Cost
21 Energy
Target
Yourself

When to take Expect a Fight

Good in an Attack dense deck with X cost Whirlwind or several 2 cost hitters, in Act 1 or 2. The upgrade is the card, so plan a Rest Site for it or skip it entirely.

Cards that synergize with Expect a Fight

Whirlwind
Attack
X
Deal 5 damage to ALL enemies X times.
Whirlwind eats every point of Energy it makes.Deal 5 damage to ALL enemies X times.
Battle Trance
Skill
0
Draw 3 cards.
You cannot draw additional cards this turn.
Battle Trance fills the hand with Attacks first.Draw 3 cards.
You cannot draw additional cards this turn.
Infernal Blade
Skill
1
Add a random Attack into your Hand. It's free to play this turn.
Exhaust.
Infernal Blade adds one more Attack to count.Add a random Attack into your Hand. It's free to play this turn.
Exhaust.
Anger
Attack
0
Deal 6 damage.
Add a copy of this card into your Discard Pile.
Anger copies itself into the deck.Deal 6 damage.
Add a copy of this card into your Discard Pile.
Stomp
Attack
3
Deal 12 damage to ALL enemies.
Costs 1 less for each Attack played this turn.
Stomp and Bludgeon are the expensive cards worth paying for.Deal 12 damage to ALL enemies.
Costs 1 less for each Attack played this turn.
Bludgeon
Attack
3
Deal 32 damage.
Stomp and Bludgeon are the expensive cards worth paying for.Deal 32 damage.
Cascade
Skill
X
Play the top X cards of your Draw Pile.
Cascade costs X, so every Energy Expect a Fight gives goes into itPlay the top X cards of your Draw Pile.
Volley
Attack
X
Deal 10 damage to a random enemy X times.
Volley costs X, so every Energy Expect a Fight gives goes into itDeal 10 damage to a random enemy X times.
Offering
Skill
0
Lose 6 HP.
Gain .
Draw 3 cards.
Exhaust.
Offering draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handLose 6 HP.
Gain .
Draw 3 cards.
Exhaust.
Burning Pact
Skill
1
Exhaust 1 card.
Draw 2 cards.
Burning Pact draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handExhaust 1 card.
Draw 2 cards.
Drum of Battle
Skill
1
Draw 2 cards.
When this card is Exhausted, gain .
Drum of Battle draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handDraw 2 cards.
When this card is Exhausted, gain .
Dark Embrace
Power
2
Whenever a card is Exhausted,
draw 1 card.
Dark Embrace draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handWhenever a card is Exhausted,
draw 1 card.
Hellraiser
Power
2
Whenever you draw a card containing “Strike”, it is played against a random enemy.
Hellraiser draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handWhenever you draw a card containing “Strike”, it is played against a random enemy.
Pillage
Attack
1
Deal 6 damage.
Draw cards until you draw a non-Attack card.
Pillage draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handDeal 6 damage.
Draw cards until you draw a non-Attack card.
Pommel Strike
Attack
1
Deal 9 damage.
Draw 1 card.
Pommel Strike draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handDeal 9 damage.
Draw 1 card.
Shrug It Off
Skill
1
Gain 8 Block.
Draw 1 card.
Shrug It Off draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handGain 8 Block.
Draw 1 card.
Vicious
Power
1
Whenever you apply Vulnerable, draw 1 card.
Vicious draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handWhenever you apply Vulnerable, draw 1 card.
Impatience
Skill
0
If you have no Attacks in your Hand, draw 2 cards.
Impatience draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handIf you have no Attacks in your Hand, draw 2 cards.
Restlessness
Skill
0
Retain.
If your Hand is empty, draw 2 cards and gain .
Restlessness draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handRetain.
If your Hand is empty, draw 2 cards and gain .
Scrawl
Skill
1
Draw cards until your Hand is full.
Exhaust.
Scrawl draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handDraw cards until your Hand is full.
Exhaust.
Master of Strategy
Skill
0
Draw 3 cards.
Exhaust.
Master of Strategy draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handDraw 3 cards.
Exhaust.
Brightest Flame
Skill
0
Gain .
Draw 2 cards.
Lose 1 Max HP.
Brightest Flame draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handGain .
Draw 2 cards.
Lose 1 Max HP.
Relax
Skill
3
Gain 15 Block.
Next turn, draw 2 cards and gain .
Exhaust.
Relax draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handGain 15 Block.
Next turn, draw 2 cards and gain .
Exhaust.
Thinking Ahead
Skill
0
Draw 2 cards.
Put 1 card from your Hand on top of your Draw Pile.
Exhaust.
Thinking Ahead draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handDraw 2 cards.
Put 1 card from your Hand on top of your Draw Pile.
Exhaust.

Relics that synergize with Expect a Fight

Joss Paper
Joss Paper draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handEvery 5 times you Exhaust a card, draw 1 card.
Iron Club
Iron Club draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handEvery 4 cards you play, draw 1 card.
Pollinous Core
Pollinous Core draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handEvery 4 turns, draw 2 additional cards.
Centennial Puzzle
Centennial Puzzle draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handThe first time you lose HP each combat, draw 3 cards.
Pendulum
Pendulum draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handEvery 3 turns, draw 1 card.
Bag of Preparation
Bag of Preparation draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handAt the start of each combat, draw 2 additional cards.
Booming Conch
Booming Conch draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handAt the start of Elite combats, draw 2 additional cards and gain .
Fiddle
Fiddle draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handAt the start of each turn, draw 2 additional cards. You may not draw cards during your turn.
Snecko Eye
Snecko Eye draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handAt the start of your turn, draw 2 additional cards. Start each combat Confused.
Gambling Chip
Gambling Chip draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handAt the start of each combat, discard any number of cards then draw that many.
Game Piece
Game Piece draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handWhenever you play a Power, draw 1 card.
Gremlin Horn
Gremlin Horn draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handWhenever an enemy dies, gain and draw 1 card.
Pael's Blood
Pael's Blood draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handAt the start of your turn, draw 1 additional card.
Unceasing Top
Unceasing Top draws cards, and Expect a Fight gets better with a bigger handWhenever you have no cards in Hand during your turn, draw a card.
Intimidating Helmet
Intimidating Helmet triggers on cards that cost 2 or more, and Expect a Fight is oneWhenever you play a card that costs or more, gain 4 Block.
✦
Drum of Battle
Skill
1
Draw 2 cards.
When this card is Exhausted, gain .
Forgotten Ritual
Skill
1
If you Exhausted a card this turn, gain .
Exhaust.
Bloodletting
Skill
0
Lose 3 HP.
Gain .
Offering
Skill
0
Lose 6 HP.
Gain .
Draw 3 cards.
Exhaust.
Pyre
Power
2
Gain at the start of each turn.
Equilibrium
Skill
2
Gain 13 Block.
Retain your Hand this turn.
Production
Skill
0
Gain .
Exhaust.
Restlessness
Skill
0
Retain.
If your Hand is empty, draw 2 cards and gain .

Changes by version

  1. 13 Aug 2026ReworkStrengthPlaytest
    From Uncommon - Skill - Cost 2(1) - "Gain 1 Energy for each Attack in your Hand. You cannot gain additional Energy this turn." to Uncommon - Skill - Cost 3 - "Gain 15(16) Block. Gains 5(8) additional Block for each Strength you have."
  2. 16 Jul 2026BuffPlaytest
    No longer says "You cannot gain additional Energy this turn."
  3. 19 Mar 2026ReworkBeta branch
    Skill - Cost 2(1) - Uncommon - "Gain Energy for each Attack in your Hand. You cannot gain additional Energy this turn."
All 4 patch notes1 older
  1. 18 Sep 2025Bug fixInternal playtest
    When a card will cause you to gain 0 energy (such as Expect a Fight card with 0 attacks in hand), the text now reads as "Gain 0 Energy" instead of "Gain ."

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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