Helix Drill

DefectAttackRare
Deal 3 damage for each previously spent this turn.
  • Hits: the code tallies the Energy you have paid for cards this turn and makes the Drill hit that many times for 3 each, not once for a lump sum.
  • Modifiers: Strength is added to every hit and Vulnerable multiplies each one.
  • Own cost: if the Drill's own cost was raised by something, the Energy paid for the Drill itself is subtracted from the count.
  • Free cards: cards played for free add nothing, because no Energy changed hands.
  • Upgrade: each hit deals 5, so after spending 4 Energy it hits four times for 20 total.
Character
Defect
Type
Attack
Rarity
Rare
Cost
0 Energy
Target
One enemy
Unlock
Ooh Shiny!Beat Ascension 1 with the Defect

When to take Helix Drill

Take it once your deck can reliably spend 4 or more Energy before it, through generators like Plasma or Double Energy. In a plain three-Energy deck it is not worth the Rare slot.

Cards that synergize with Helix Drill

Double Energy
Skill
1
Double your Energy.
Exhaust.
Double Energy and Supercritical make big spend turns.Double your Energy.
Exhaust.
Supercritical
Skill
0
Gain 4.
Exhaust.
Double Energy and Supercritical make big spend turns.Gain 4.
Exhaust.
Meteor Strike
Attack
5
Deal 24 damage.
Channel 3 Plasma.
Meteor Strike alone charges five hits.Deal 24 damage.
Channel 3 Plasma.
Feral
Power
2
The first time you play a
0 Attack each turn,
return it to your Hand.
Feral returns the Drill to Hand the first time you play it, so it fires twice.The first time you play a
0 Attack each turn,
return it to your Hand.
Fusion
Skill
1
Channel 1 Plasma.
Exhaust.
Fusion channels the Plasma that funds it.Channel 1 Plasma.
Exhaust.
Bulk Up
Power
2
Lose 1 Orb Slot.
Gain 2 Strength.
Gain 2 Dexterity.
Bulk Up gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsLose 1 Orb Slot.
Gain 2 Strength.
Gain 2 Dexterity.
Feeding Frenzy
Skill
0
Gain 5 Strength this turn.
Feeding Frenzy gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsGain 5 Strength this turn.
Prowess
Power
1
Gain 1 Strength.
Gain 1 Dexterity.
Prowess gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsGain 1 Strength.
Gain 1 Dexterity.
All for One
Attack
2
Deal 10 damage.
Put ALL 0 cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
All for One looks for 0 Energy cards, and Helix Drill is oneDeal 10 damage.
Put ALL 0 cards from your Discard Pile into your Hand.
One for All
Power
1
EVERYONE'S 0 Attacks deal 3 additional damage.
One for All looks for 0 Energy cards, and Helix Drill is oneEVERYONE'S 0 Attacks deal 3 additional damage.
Calamity
Power
3
Whenever you play an Attack, add a random Attack into your Hand.
Calamity counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneWhenever you play an Attack, add a random Attack into your Hand.
Panache
Power
0
Every time you play 5 cards in a single turn, deal 10 damage to ALL enemies.
Panache rewards playing many cards, and Helix Drill is freeEvery time you play 5 cards in a single turn, deal 10 damage to ALL enemies.

Relics that synergize with Helix Drill

Vajra
Vajra adds Strength to every hit.Start each combat with 1 Strength.
Ember Tea
Ember Tea gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsAt the start of the next 5 combats, gain 2 Strength.
Reptile Trinket
Reptile Trinket gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsWhenever you use a potion, gain 3 Strength this turn.
Shuriken
Shuriken gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsEvery time you play 3 Attacks in a single turn, gain 1 Strength.
Sword of Jade
Sword of Jade gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsStart each combat with 3 Strength.
Sling of Courage
Sling of Courage gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsStart each Elite combat with 2 Strength.
Girya
Girya gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsYou can now gain Strength at Rest Sites. (3 times max)
Rainbow Ring
Rainbow Ring gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsThe first time you play an Attack, Skill, and Power each turn, gain 1 Strength and 1 Dexterity.
Sparkling Rouge
Sparkling Rouge gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsAt the start of your 3rd turn, gain 1 Strength and 1 Dexterity.
Toasty Mittens
Toasty Mittens gives Strength, and Helix Drill adds it on every one of its hitsAt the start of your turn, Exhaust the top card of your Draw Pile and gain 1 Strength.
Power Cell
Power Cell looks for 0 Energy cards, and Helix Drill is oneAt the start of each combat, add 2 zero-cost cards from your Draw Pile into your Hand.
Nunchaku
Nunchaku counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneEvery time you play 10 Attacks, gain .
Kunai
Kunai counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneEvery time you play 3 Attacks in a single turn, gain 1 Dexterity.
Kusarigama
Kusarigama counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneEvery time you play 3 Attacks in a single turn, deal 6 damage to a random enemy.
Ornamental Fan
Ornamental Fan counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneEvery time you play 3 Attacks in a single turn, gain 4 Block.
Daughter of the Wind
Daughter of the Wind counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneWhenever you play an Attack, gain 1 Block.
Pen Nib
Pen Nib counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneEvery 10th Attack you play deals double damage.
Razor Tooth
Razor Tooth counts the Attacks you play, and Helix Drill is a free oneEvery time you play an Attack or Skill, Upgrade it for the remainder of combat.
Iron Club
Iron Club rewards playing many cards, and Helix Drill is freeEvery 4 cards you play, draw 1 card.
✦
Flak Cannon
Attack
2
Exhaust ALL your Status cards.
Deal 8 damage to a random enemy for each card Exhausted.
Ice Lance
Attack
3
Deal 19 damage.
Channel 3 Frost.
Barrage
Attack
1
Deal 5 damage for each Channeled Orb.
Gunk Up
Attack
1
Deal 4 damage 3 times.
Add a Slimed into your Discard Pile.
Refract
Attack
3
Deal 9 damage twice.
Channel 2 Glass.
Uproar
Attack
2
Deal 6 damage twice.
Play a random Attack from your Draw Pile.
Exterminate
Attack
1
Deal 3 damage to ALL enemies 4 times.
Mad Science
Attack
1
??????

Changes by version

  1. 2 Jul 2026TextPlaytest
    Helix Drill card's wording has been updated to be clearer that it only counts energy spent on other cards
    Bug fixFeralHistory CoursePlaytest
    Feral card no longer puts History Course copy of Helix Drill card back into your hand
  2. 5 Feb 2026ArtInternal playtest
    Added portrait art
  3. 11 Dec 2025Cost01Damage73Internal playtest
    Cost changed from 0 to 1 and Damage decreased from 7 to 3
All 8 patch notes5 older
  1. 23 Oct 2025Damage6(8)7(9)Internal playtest
    Damage increased from 6 to 7 (upgraded 8 to 9)
  2. 21 Aug 2025Bug fixSplashInternal playtest
    Fixed softlock when Helix Drill card was created via Splash card
    Bug fixInternal playtest
    Helix Drill card now properly deals its damage over multiple hits
  3. 14 Aug 2025ReworkInternal playtest
    Reworked the card
  4. 24 Jul 2025ArtInternal playtest
    Added beta portrait art
  5. 17 Jul 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.

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