The Trial event art, Slay the Spire 2

The Trial

You join a line of people entering a massive building.

As you pass under a golden archway, horns blare, confetti explodes, and streamers glide down from the ceiling!

“Entrant 101-998, you are the DECIDER for today's Trial.”
A wealthy-looking merchant, presents his case. He is accused of murder by one of his rivals. The evidence is thin, and you have a feeling that the man is innocent, but the onlookers seem out for blood.
IT IS DECIDED

You rule that all of the man's possessions are to be taken and given as processing fees for the court.
The crowd howls in glee!
IT IS DECIDED

You go with your conscience and rule that the man is innocent.
Despite the boos and accusations of being a “paid-off judge” you feel like you did the right thing.
A powerful noble steps forward. You find a note in your pocket indicating that if you decide innocence you will be handsomely rewarded. The noble barely argues against the corruption charges and gives you a knowing smirk.
You can't stop corruption but you can pocket some gold...
IT IS DECIDED

The powerful noble was beheaded.
One less corrupt noble.
IT IS DECIDED

You don't really know that he's guilty... Yeah, that's it!
The bribe has nothing to do with the outcome here. Nope.
A nondescript woman with a hard-to-read face steps forward. She is charged with the crime of theft and con-artistry. When the woman speaks, you believe her, but ample witnesses attest to her misdeeds.
Both sides of the story are compelling!
IT IS DECIDED

You aren't totally sure, but making the hard choice, you think the evidence is adequate.
Did you really make the right call?
IT IS DECIDED

You aren't totally sure, but you have a reasonable doubt.
You don't know if you made the right call, but innocence seems like the better choice.
“YOU CANNOT REFUSE!!”

Shouts the Grand Arbiter of the Courts.

“Those who reject this privilege are penalized with DEATH. Do you still defy!?”
Opens the abandon-run prompt
Individual choiceEach player picks their own

What you can obtain

Relic
2 randomChoice: DECIDE: Guilty
Card
Reward (3 choices)Choice: DECIDE: Guilty
Upgrade
2 cardsChoice: DECIDE: Innocent
Transform
2 cardsChoice: DECIDE: Innocent
Gold
300 GoldChoice: DECIDE: Innocent
Heal
10 HPChoice: DECIDE: Guilty
Curse
Regret
Curse
Unplayable.
At the end of your turn, if this is in your Hand, lose 1 HP for each card in your Hand.
RegretChoices: DECIDE: Guilty / DECIDE: Innocent
Curse
Shame
Curse
Unplayable.
At the end of your turn, if this is in your Hand, gain 1 Frail.
ShameChoice: DECIDE: Innocent
Curse
Doubt
Curse
Unplayable.
At the end of your turn, if this is in your Hand, gain 1 Weak.
DoubtChoices: DECIDE: Guilty / DECIDE: Innocent

Where it appears

How ? rooms roll ›
Act 3Glory

What each choice does

Accept

Serve as today's Decider.

Merchant1 in 3

What the game says
A wealthy-looking merchant, presents his case. He is accused of murder by one of his rivals. The evidence is thin, and you have a feeling that the man is innocent, but the onlookers seem out for blood.

Noble1 in 3

What the game says
A powerful noble steps forward. You find a note in your pocket indicating that if you decide innocence you will be handsomely rewarded. The noble barely argues against the corruption charges and gives you a knowing smirk.
You can't stop corruption but you can pocket some gold...

DECIDE: Guilty

Heal 10 HP.

Heal10 HP

IT IS DECIDED

What the game says
The powerful noble was beheaded.
One less corrupt noble.

Nondescript1 in 3

What the game says
A nondescript woman with a hard-to-read face steps forward. She is charged with the crime of theft and con-artistry. When the woman speaks, you believe her, but ample witnesses attest to her misdeeds.
Both sides of the story are compelling!

Reject

You are not allowed to Reject.

What the game says
“YOU CANNOT REFUSE!!”Shouts the Grand Arbiter of the Courts.“Those who reject this privilege are penalized with DEATH. Do you still defy!?”

Double Down

Face lethal repercussions.

Can kill you

PromptAbandon the run?

Which option to take

Merchant: Guilty; two relics in Glory beat two upgrades, and Regret can be removed at a shop. Noble: Innocent for the 300 gold unless the run ends within a few floors and you would rather have 10 HP.

Double Down Reject

PromptAbandon the run?
  • Nondescript: Guilty; two picks of three are safer than two random transforms. Never Double Down.

How it plays

Accept

  • Starts one of three cases with equal odds.

The three cases

  • The merchant: Guilty adds Regret and grants two relics from your relic queue; Innocent adds Shame and lets you upgrade two cards of your choice.
  • The noble: Guilty heals 10 HP with no curse; Innocent adds Regret and pays 300 gold.
  • The nondescript woman: Guilty adds Doubt and opens two card rewards, each a pick of three; Innocent adds Doubt and transforms two cards of your choice.

Reject

  • Only leads to a second page where Accept runs the same trial and Double Down opens the abandon run prompt, which ends your run.

The three curses

  • Regret makes you lose 1 HP per card in hand at end of turn while it sits in your hand, Shame gives 1 Frail and Doubt gives 1 Weak.

Changes by version

  1. 12 Mar 2026Bug fix
    Fixed an issue with the "Accept" option in The Trial event when playing in French
  2. 23 Oct 2025InterfaceInternal playtest
    Add confirmation popup when refusing to be a Decider in The Trial event
    TextInternal playtest
    Added context and interim event page for Defiance option in The Trial event
  3. 26 Jun 2025Bug fixInternal playtest
    The Trial's Innocent option now uses a single card select to upgrade 2 cards
All 12 patch notes9 older
  1. 6 Feb 2025Bug fixInternal playtest
    Fixed multiplayer state divergence caused by The Trial event
    Bug fixInternal playtest
    The Trial event portrait no longer switches when remote players choose an option
  2. 12 Dec 2024Gold received250300Internal playtest
    Curse card from Guilty Merchant changed from Guilt to Regret and Gold received increased from 250 to 300
  3. 7 Nov 2024Bug fixInternal playtest
    The Trial event no longer softlocks 1/4 of the time
  4. 7 Jun 2024ArtSelf-Help BookInternal playtest
    Art updates for Self-Help Book, The Trial, and The Trial's Accused events
  5. 4 May 2024TextInternal playtest
    The Trial event now correctly uses the word "defendant" instead of "plaintiff"
  6. 26 Apr 2024Bug fixCurse of the BellInternal playtest
    Curse of the Bell can no longer be removed by The Trial event or by other sources of card removal
  7. 15 Sep 2023ArtDense VegetationRelic TraderTea MasterThe Round Tea PartyThe Sunken StatueWellspringInternal playtest
    Portrait art has been updated for the following events: Bedlam Beacon, Dense Vegetation, Inviting Cocoon, Relic Trader, Tea Master, The Round Tea Party, The Sunken Statue, The Trial, and Wellspring
  8. 8 Sep 2023ArtInternal playtest
    Updated event art
  9. 25 Aug 2023AddedInternal playtest
    Added "The Trial" event to Act 3

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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