Cracked Core

Cracked Core

StarterDefect
At the start of each combat, Channel 1 Lightning.

The Defect's starter relic. Just before your first turn of each combat it Channels 1 Lightning into an open orb slot. It reads the turn number and only fires on turn 1. Touch of Orobas upgrades it into Infused Core, which Channels 3 Lightning and adds 1 damage to every Lightning hit.

Rarity
Starter
Character
Defect

When to take Cracked Core

You start with it and cannot lose it. The free orb keeps a passive ticking from turn 1, so draft cards that trigger or evoke the rightmost orb instead of treating the opener as empty.

Cards that synergize with Cracked Core

Loop
Power
1
At the start of your turn, trigger the passive ability of your rightmost Orb.
Loop and Gold-Plated Cables trigger its passive again.At the start of your turn, trigger the passive ability of your rightmost Orb.
Tesla Coil
Attack
0
Deal 3 damage.
Trigger all Lightning against the enemy.
Tesla Coil fires every Lightning at one enemy.Deal 3 damage.
Trigger all Lightning against the enemy.
Barrage
Attack
1
Deal 5 damage for each Channeled Orb.
Barrage counts it for 5 damage.Deal 5 damage for each Channeled Orb.
Dualcast
Skill
1
Evoke your rightmost Orb twice.
Dualcast evokes it twice on turn 1 for burst.Evoke your rightmost Orb twice.
Thunder
Power
1
Whenever you Evoke Lightning, deal 6 damage to each enemy hit.
Thunder works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsWhenever you Evoke Lightning, deal 6 damage to each enemy hit.
Darkness
Skill
1
Channel 1 Dark.
Trigger the passive ability of all Dark Orbs.
Darkness works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsChannel 1 Dark.
Trigger the passive ability of all Dark Orbs.
Hailstorm
Power
1
At the end of your turn, if you have Frost, deal 6 damage to ALL enemies.
Hailstorm works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsAt the end of your turn, if you have Frost, deal 6 damage to ALL enemies.
Shatter
Attack
1
Deal 7 damage to ALL enemies.
Evoke all of your Orbs twice.
Shatter works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsDeal 7 damage to ALL enemies.
Evoke all of your Orbs twice.
Biased Cognition
Power
1
Gain 4 Focus.
At the start of your turn, lose 1 Focus.
Biased Cognition works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsGain 4 Focus.
At the start of your turn, lose 1 Focus.
Quadcast
Skill
1
Evoke your rightmost Orb 4 times.
Quadcast works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsEvoke your rightmost Orb 4 times.
Multi-Cast
Skill
X
Evoke your rightmost Orb X times.
Multi-Cast works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsEvoke your rightmost Orb X times.
Capacitor
Power
1
Gain 2 Orb Slots.
Capacitor works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsGain 2 Orb Slots.
Coolant
Power
1
At the start of your turn, gain 2 Block for each unique Orb you have.
Coolant works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsAt the start of your turn, gain 2 Block for each unique Orb you have.
Hotfix
Skill
0
Gain 2 Focus this turn.
Exhaust.
Hotfix works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsGain 2 Focus this turn.
Exhaust.
Synchronize
Skill
1
Gain 2 Focus this turn for each unique Orb you have.
Exhaust.
Synchronize works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsGain 2 Focus this turn for each unique Orb you have.
Exhaust.
Compile Driver
Attack
1
Deal 7 damage.
Draw 1 card for each unique Orb you have.
Compile Driver works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsDeal 7 damage.
Draw 1 card for each unique Orb you have.
Consuming Shadow
Power
2
Channel 2 Dark.
At the end of your turn, Evoke your leftmost Orb.
Consuming Shadow works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsChannel 2 Dark.
At the end of your turn, Evoke your leftmost Orb.
Defragment
Power
1
Gain 1 Focus.
Defragment works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsGain 1 Focus.
Focused Strike
Attack
1
Deal 9 damage.
Gain 1 Focus this turn.
Focused Strike works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsDeal 9 damage.
Gain 1 Focus this turn.
Modded
Skill
0
Gain 1 Orb Slot.
Draw 1 card. Increase this card's cost by 1.
Modded works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsGain 1 Orb Slot.
Draw 1 card. Increase this card's cost by 1.
Hibernate
Skill
2
This turn, your Frost grants ALL allies Block.
Channel 2 Frost.
Hibernate works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsThis turn, your Frost grants ALL allies Block.
Channel 2 Frost.

Relics that synergize with Cracked Core

Data Disk
Data Disk adds 1 Focus so the free Lightning hits harder from the start.Start each combat with 1 Focus.
Gold-Plated Cables
Loop and Gold-Plated Cables trigger its passive again.Your rightmost Orb triggers its passive an additional time.
Emotion Chip
Emotion Chip works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsIf you lost HP during the previous turn, trigger the passive ability of all Orbs at the start of your turn.
Metronome
Metronome works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsThe first time you Channel 7 Orbs each combat, deal 30 damage to ALL enemies.
Runic Capacitor
Runic Capacitor works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsStart each combat with 3 additional Orb Slots.
Infused Core
Infused Core works with the Orbs Cracked Core ChannelsAt the start of each combat, Channel 3 Lightning. Lightning deals 1 additional damage.
✦

Related relics

Infused CoreMetronomeSymbiotic VirusPower CellBag of MarblesBeating RemnantBrilliant ScarfKunaiMusic BoxOrichalcum

Changes by version

  1. 27 Aug 2025Bug fixInternal playtest
    Cracked Core relic now properly triggers before Imbued enchantment

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