Underdocks

The Underdocks is one of two Act 1 environments in Slay the Spire 2, accessible by choosing the 1b path at the start of a run. It is a grimy, waterlogged underground district filled with mechanical constructs, mutated aquatic creatures, and opportunistic mercenaries. The darker, more industrial aesthetic contrasts with the Overgrowth's natural setting, and the enemies here tend to be more mechanically complex.

Normal enemies in the Underdocks include Corpse Slugs, Fossil Stalker, Gremlin Merc, Punch Construct, Seapunk, Sludge Spinner, Toadpoles, and Two-Tailed Rats. Punch Construct is particularly notable for adding Wound status cards to your deck, making exhaust and discard tools valuable. The elite enemies are Terror Eel, Phantasmal Gardener, and Skulking Colony, each requiring different strategic approaches. Terror Eel is a high-damage threat that demands strong Block, while Skulking Colony tests AoE capability.

The Underdocks boss pool includes Lagavulin Matriarch and Soul Fysh. Lagavulin Matriarch is a returning fan-favorite boss that debuffs your Strength and Dexterity if you take too long to break through her defensive phase. Soul Fysh is a new Slay the Spire 2 boss with unique mechanics. Both bosses reward aggressive strategies that can deal damage quickly. For the Ironclad, Inflame and Strength cards help punch through Lagavulin Matriarch's armor. The Silent's Poison from Noxious Fumes and Bouncing Flask ignores the Matriarch's Block entirely. The Defect's Focus-scaled Lightning orbs provide consistent damage output.

Compared to the Overgrowth, the Underdocks enemies tend to add more status cards to your deck, making the Ironclad's exhaust tools like Feel No Pain, Burning Pact, and Dark Embrace especially valuable here. The Silent's discard tools like Survivor and Calculated Gamble handle Wound pollution effectively. Choosing the Underdocks is often recommended for characters with built-in ways to handle status cards, while characters that need clean decks may prefer the Overgrowth path.