One of the best ways to get more energy to play cards. The cost in health is generally offset by the added value of the additional cards you can throw down. One way to win a run is to add enough draw to your deck to cycle this card repeatedly and use the energy gain to kill bosses before you run out of health.

Saves meaningful HP in nearly every hallway and elite, remains relevant into Aeonglass, and is still worth considering late in Act 3.

333 Gold can buy a chosen relic and remove a starter, but the early map should offer a shop before Greed compromises a hard-pool fight.

Swift 3 on three existing cards supplies nine free draws in the first cycle and is exceptionally easy to build around.

Free draw and energy effectively put one of Silent's powerful Powers into play for free; take every copy and strongly consider cloning it.

Consistent energy on most characters and effectively energy every turn on Necrobinder, though attack-driven Ironclad decks use it less reliably.

Two starter transforms are powerful enough to outweigh 12 lost Max HP, especially on Ascension 10 where the loss does not reduce current HP.

Halving enemy damage after low-card turns can carry even a weak deck and may be stronger than Runic Pyramid.

An overstated early-game common, especially in Overgrowth, that can start a run-winning snowball and justify building around its Star cost.

A game-defining starter and high-priority upgrade. Together with Unleash it provides a long-term Osty scaling plan while remaining excellent early.

Not covered in this reward-card tier list.

Excellent turn-one protection that saves HP without bloating later draws, with few current fights punishing its Innate timing.

Premium turn-one protection that covers Defect while Powers and slower Orb scaling come online.

An early Alchemize snowballs potions for the entire run, and extra potion-slot sources make an already degenerate card even stronger.