Health or HP is a vitality resource. Should the player runs out of HP, they will be defeated and that run will end. There are various ways that HP can be permanently increased or decreased by it total amount, or has its portion restored.
Altering Max HP
The player can increase or decrease their maximum health, or max HP, using various methods. The changes in max HP persists throughout the run.
Increasing Max HP
Increasing max HP raises the max HP by a set amount and also heal the player for the same amount. For example:
- The player has 45/60 HP
- The player increases their max HP by 5.
- Their max HP is raised by 5, to 65.
- Their current HP is also healed by 5, to 50.
- Their overall HP is now 50/65.
Card
Numbers in parentheses are for upgraded card.
Relics
- Strawberry - Increases max HP by 7.
- Darkstone Periapt - Increases max HP by 6 whenever you obtain a Curse.
- Unlike Du-Vu Doll, it does not require you to keep a Curse in your deck. You still retain the increased max HP even if you remove a Curse from your deck.
- Pear - Increases max HP by 10.
- Singing Bowl - Gives an option to increases max HP by 1 instead of adding a card to your deck.
- Mango - Increases max HP by 14.
- Tiny House - Increases max HP by 5.
- Face of Cleric - Increases max HP by 1 after each combat.
- Lee's Waffle - Increases max HP by 7 and heal all of your HP.
Max HP increased by these relics are not tied to the relics themselves. You may lose one of these relics to N'loth and still retain max HP gained.
Potion
Numbers in parentheses are enhanced amount through possessing Sacred Bark.
- Fruit Juice - Increases max HP by 5 (10).
Events
Numbers in parentheses are for Ascension 15 or higher.
- Neow - Could offer an option or two to increase your max HP. The amount varies, based on your current character.
- Bonfire Spirits - Offering a rare card also increases max HP by 10 in addition of fully heals you.
- Big Fish - Choosing [Donut] increases max HP by 5.
- Forgotten Altar - Choosing [Sacrifice] increases max HP by 5 at the cost of taking damage equal to 25% (35%) of your max HP.
Decreasing Max HP
Decreasing max HP lowers the max HP by a set amount, but the player still retain their current HP. For example:
- The player has 45/60 HP
- The player decreases their max HP by 5.
- Their max HP is lowered by 5, to 55.
- Their current HP stays the same, at 45.
- Their overall HP is now 45/55.
The player cannot lowers their max HP below 1.
Card
- Parasite - Decreases max HP by 3 if it is transformed or removed from your deck.
Events
Numbers in parentheses are for Ascension 15 or higher.
- Neow - Could offer an option to decrease your max HP in an exchange for a reward. The amount varies, based on your current character.
- Golden Idol - Choosing [Hide] decreases your max HP by 8% (10%).
- Council of Ghosts - Choosing [Accept] decreases your max HP by 50%.
- Vampires(?) - Choosing [Accept] decreases your max HP by 30%.
- The Moai Head - Choosing [Jump Inside] decreases your max HP by 12.5% (18%), but fully heals you.
Healing
Though scarce, the player does have many options offered to restore their HP and avoid defeat. As stated above, the player may indirectly heals their HP by increasing their max HP. However, there are also many ways that simply restore a lose portion of your HP.
Direct Healing
The following methods simply restore a portion of the player HP.
Rest Site
By default, the main method to restore your HP is to Rest at Rest Sites. Resting heals you for 30% of your max HP. A number of relics affects Rest.
- Regal Pillow - Increases the heal from Rest by the flat amount of 15.
- Coffee Dripper - Disables Rest option, prohibiting you from healing via this method.
Entering New Act
By default, the player is healed by 100% of their missing HP once they enter a new Act. The amount is lowered to 75% of their missing HP on Ascension 5 and higher.
Card
Numbers in parentheses are for upgraded card.
- Reaper - Heals up to 4 (5) HP per enemy, assuming they take full damage from this card and the player has no Strength.
- The healing is increased by 1 HP per Strength per enemy, assuming they take full damage from this card.
- Self Repair - Heals 7 (10) HP at the end of combat.
- Bandage Up - Heals 4 (6) HP.
- Bite - Heals 2 (3) HP.
Relics
- Burning Blood - Heals 6 HP at the end of each combat.
- Blood Vial - Heals 2 HP at the start of each combat.
- Toy Ornithopter - Heals 5 HP whenever the player uses a potion.
- Meat on the Bone - Heals 12 HP at the end of combat if the player's HP is at or below 50%.
- Pantograph - Heals 25 HP at the start of boss combats.
- Bird-Faced Urn - Heals 2 HP whenever the player plays a Power card.
- Black Blood - Heals 12 at the end of each combat.
- Bloody Idol - Heals 5 HP whenever the player gain Gold.
- The player can gain Gold in combat using Hand of Greed or Wish.
Potions
Numbers in parentheses are enhanced amount through possessing Sacred Bark.
- Blood Potion - Heals 20% (40%) of max HP.
- Regen Potion - Grants 5 (10) Regeneration, healing up to 15 (55) HP over 5 (10) turns.
Events
Numbers in parentheses are for Ascension 15 or higher.
- Bonfire Spirits
- Offering a common or card heals 5 HP.
- Offering an uncommon or rare card heals you to full.
- Wheel of Change - Should you land on the heart, you will be healed to full.
- Big Fish - Choosing [Banana] heals 33% of max HP.
- Hypnotizing Colored Mushrooms - Choosing [Eat] heals 25% of max HP, at the cost of being Cursed: Parasite.
- The Cleric - Choosing [Heal] heals 25% of max HP, costing 35 Gold.
- The Library - Choosing [Sleep] heals 33% (20%) of your max HP.
- Mind Bloom - Choosing [I am Healthy] heals you to full, at the cost of being Cursed: Doubt.
- The option is only available on floor 41 and above, replacing [I am Rich].
- The Moai Head - Choosing [Jump Inside] heals you to full, at the cost of decreasing your max HP by 12.5% (18%).
- Winding Halls - Choosing [Press On] heals 25% (20%) of your max HP, at the cost of being Cursed: Writhe.
Reviving
It is possible that, should the player die by an attack, they restores their HP instead. This is technically another method of healing, and are affected by modifiers.
Currently, there is only 2 ways to revive.
Relic
- Lizard Tail - If the player would die, heals 50% of max HP. Works only once per run.
Potion
Numbers in parentheses are enhanced amount through possessing Sacred Bark.
- Fairy in a Bottle - If the player would die, heals 30% (60%) of max HP and discard the potion.
Healing Modification
Through the following 2 relics, the player can have their healing altered:
- Magic Flower - Healing is 50% more effective during combat, including reviving and indirect healing from increasing max HP.
- Mark of the Bloom - You can no longer heal by any method, includes: