Monster Train 2 Early-Game Card Tier List (2025): Best Units & Spells for New Players

on

Climb the ranks with the most powerful early-game cards in Monster Train 2! This tier list breaks down the best units, spells, and synergies to dominate your first runs.

🎯 Crush Your First Runs

Monster Train 2 is a brutal but rewarding deckbuilding roguelike where early decisions can make or break your entire run. Whether you're climbing the rings for the first time or struggling to get consistent wins, picking the right cards early on is key.

This Early-Game Card Tier List ranks the best units, spells, and equipment for new players, with a focus on:

  • Clan synergies

  • Upgrade paths

  • Beginner-friendly combos

  • Strategies that actually work post-patch

🛠️ Meta Note: Updated for the latest patch—no outdated advice here!

📊 How This Tier List Works

Cards are ranked based on:

✅ Early-game impact – Are they useful immediately?

✅ Scaling potential – Do they stay strong through later rings?

✅ Ease of use – Can beginners get value without deep synergy?

✅ Synergy potential – Do they combo well with common builds?

We’ll cover:

  • S-Tier (Must-Pick) – Game-changers that define your run

  • A-Tier (Strong Choices) – Reliable, consistent, easy to build around

  • B-Tier (Situational) – Needs setup or specific synergy

  • C-Tier (Avoid Early) – Too niche, weak, or clunky early on

💡 Pro Tip: Always check boss modifiers before finalizing your deck! Don’t let Crystalclock ruin your scaling setup.

🟦 S-Tier: The Best Early-Game Cards

🧱 Units

Monster Train 2 Early-Game Card Tier List (2025)
Fel (Banished Champion – Pyreborne Clan)
➡ Gains Valor (Attack + Armor per stack) and can solo-carry with the right upgrades.
Best Path: Just Cause (aggressive Valor stacking) or Talos (defensive sustain)
Synergy: Pair with Bloodsoaked Arena for +6 Valor per kill—it’s busted.

Plague Doctor (Lazarus League)
➡ Applies Unstable (explodes on death) to enemies, clearing waves fast.
Best Upgrade: Virulent Strain for bigger booms
Combo: Stick behind a tank like Greed Dragon for easy value.

🪄 Spells

Benediction
➡ +3 Valor & +2 Damage Shield to an entire floor = unbeatable frontlines.
Use It On: Fel’s floor for maximum sustain and scaling.

Dragon’s Breath
➡ Applies +10 Pyregel (amplifies damage taken), speeding up fights.
Best Clan Pair: Pyreborne dragons love this.

🧠 Equipment

Mind Cage
➡ Reduces unit cooldowns—amazing for Fel’s Savior ability.
Let her spam value every turn.

🟩 A-Tier: Strong & Reliable Picks

🧱 Units

Greed Dragon (Pyreborne)
➡ Scales based on gold hoarded—starts slow, ends strong.
Best Upgrade: Gold Hoarder for permanent stat gain
Tip: Don’t spend too much early if you're going this route.

Mushroom Soldier (Underlegion)
➡ Cheap and spawns in bulk. Works great with Propagate cards.

🪄 Spells

Deadly Plunge
➡ Deals 3x your front unit’s Health + Armor—excellent for boss bursting.

Cleave
➡ Hits every enemy with your front unit’s Attack. Stack damage early and win fast.

🧱 Room Cards

Bloodsoaked Arena
➡ +6 Valor per kill. Just... yes. It turns your Valor units into gods.

🟨 B-Tier: Good, But Needs Setup

These aren’t bad—but without synergy or upgrades, they’re tricky to use.

  • Lunar Priestess (Luna Coven) – Boosts Conduit (spell power), but fragile early on.

  • Penitent’s Bloodsuit (Equipment) – Deals 30 damage per boss move—solid chip tool for long fights.

  • Waxen Spike (Melting Remnant) – Great in Burnout + Reform decks.

🟥 C-Tier: Avoid Early (Too Niche or Weak)

  • Selfless Sacrifice – The setup cost outweighs the payoff.

  • Hellfurnace – Only works if you build around Pyregel, which takes time.

🧨 Use these if you’re experienced or desperate. Otherwise, skip.

🧠 Pro Tips for Early-Game Success

  • Purge Early Junk – Get rid of Train Stewards and weak spells ASAP.

  • Prioritize Unit Upgrades – Boost Attack for your damage dealers, Health for frontlines.

  • Adapt to Bosses – Know when you need burst, sustain, or crowd control.

  • Synergy > Rarity – A cohesive build with commons > a pile of disconnected rares.

🧪 Community Challenge: Test Your Skills!

🔥 Try a run using only B-tier cards and share your result in the comments!
🔥 Vote: Which S-tier card has carried your early runs the most?

🌐 Community Links & Related Articles

🏁 Final Thoughts

Mastering Monster Train 2's early game means:

  • Picking cards that do work early

  • Building toward synergy, not just rarity

  • Adapting to bosses and ring modifiers

Use this tier list as your launchpad. Try combos, build smarter, and you’ll be climbing in no time.

What’s your favorite early-game MVP? Drop it below! 🚂🔥 

Comments

Post a Comment