What does the Golden Compass do in Slay the Spire 2?

What does the Golden Compass do? If you've just started Act 2 and you're offered the Golden Compass as a helping hand to get you started, here's what you can expect from the item and why you should choose it.

Unlike the Lantern Key or Colossal Flower event, the Golden Compass offers little downside, apart from picking it over items that can benefit your deck. It's definitely worth weighing up where you are on your Slay the Spire 2 run and just how the Golden Compass can guide you and your party - if you're playing multiplayer - to the end of Act 2.

The Golden Compass is a reward that appears at the beginning of Act 2 if you're lucky enough to meet Tezcatara. It can be offered as one of three rewards, and if picked up, it changes the Act 2 map to be one set path to the end of the act. The path itself is more balanced, with a good amount of enemies, shops, events, and elites, making it a more straightforward and less risky route.

It's a great option if you're running low on health or need to coast through the second act to regain some momentum going into Act 3. This is also the best pick if you're on a multiplayer run; if one person grabs the Golden Compass, the whole party benefits from the reward of a single path in Act 2.

Now you know what the Golden Compass does, here's how to create the perfect deck for the Regent class and how to unlock more characters. If you've just started the second act and want to know how much further to go, check out our guide on how many acts there are in Slay the Spire 2 and the roadmap for future acts and updates.