The Doormaker is a challenging multi-stage boss found in Act Three of Slay the Spire 2, requiring players to bypass a persistent proxy enemy before dealing direct damage. To defeat this boss, you must manage its cyclical phases, survive high-damage intervals, and maintain aggressive damage output to overcome its escalating health and buffs.
Mastering the Door Phase
At the start of the battle, the Doormaker remains hidden, forcing you to engage a proxy enemy known as “the Door.” This floating pile of rubble functions as a mini-boss with 155 health. Be prepared for punishing attacks that deal between 15 and 30 HP of damage per turn.
Given the damage output, prioritizing cards that grant substantial shields—such as “Boot Sequence” for the Defect or “Iron Wave” for the Ironclad—is essential. Strategically, if the Door is at low health, consider waiting until the start of your next turn to deliver the final blow. This timing prevents the Doormaker from immediately initiating its next buff sequence while you are low on energy.
Capitalizing on the Vulnerability Window
Once the Door is destroyed, the Doormaker appears but remains stunned for one full turn. This is your primary window to unleash high-damage combos or set up essential powers and stat buffs without needing to worry about defense. Efficiency during this turn is critical, as the boss will begin its aggressive rotation immediately afterward.
Surviving the Doormaker’s Attack Cycle
The Doormaker boasts a significant 489 health pool, making it unsuitable for slow, defensive playstyles. It attacks for two turns, with damage scaling from approximately 30 HP on the first turn to 40 HP on the second. Once these attacks conclude, the boss retreats, summoning a new, more durable Door with 20 additional health than the previous iteration.
Winning Strategies and Deck Optimization
The Doormaker buffs itself and its summons before retreating, meaning the fight becomes progressively harder the longer it lasts. To succeed, aim for a three-to-five-stage victory, requiring an average of 20 to 40 damage per turn over nine to fifteen turns.
Character selection matters; classes like the Silent, known for free attacks and card draw, or the Ironclad, with high-impact brute force, often outperform the Defect in this specific encounter. Prior to entering the fight, prioritize aggressive relics and attack-heavy potions to ensure you have the necessary firepower to knock the boss off its hinges before the attrition wears you down.
