Unlock Priorities That Actually Move Your Account
If you are new to Balatro, focus on a few key terms first. An Ante is one stage of a run, made up of a Small Blind, Big Blind, and Boss Blind. A Joker is a special card that uses a Joker slot and changes how your scoring engine works. A Stake is a higher difficulty level. Early on, prioritize unlocks that improve consistency: more Joker options and repeatable clears at low stakes. Before each run, open Collection, choose one unlock target, and play directly toward it.
For progression, use one main deck until your clears feel stable. Stake progression is tracked per deck, so beating your highest unlocked stake on that deck unlocks the next stake for that same deck. Once your clears feel reliable, rotate in other decks to chase additional unlock goals and expand your overall options.
Efficient Unlock Route
Use this loop to unlock faster without wasting runs:
- Start each run with one goal: either clear your current stake or complete one specific unlock condition.
- In early antes, buy for survival first (reliable chips/mult scaling), then pivot into synergy after your score floor is safe.
- Favor consistent scoring lines over high-roll gambles when your goal is progression.
- If your run is clearly off-target early, reset and start a cleaner attempt instead of forcing it.
- Treat each new stake as a learning pass: identify what failed, then adjust shop priorities next run.
For most new players, the best order is simple: lock in low-stake clears on a comfortable deck, target easy Joker unlocks, then climb that deck's stake ladder before repeating on other decks.