Unlock the Ultimate Balatro Tag Guide: Which Ones Are Worth It?

Summary

Skipping Small and Big Blinds in Balatro can reward players with Tags that have varying benefits.
Some Tags like Juggle and Standard Packs are situational and may not always be worth skipping Blinds for.
Tags like Meteor, Holographic, and Orbital can provide significant advantages in Balatro runs.

During gameplay of the exciting game called Balatro, rounds known as Small and Big Blinds are part of the process. Yet, players hold the option to bypass these Blinds. In return for this decision, they’ll earn a Tag. These Tags possess unique abilities that can aid in runs, though some will prove more advantageous than others.

Which tags offer the most significant benefit for running past a blind area? Out of the total 24 tags available, we’ll examine those that provide the greatest edge in securing a victory.

24. Juggle

+3 Hand Size For The Next Round Only

In certain circumstances, some tags can prove useful. For instance, if your game isn’t going well and you need an edge to defeat a boss when playing blind, then using the tag known as “Juggle Tag” might be beneficial, even if it means sacrificing a turn to acquire it.

In most cases, players won’t find it necessary to use this Tag compared to playing Blind, as they can potentially gain enough funds for valuable shop items. Moreover, since this is just a short-term boost that vanishes after the next round, Juggle could be considered nearly ineffective as a Tag.

23. Standard

Gives A Free Standard Pack

In the game of Balatro, playing cards serve as the primary tool. You use them to create hands and accrue chips, which in turn raise the stakes (Antes) and allow you to complete a run. Regular decks provide additional cards to enhance your deck. While this can be beneficial at times, it usually becomes a complication when aiming for a run victory.

In essence, receiving the Standard Tag offers a complimentary Mega Standard Card Set, enabling players to pick two cards out of five to incorporate into their deck. Yet, due to the unpredictability, the set might only include low-tier cards such as twos or threes. Enhancements on these cards do appear occasionally, but their occurrence is also random. Similar to all Tags, its usefulness depends on the Jokers in play, for example, the Hologram Joker. Typically, when deciding between taking a risk with the Standard Tag or simply playing blind, it’s generally more beneficial to opt for the latter.

22. Meteor

Gives A Free Celestial Pack

In this game, playing Planet cards enhances the rank of the corresponding hand. For instance, the Jupiter card boosts both the chip and multiplier value for Flushes when played. Consequently, such hands could become quite valuable during a round, making it a strategic move to employ Planet cards in order to outdo some Antes.

Obtaining the Meteor Tag is generally a beneficial move as it awards a Mega Celestial Pack, allowing players to instantly select two out of five Planet cards. However, keep in mind that the Planet cards within this pack are randomly selected. Therefore, instead of receiving a Saturn card to elevate Straight combinations, you might find yourself in a situation where only High Cards or Straight Flushes are available for upgrading.

Although purchasing a Telescope Voucher might appear beneficial, it doesn’t enhance the likelihood of obtaining the required Planet cards for players while utilizing the Meteor Tag.

21. Foil

Next Base Edition Shop Joker Is Free And Becomes Foil

Boosting certain cards significantly increases your likelihood of emerging victorious during a run. However, foil isn’t one of those boosts. Foil Jokers grant an additional 50 chips in every hand dealt, which might prove beneficial during some initial Antes where the extra chip amount could come in handy.

As the game progresses, Foil Jokers become less impactful due to their limited usefulness in high-scoring situations. An additional 50 chips might not be significant when attempting to surpass a score of 100,000 chips. Furthermore, since it’s uncertain which Joker will receive the enhancement, there’s a risk that it could be applied to an unsuitable Joker or one that doesn’t yield profits. This makes forgoing a Blind to acquire such a Joker seem unnecessary.

20. Top-Up

Create Up To Two Common Jokers (Must Have Room)

The “Top-Up Tag” becomes particularly beneficial during the initial Antes phase or when players are struggling to acquire Jokers from the shop. While ordinary Jokers may not be the best, possessing any is preferable to having none. The advantage lies in the potential reward of two free Jokers, which can significantly impact gameplay. However, since these Jokers are selected at random, they might not be the most useful; but if they turn out to be worthless, they can still be sold back for a bit of extra cash.

To utilize this Tag effectively, players need to ensure there’s space available in their hand. If a player currently holds four Jokers, taking this Tag will result in an additional Joker being added. However, if a player already has five Jokers, this Tag won’t have any effect at all.

19. Holographic

Next Base Edition Shop Joker Is Free And Becomes Holographic

Obtaining additional multipliers in a game round tends to be more beneficial than collecting additional points. This is because any card or joker that allows for extra multipliers becomes valuable, as they aid players in achieving the high scores needed to surpass tough levels or stakes.

In simpler terms, having Holographic Jokers in your hand boosts your scoring hands by 10 points, making it beneficial during the initial stages of a game. However, similar to Foil Jokers, the advantage of the Holographic Tag bonus lessens as the game progresses towards later Antes. While purchasing Holographic cards from the shop is advisable, opting for a Blind bet to receive a random Holographic Joker typically doesn’t lead to winning a run.

18. Orbital

Upgrade A Poker Hand By 3 Levels

The Orbital Tag enhances a particular Poker hand by three ranks, and the choice of which hand is not in the player’s hands. It could even improve a hand you’re currently playing, making it a worthwhile tag to employ.

At other instances, it might be an unused hand or one that’s challenging to play, such as a Straight Flush. Consequently, this Tag could either prove beneficial or represent a squandered blind bet chance, depending solely on Random Number Generation (RNG).

17. Speed

Gives $5 Per Skipped Blind This Run

If players frequently jump over rounds in a game, the Speed Tag could potentially yield substantial winnings. Yet, if a game isn’t going well or the Tags aren’t worth forgoing a Blind, the Speed Tag won’t fill your pockets as generously. The worth of the Speed Tag depends on the kind of game the player is playing and the other Tags that are accessible during that game.

16. Garbage

Gives $1 Per Unused Discard This Run

In the course of a game, it’s beneficial to utilize discards as they can aid in crafting the hand required to move on to the next Blind. However, since the Garbage Tag only provides a dollar for each discard that isn’t used, the return is usually not substantial.

As a film enthusiast, I’d rephrase it like this: If a player has an exceptionally strong build that’s been outplaying most blinds without needing to discard cards, then this tag could potentially bring them some substantial winnings, particularly during the later stages with Antes. However, its effectiveness will largely hinge on how successful the game is progressing.

15. Handy

Gives $1 Per Played Hand This Run

As a devoted cinephile immersed in the world of Balatro, I can confidently say that playing hands is essentially the heart of the gameplay experience. With the progression into later Antes, one can expect numerous hands to be dealt. What makes this particularly interesting is the Handy Tag, which rewards a dollar for each hand played. This could potentially lead to some substantial earnings!

As a film enthusiast, I found an intriguing observation: if a player’s build is robust, there’s a chance this game tag could underperform. When Jokers and enhancements are so powerful that they can beat blinds with just one hand, the earnings from the Handy Tag might not be as substantial. Nevertheless, it still holds a greater potential for profit compared to some other tags in the game.

2025-05-05 12:39