It’s often overlooked that despite being hailed as one of the greatest indie games ever made, Balatro also stands out for its high degree of challenge and complexity.
This terrific roguelike game offers numerous hurdles and hidden mysteries that aren’t obvious until you’ve played it several times, since the intricacies of its various mechanisms and interactions can be quite complex.
Despite this, it remains exceptionally suitable for newcomers due to its manageable learning process. The game’s captivating nature ensures that you might find yourself investing numerous hours into it unawares.
Indeed, that’s exactly my experience, and following my triumph over various challenges utilizing diverse decks, I find it fitting to disseminate my insights by presenting a curated list showcasing the top 10 exceptional Rare Jokers, arranged in order of preference.
10. Burnt Joker
Upgrades Every Round
| Effect | Upgrade the level of the first discarded poker hand each round |
| Unlock Requirement | Sell 50 cards |
Certain Jokers improve your economy indirectly, such as the under-the-radar Burnt Joker.
Because it involves getting rid of the cards you aim to strengthen, it proves beneficial primarily for games where fewer cards are needed to accumulate points. Almost entirely eliminating the necessity of purchasing Celestial Packs.
Consequently, it not only boosts the number of chips and multiplies the value of your selected hands, but it also enables you to redirect the earnings toward other spending options.
As a gamer, I find myself often struggling with strategies like Straight, Flush, or their counterparts because they’re tough to execute consistently. However, when it comes to hands that require only three cards or less, these tactics can be quite the game-changer!
9. Baseball Card
Easy Mult
| Effect | Uncommon Jokers each give X1.5 Mult |
| Unlock Requirement | Available from start |
At the beginning, you’ll find useful tools, much like Jokers, that won’t necessitate a change in your approach or strategy.
One particularly potent and reliable option among them is the Baseball Trading Card, as it gains an edge when it includes Rare Wild Cards in its roster.
Despite decreasing towards the end because it is strongest during the middle of the game, it offers significant help in navigating the initial stages of play with minimal hassle.
The usual Joker can be transformed into something beneficial over time, while Baseball Card’s temporary nature doesn’t diminish its value when the opportunity arises to acquire one.
The Joker card often serves a different purpose eventually, and Baseball Cards may not last long, but neither their potential usefulness nor their worth is lessened when they can be obtained.
8. Obelisk
Satisfying but Difficult to Assemble
| Effect | This Joker gains X0.2 Mult per consecutive hand played without playing your most played poker hand |
| Unlock Requirement | Available from start |
In the Balatro community, Obelisk is often overlooked as one of the Jokers due to the extensive preparation it necessitates.
Many find it intimidating because it requires playing hands that differ from what they are accustomed to, yet its potential strength is undeniable.
If you structure your game effectively, Obelisk could become one of the most powerful multipliers within the game, enabling you to significantly increase your scores with every turn or round.
This item might not appear at the top due to its complexity, but once mastered, it’s nothing short of breathtaking.
7. Driver’s License
Perfect for Enhanced Decks
| Effect | X3 Mult if you have at least 16 Enhanced cards in your full deck |
| Unlock Requirement | Enhance 16 cards in your deck |
Adding cards to your deck without thought can actually hinder progress, but some decks do profit from this approach, as demonstrated by the fact that there exists a card like “Driver’s License“.
This specific Joker contributes significantly to why Enhanced Decks, despite their tendency towards inconsistency, remain a competitive archetype.
If you can make it work simply by enhancing the cards you already have, rather than acquiring new ones, then it’s an extraordinary boost that seems nearly costless.
Although it might not be the most effective globally in later times, it’s incredibly efficient for completing the initial eight tasks.
6. Stuntman
A Worthy Sacrifice
| Effect | +250 Chips, -2 hand size |
| Unlock Requirement | Earn at least 100 million (100,000,000) Chips in a single hand |
A significant number of Balatro’s potent Joker cards have a conspicuous backlash, with Stuntman being one of the most prominent examples.
In the right circumstances, those additional 250 chips could significantly impact your game.
If your shuffled deck is perfectly organized or if you need just a handful of cards for games like High Card or Pair, the Stuntman card’s effectiveness is at its maximum.
By neutralizing its unfavorable impact using vouchers such as “Paint Brush” and “Palette”, you won’t have to worry about chips at all, enabling you to concentrate on other matters since this aspect is well taken care of.
5. Invisible Joker
High Probabilities of Success
| Effect | After 2 rounds, sell this card to Duplicate a random Joker |
| Unlock Requirement | Win a game while never having more than 4 jokers |
In Balatro, some features let you replicate the powers of the Joker cards you possess. This is considered one of the strongest mechanics in the entire game.
As a gamer, let me tell you, the unpredictable Invisible Joker card can completely flip the script during my gaming sessions. It’s like an unexpected twist in the storyline that catches me off guard, but keeps things exciting!
If you’re able to trade some extra Joker cards to secure more potent ones, it could quickly help you surpass your personal best scores.
While cloning Jokers might not be the ideal choice, the potency of its impact is so significant that it still manages to rank quite highly on the list.
4. DNA
The Key to Many Builds
| Effect | If first hand of round has only 1 card, add a permanent copy to deck and draw it to hand |
| Unlock Requirement | Available from start |
Balatro is full of fun builds, and I’d say a lot of them rely on the presence of DNA.
Rather than replicating the Joker character, it duplicates playing cards directly, making it simpler to create uncommon combinations such as Four of a Kind or Five of a Kind.
On its own, it might seem nearly useless, but when combined with various Joker cards, it becomes an excellent addition to multiple deck types due to its synergy capabilities.
DNA plays a crucial role in many outstanding achievements I’ve witnessed or been part of, making it clear why it deserves its prominent status.
3. Baron
High Scores’ King
| Effect | Each King held in hand gives X1.5 Mult |
| Unlock Requirement | Available from start |
If I had to count the top ten scores I’ve gotten, I believe Baron has been in nine of them.
Despite only a handful of structures being able to generate exponentially large numbers, it’s clear that this is one of Balatro’s strongest Wild Cards.
Though only certain constructions can produce enormous figures exponentially, there’s no denying that it ranks among Balatro’s top game-changers.
Initially, his strength is hard to exploit because the decks are unpredictable when it comes to drawing kings. However, as the game progresses, he amasses a power that is unparalleled.
His main disadvantage is having The Plant (which reduces the power of face cards), however, beyond that, he’s a very strong choice for reaching substantial pots.
2. Ancient Joker
Absolute Balance
| Effect | Each played card with [suit] gives X1.5 Mult when scored, suit changes at end of round |
| Unlock Requirement | Available from start |
I didn’t catch on right away, but let me tell you, Ancient Joker is simply fantastic for those who are into Flush games, just like me.
Effortlessly accumulating points in the hundreds of millions, this tool boasts a well-balanced set of features that can rescore your hand.
If unfortunate circumstances coincide with a poorly timed move, there’s a high chance you’ll need to begin the game again, though this is typically quite unusual.
In general, Ancient Joker exhibits a high degree of consistency and resistance to Boss Blinds, but it tends to rely more on other versions of the Joker character compared to options such as Baron, in order to fully unleash its potential.
1. Brainstorm/Blueprint
Versatility Gods
| Effect | Copies the ability of leftmost Joker / Copies ability of Joker to the right |
| Unlock Requirement | Discard a Royal Flush / Win 1 run |
Previously, I pointed out that in Balatro, replicating effects is one of its strongest features, since it allows for extended gameplay unparalleled by any other method.
Due to its all-encompassing capabilities, fulfilling the need for a versatile tool like Brainstorm can be quite challenging, as it’s seen as a reliable choice in any situation.
Regardless if you’re seeking economy cards, chip boosters, multipliers, or doublers, Brainstorm is the adaptable Joker that you’ll always want to have in your deck.
Essentially, if you remove the positional aspects from my discussion about Brainstorm, what remains is Blueprint – a character that stands out as arguably the finest Joker within the game of Balatro, even without modifications.
It’s tough to conceive of a construction that wouldn’t significantly improve with both of them, because they are technically flawless and adaptable to any scenario you can think of.
Apart from their physical tools like hands, vouchers, decks, or Ante, their versatility in adapting to various situations renders them incredibly valuable and almost indispensable, to the extent that they can seem frustratingly essential for attaining high scores.
No matter what, this pair is undoubtedly essential for you and may well be the Jokers that you instinctively purchase each time you come across them.
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2025-02-24 19:40