If you’re anything like me, you’ll have been playing the new deck-builder masterclass Balatro pretty much non-stop since it was released in February this year, and like any avid gambler, I can stop anytime I want, I just don’t want to.
I’ve poured upwards of 100 hours into this consequence-free gambling card game, and with that experience, I feel I am in a pretty good position to talk about the game’s systems, what works, what doesn’t, and how you can make it through each ante with as few hiccups as possible.
So, with that in mind, I want to have a bash at ranking the most useful, and consistent Jokers in the game, allowing you to buy them immediately when they pop up in the shop and turn a lukewarm run into an invincible build. So, without further delay, here are our picks for the Balatro Best Jokers Ranked.
Selection Criteria
As you will know, if you have played the game, not all jokers are immediately available, and sometimes you have to play the cards you are dealt for better or worse. So here are the criteria we will be considering for this list:
- All Jokers within the game will be available for selection, even if they need to be unlocked first
- We will be selecting jokers based on their consistency and overall effect
- The Joker’s rarity will also be taken into account
Okay, let’s get this show on the road then. I guess it’s our turn to deal.
#10 – Madness
Effect: When Blind is selected, gain X0.5Mult and destroy a random Joker (Begins at X1 Mult)
We begin with a card that is pretty one note, and prevents the player from making use of any other jokers during runs, but if you are looking for a Joker that will consistently carry you through to the end of the run, Madness tends to be effective time and time again.
How this card works is that with every Blind, you’ll gain a 0.5x Multiplier to this Joker, but the caveat is that upon each new blind, it will also destroy one Joker in your collection. Which means you can consistently buy Jokers if you have the cash, but you won’t be able to plan and create long-term strategies.
This means you need to lean on Tarot and Planet Cards to enhance hand scores, create cards with unique Seals and abilities, and if you can do that, Madness will almost always see you through.
The only reason this one isn’t a little higher is that if you get unlucky with a boss blind, you may get a Boss that renders this strategy useless, and there is no plan B. But overall, for a very low effort but effective strategy, Madness is the way to go.
#9 – Stuntman
Effect: +300 Chips, -2 hand size.
Next, we have Stuntman, a card that you will only unlock if you have generated a hand worth over one billion points. When you do, this will unlock what is probably the most efficient chip-generating Joker in the game.
This card will lower your hand size by two, but the trade-off is 300 Chips per hand, which is a huge boon, especially if you haven’t been blessed with a lot of Planet Cards.
Generally speaking, the best way to make this one work is to go for a hand with as few cards as possible. A high-card build can work a treat here because no matter how small your hand gets, you’ll only ever need one card.
This one is lower down the list because there are so many chip-building alternatives, but of all of them, we would say that Stuntman is the pick of the bunch, provided you aren’t playing five-card hands regularly.
#8 – Perkeo
At number eight, we have the first Legendary Joker on our ranked list, and it’s Perkeo, the Joker that allows you to create Negative consumables. This a power that seems a little underwhelming at first, but when you realize how stacked you can make your Consumables pile; you begin to see the value of this card.
There are lots of ways you can use Perkeo to create consumable card strategies and set up long-term plays, but by far, the most consistent is by racking up a number of Planet Cards that synergize with your best hand, and with each acquired Planet Card, you’ll gain a 1.5X Mult.
Combine this with some Blueprints, Brainstorms, and a Mime Joker, and you’ll have a build that will generate scores beyond your wildest dreams. This ranks a little lower because you do need a couple of things to go your way to make this work well, but overall, an outstanding strategy.
#7 – The Idol
Effect: Each played [rank] of [suit] gives X2 Mult when scored Card changes every round
I have noticed that The Idol doesn’t get quite as much love as it should do within the Balatro community, and it’s simply because you need to keep this card until the late-game before it can really shine.
In terms of its core ability, it’s a helpful one right from the off, especially if you are doing a Flush Build. However, this card really comes into its own as you destroy cards and duplicate others to ensure every card in your deck is the same, as the game will not ask for cards you don’t own, meaning every card is guaranteed a 2X Mult.
The downside of this one is that you need to have a way to duplicate cards and destroy others, meaning you’ll need either a spectral card to get you going early on, or a DNA Joker to help make copies of one type of card. However, if you can get this going, the numbers you’ll generate when it’s in full swing are very satisfying indeed.
#6 – Mime
Effect: Retrigger all card held in hand abilities
If you’re looking for a card that can support multiple builds, Mime is a flexible and powerful Joker that seems a little underwhelming, but when used effectively, it’s easily one of the best.
The strategy to get the best out of this Joker is by having a method of duplicating a card in your hand regularly. So DNA and Blueprint tends to be a great option.
Then, with Mime in your collection, you can focus on duplicating cards with effects and seals, meaning you could feasibly have a deck full of Polychrome, Steel, and Red Seal Kings, and then with Mime, you get to trigger them a third time, sending the score through the roof.
This can be a little tricky to build into, as without duplication, this won’t be all that useful, but if you can find a way to play to this card’s strength, it will pay you back and then some.
#5 – DNA
Effect: If first hand of round has only 1 card, add a permanent copy to deck and draw it to hand
I mentioned DNA already, so it’s about time I sang its praises, because this, when combined with Blueprint or Brainstorm, is the best way to create a singular card on mass, allowing you to essentially guarantee that when you draw your hand, it will almost always be a complete set of one card of your choosing.
The only downside of this Joker is that in the early rounds, you will need to have a Plan B strategy in place, as it will use up one of your hands every turn, and in the early stages, one hand can be the difference between winning and losing.
However, as you progress and the deck takes shape, this allows you to gain stability with each passing round, and before you know it, you’ll be playing hands on autopilot as every card will be exactly what you need.
Just remember, when your deck is solid, be sure to swap it out for something better, because it’s not a card you want to keep forever.
#4 – Triboulet
Effect: Played Kings and Queens each give x2 Mult when scored
Just missing out on the podium position is the only other Legendary Joker in the top ten, Triboulet.
This is a card that grants a 2X multiplier for every single King and Queen played per hand, which means unlike Baron, this offers a little more flexibility in terms of face cards used.
This card can be paired with Baron and Mime, or you could go for a Queen Build and pair it with Mime and Shoot the Moon, depending on how your run plays out.
It’s not a strategy that will serve you well if you are playing with the Abandoned Deck, but otherwise, this is a Legendary Joker you will want to pop up if you are lucky enough to get a Soul Card.
#3 – Showman
Effect: Joker, Tarot, Planet, and Spectral cards may appear multiple times
Our bronze medalist is The Showman, a Joker that allows you to get your hands on multiple versions of the same Joker during runs, which is invaluable when trying to build an airtight strategy.
As you know, some Jokers are just categorially more useful than others, so being able to buy multiple Blueprints, Mines, or whatever it happens to be can effectively double or triple the effectiveness of your strategy. It’s basically a card that allows you to double down on what’s working.
The only drawback of this card is that it’s not one you can hold for the entire game as it’s used to mainly setup with other Jokers, and also, it can backfire by offering multiple versions of itself, which offer no benefit whatsoever.
That being said, though, if you want to create one billion point runs consistently, the Showman is the best way to lessen the hold of RNG and create top-tier builds.
#2 – Baron
Effect: Each King held in hand gives X1.5 Mult
Our runner-up is a card that is borderline broken in the current meta, as it allows you to gain an X1.5 Multiplier for every King in your hand, which, even in the early Antes, is an incredible Joker to have in your corner.
This card is best paired with something like Blueprint, Mime and DNA, allowing you to generate multiple Kings fast, and then retrigger their multiplier for maximum effect with each played hand.
This is also best played with a small hand build, such as Pair or High Card, maximizing the amount of Held Kings you have.
Much like Triboulet, this one is pretty much useless in an Abandoned Deck run, but otherwise it is an absolute game-changer, and one that only gets better as you thin out and optimize your deck.
#1 – Blueprint/Brainstorm
Effect: Copies ability of Joker to the Left/right
Then lastly, we have a joint entry simply because both Jokers are slightly different versions of the same thing, and without these Jokers in your run, you will never reach the lofty heights that you would do with them in your collection we assure you.
Brainstorm and Blueprint allows you to duplicate the effect of the Jokers to the left and right of them, respectively. Meaning if you have a Mime in play for example, you can then trigger the held cards an extra time.
If you can use Showman to get multiple of these Jokers, and can get some Rare Mult Jokers cooking, these two Joker variants become invaluable assets.
The only downside is that unless you have a few Negative Jokers in play, they can take up valuable space and prevent multifaceted strategies with no weak spots, but even still, these cards are the best things you can pick up in Balatro, and if you see one of these cards, no matter what, buy it, you won’t regret it!
Don’t Be The Butt of The Joke
So there you have it, our list of the best Jokers within Balatro ranked at this moment in time because undoubtedly, a patch will buff and nerf some cards as time rolls on, but for now, these are the cream of the crop.
I hope that this helps you select the best Jokers for the task at hand in each new run you take on, and as always, thanks for reading Indie Game Culture.
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