No ascension level but I've been struggling with this boss for a while so it was pretty satisfying to finally get a victory.

I had a few bad runs in a row including a really terrible one right before this. So I wasn't expecting much when I started a new run and picked the max HP boost out of the two options.

But then this seed just handed me a great shiv deck right from the start. Blade Dance from my first fight on floor 1, Accuracy from my second fight on floor 4, plus another Blade Dance I bought from the shop on floor 5. By floor 12 I was up to 3 Blade Dances with 2 of them upgraded, a Storm of Steel, and a Ninja Scroll relic. Shivs out the wazoo, not to mention the Bronze Thorns on floor 2 when I got the relic in the first try in that event that lets you sacrifice health for a chance to get a relic.

Despite the solid start, I was starting to get a little worried in the back half of Act 3. Between the Ninja Scroll and the high likelihood of 1 or more Blade Dance+ in my hand, the difference between drawing Accuracy+ in my starting hand or not was huge. I was so worried about it I even bought Lee's Waffle at a shop before Donu and Deca because I forgot that the Pantograph was already going to heal me before the boss.

Fortunately I drew the Accuracy+ turn 1 against the Sword and Shield. And just proceeded to wreck them. This deck felt really strong if the Accuracy+ came out early but a bad draw against the Heart would ruin me.

That's where the Bottled Lightning and Bottled Tornado earned from the S&S fight saved the day. Guaranteed a turn 1 Accuracy+ and Blade Dance+ which was a big improvement. But was this deck really strong enough for the Heart? I managed to do some solid damage from the get go but I was concerned about my survivability. The shields let me survive the first few rounds but I eventually needed to use the Wraith Form+. Time to do or die, kill the Heart before the Intangible wears out or lose.

But, alas, the Wraith Form+ wore off before I could deliver the final blow. Not even very close. 48 incoming damage and I only had 44 HP. It was a good run but once again the Heart had defea—hold up, I have Bronze Thorns and an active Caltrops+ and the boss is doing a 4x12 attack! Is this enough to kill the Heart before it kills me?

Well, yes, you already know from the post title. The retaliatory damage managed to take out the Heart before it killed me. I was very excited to have finally accomplished this. After so many attempts that I thought had a chance but eventually failed, it's very satisfying to be able to pull out this win.

Anyway, thanks for reading! Off to higher ascension levels for me now!