Balatro endless mode guide – high stakes strategies

Endless mode unlocks after ante 8. Score targets explode from millions to billions trillions. Boss blinds ban multiple hands. Most decks die by ante 12. This guide covers scaling builds and strategies that actually survive endless.

Master jokers from our Jokers tier list 2026 and builds from our Best builds 2026 first.

How endless mode works

Ante 9+ removes victory condition. Blinds scale exponentially:

Ante 9: ~1 billion

Ante 12: trillions

Ante 15+: unfathomable numbers

Key differences:

Boss blinds ban 2-3 hands (pairs flush straight flush etc.)

Score thresholds double every 1-2 antes

Joker slots maxed (5 slots)

No more unlocks – pure build optimization

Endless tests scaling not adaptation.

Core endless requirements

Surviving ante 12 needs these non negotiable pieces:

Infinite scaling engine

Retrigger loops (brainstorm four fingers) mult stacking (satellite planets) score xN (blueprint glass)

Economy stability

Baron planet rerolls consistent shop access

Hand flexibility

Wildcard perkeo discard solves multi bans

Deck leanness

20-30 cards max. Spectral soul ouija aggressively

No deck survives endless without retriggers scaling.

S tier endless build: blueprint glass brainstorm retrigger

Deck: Red (enhancements)

Core jokers: Blueprint glass brainstorm four fingers negative

Vouchers: Telescope overgoated blanket

Engine:

Blueprint glass = x4 score per glass hand

Brainstorm four fingers = multiple glasses per blind

Negative = mult every retrigger

Early endless (ante 9-12):

Glass breaks manageable. Retriggers beat score walls.

Mid endless (ante 13+):

Blueprint copies scaling. Mult hits x1000+.

Boss blinds:

Extra hands dodge bans. Wildcard backup.

S tier endless build: satellite planet baron economy

Deck: Nebula (telescope start)

Core jokers: Satellite blueprint baron perkeo wildcard

Vouchers: Blank telescope overgoated

Engine:

Satellite x1.5 per planet

Blueprint satellite = infinite mult

Baron money scaling

Perkeo discard perfect shop

Early endless:

Planet rerolls find scaling pieces. Baron mult ramps.

Mid endless:

Shop control total. Mult infinite.

Boss blinds:

Perkeo wildcard solve bans. Money buys answers.

A tier endless build: hack four fingers negative retriggers

Deck: Checkered (suited)

Core jokers: Hack brainstorm four fingers negative luck cat

Vouchers: Blank overgoated

Engine:

Hack +1 hand

Four fingers retriggers slot 4

Brainstorm all hands

Negative mult every hand

Early endless:

Extra hands beat early walls.

Mid endless:

5+ hands every blind = mult insanity.

Boss blinds:

Hand abundance dodges bans.

Voucher priorities for endless

Priority 1: Telescope (planet economy) Priority 2: Overgoated (mult scaling) Priority 3: Blank (early power) Priority 4: Hand size (retrigger fuel)

Telescope baron satellite mandatory for ante 12+.

Deck management in endless

Card count: 20-30 max Tarot: Soul ouija duplicate core jokers Spectral: Planets legendaries only Playing cards: Remove after ante 10

Deck bloat kills endless faster than bad jokers.

Boss blind adaptation

Ante 12+ bosses ban 3 hands. Survival checklist:

Wildcard/perkeo solves bans?

3+ hand types viable?

Retriggers beat score walls?

Economy handles planet rerolls?

Restart if missing any.

Seedless endless tips

  1. Blueprint mandatory ante 12+
  2. Satellite baron second priority
  3. Deck under 25 cards ante 10
  4. Telescope voucher by ante 8
  5. Test builds white stake first

Common endless mistakes

Mistake 1: Deck bloat (40+ cards) Fix: Spectral removal ante 8

Mistake 2: No retriggers Fix: Brainstorm hack four fingers

Mistake 3: Planet neglect Fix: Telescope baron priority

Mistake 4: Greedy round 1 shop Fix: Save $20+ for jokers

Related firegams guides

Balatro review 2026

Balatro jokers tier list 2026

Balatro best builds 2026

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