Balatro’s 150 jokers create infinite scaling paths. Some carry endless runs alone. Others waste shop space. This tier list ranks every joker by power, consistency, and synergy for 2026 meta (post echoes patches).
Read our Balatro review 2026 and Beginner’s guide first.
S tier (run winners): Blueprint Brainstorm Satellite Glass A tier (strong carries): Negative Hack Perkeo Baron B tier (solid support): Lucky cat Wildcard Four fingers C tier (situational): Acrobat Supersonic Mime D tier (avoid): Hack Greedy Joker
S tier jokers
Blueprint
Effect: Copies adjacent joker
Why s tier: Pairs with glass satellite brain storm for infinite scaling. Blueprint glass = x4 score risk. Blueprint satellite = infinite mult.
Best decks: Planet glass combos endless stake.
Win rate: 85%+ in good hands.tiermaker+1
Brainstorm
Effect: Retriggers played hands
Why s tier: Turns good hands great. Brainstorm four fingers = quadruple scoring. Brainstorm negative = mult explosion.
Best decks: High hand decks (full house straight flush).
Win rate: Carries ante 8+ reliably.
Satellite
Effect: X1.5 mult per planet card
Why s tier: Planets reroll shop. Blueprint satellite = infinite mult snowball. Stacks forever.
Best decks: Planet heavy endless runs.
Win rate: Scales to gold stake.
Glass joker
Effect: X2 score, 20% break chance
Why s tier: Blueprint glass = x4 score. Risk reward perfect for skilled players. Blueprint brain storm glass = unbeatable.
Best decks: Blueprint core decks.
A tier jokers
Negative
Effect: X3 mult per hand played
Why a tier: Consistent mult from turn 1. Negative brain storm = retrigger mult insanity. Pairs with most decks.
Best decks: Any retrigger or high hand playstyle.
Hack
Effect: +1 hand slot
Why a tier: More scoring chances = more mult. Hack brain storm = 2x retriggers. Reliable power.
Best decks: Brain storm four fingers.
Perkeo
Effect: +1 discard
Why a tier: Discard finds perfect hands. Perkeo brain storm = discard retrigger loops.
Best decks: Discard heavy decks.
Baron
Effect: +1 mult per $10 held
Why a tier: Money snowballs into mult. Baron planet = infinite rerolls + scaling.
Best decks: Shop heavy economy decks.
B tier jokers
Lucky cat
Effect: +0.25 mult per lucky trigger
Why b tier: Reliable but slow scaling. Good early game filler.
Best decks: Lucky card heavy.
Wildcard
Effect: Counts as any suit
Why b tier: Solves flush straight flush issues. Versatile early. Falls off late.
Best decks: Beginner suited hand decks.
Four fingers
Effect: Retriggers fourth hand slot
Why b tier: Pairs with hack brain storm. Niche but strong in right deck.
Best decks: Multi hand retrigger.
C tier jokers (situational)
Acrobat: End round only Supersonic: Level 4 requirement Mime: Too RNG Shortcut: Niche high chip
Use if they fit perfectly. Skip otherwise.
D tier (avoid)
Hack: Too expensive early Greedy joker: Inconsistent Burnt joker: One time use
Shop space better spent elsewhere.
Best joker synergies (2026 meta)
Blueprint + Glass = x4 score risk Blueprint + Satellite = infinite mult Brainstorm + Negative = mult retriggers Hack + Four fingers = double retriggers Baron + Planet cards = infinite shop
Test these in our Balatro best builds 2026 guide.
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