Balatro: 10 Best Tips for Beginners

Balatro is easy to learn but difficult to master. It builds upon poker and introduces new and creative twists and turns that make it unique and fun. The game is highly engaging and almost addictive, with many people playing repeatedly as they try to get it right. However, it takes quite a few runs to master the game, which can be especially frustrating for impatient beginners. Fortunately, Balatro becomes easier to play and master when you understand its most important aspects. To push you in the right direction, here are the ten best tips for beginners to help you get started with Balatro.

10. Know Your Poker Hands

Balatro is based on poker. Therefore, understanding traditional poker hands is where you should begin. Poker hands vary in type, size, and strength. The most common ones, ranked from strongest to weakest, include Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four-of-a-Kind, Full House, Flush, Straight, Three-of-a-Kind, Two-Pair, One-Pair, and High Card.

You don’t necessarily need the strongest poker hand to win every round or Blind in Balatro. However, Easy Hands won’t always cut it. In addition to understanding Poker Hands, you should also factor in the game’s creative twists, such as Joker combinations. For example, Jokers can make a Two-Pair score more than a full house.

9. Pick the Right Deck

Every deck in Balatro unlocks a unique bonus that you can apply throughout the run when playing using those cards. Your choice of decks is limited at first. Players can only start with the red deck. You can then unlock the Blue deck by discovering 20 items from the game’s vast collection. Your goal should be to get to the Yellow deck. Instead of a bonus feature, the Yellow deck gives you $10 to spend. You can then use the money to buy Jokers and other crucial bonus features.

8. Know When to Skip Blinds

The first Blind is relatively easy to bet. As such, skipping it may seem counterproductive as it means missing out on money and the opportunity to visit the shop. However, the Tag you get for skipping a Blind could be worth the risk. Tags give you various rewards. For example, the Juggle Tag gives you three extra cards for your Hand size in the next Blind, which comes in handy in Boss blinds. As such, consider skipping the first Blind and other non-consequential Blinds.

7. Use Discards Creatively

Discards let you eliminate cards you don’t need to create room for more useful cards. It is useful when trying to craft the more valuable, complex Hand types, such as a Flush or Straight. The number of Discards you have varies based on various factors, such as the Deck type and the Jokers and Vouchers you have. Discards are always useful and usually limited, and you should be careful how you use them to avoid running out. For example, you can add useless cards to the Hand you are playing if they don’t reduce the combo’s score.

6. Shop Prudently

It is easy to get carried away or feel overwhelmed at the shop. Most people go for the nearest items marked as “Not Discovered” to boost their collection and unlock more Decks. However, the prudent move is to prioritize items that help your current Hand. For example, you should buy Planet Cards or Jokers that help with Two-Pair Hands if that’s your current Hand. You should also invest in items that can help with your back-up strategy.

5. Get & Use Jokers Strategically

Jokers are crucial in Balatro because they unlock exciting features that can benefit your Hand. For example, some Jokers boost all face cards, while others treat all cards as face cards. They are so crucial that it is difficult to beat the Second Blind without one. As such, it is prudent to start collecting Jokers early on in the game. Ideally, you need at least two Jokers to sail smoothly through the Second Blind. Notably, you can rearrange the various Joker cards in your Hand to optimize your strategy.

4. Make Use of Planet Cards

Like Jokers, you should also try to get Planet Cards early and often. They are crucial because they increase a Hand’s Chip and Multiplier value. The upgrades vary from one Hand to another, with rarer Hands getting bigger upgrades. As such, they can make even the lowest-scoring Hands worthwhile and reduce the risk of dead Hands. As such, buying Planet Cards is one of the surest ways of surviving early on in the game. Ideally, you should prioritize Planet Cards suited to your current Hand. However, you should also invest in Planet Cards for other Hands as a backup plan.

3. Make Use of Vouchers

You can buy one Voucher per Ante from the Shop. Vouchers are relatively expensive compared to other items, which puts most people off. The base price for any Voucher is $10, which is worth several Booster Packs or Jokers. However, they are also valuable, as they unlock permanent improvements for the entire run. For example, the Paint Brush and Wasteful Vouchers increase the number of Hands and Discards per Blind, respectively. As such, consider buying Vouchers if you have money to spare.

2. Study & Understand the Boss Blind

Different Boss Blinds have varying requirements. For example, The Mouth Boss Blind limits players to one Hand, making it one of the most challenging Boss Blinds. The requirements of a Boss Blind can come as a nasty surprise. As such, it is prudent to keep using the Run Info button to learn as much as possible about every Boss Blind.

1. Use Cash to Build Interest, but Don’t Hoard It

Cash is king in Balatro. You need Jokers, Planet Cards, Vouchers, and other items to get ahead, and you need money to purchase them at the Shop. You earn money every time you have leftover hands after playing a Blind. Moreover, you earn an interest of $1 for every $5 you earn. However, you shouldn’t be too obsessed with making the money. The point of making money is to purchase items that can help strengthen your Hands. 

So, what’s your take on our ten best Balatro tips for beginners? Let us know on our socials here or in the comments below.