Jokers in Balatro are a way for you to modify your run and (in most cases) increase the rewards you get for playing your hands. Some of them are obviously better than others, so let’s dive into Jokers you are not supposed to miss.
Best Jokers in Balatro
Based on my experience in Balatro and many different card games, I’ve managed to separate a handful of Jokers that bring more to the table than the rest. For me at least. There are many, many more broken Jokers that single-handedly carry your runs, and I definitely intend to extend this list over time.
Copy-based Jokers
Some of the Jokers in Balatro can copy the abilities of other Jokers, and if you’ve played any card games, you know that it’s a busted ability.
- Blueprint – Copies the Joker to its right
- Brainstorm – Copies the Joker that’s first from the left
Suit-based Jokers
Four Jokers in the game give you +4 Mult for every scored card in your hand if the card belongs to the proper suit the Joker covers:
- Greedy Joker – Diamond
- Lusty Joker – Heart
- Wrathful Joker – Spade
- Gluttonous Joker – Club
Flushes with these Jokers (especially if you have a Mult multiplier somewhere) can go crazy beyond all imagination, and these Jokers carried me to victory many times.
Four Fingers
This Joker can make your life 20% easier, in the sense that your Flushes and Straights can be made with one card less. Since most of the players base their runs on these three hands (Straight Flush included, don’t forget that) because it’s usually the easiest to optimize your hand and decks for them.
Gros Michel and Cavendish
Gros Michel and Cavendish (I talked about Cavendish earlier) are great additions to your Joker roster despite the negative effects. Constant Mult for every hand you play is something that’s great to start building your score with. Cavendish is not as easy to obtain but it’s definitely “a must have” if you spot it.
Chicot
Chicot cancels the Boss’s negative effect on your run. No need to worry about the reroll (and whether the reroll will be good or not) or to be scared that you’ll get to fight a boss that’s a direct counter to your strategy. If you get a special effect on Chicot, it’ll contribute to your score as well with more Coins or Mult.
That’s all about these Jokers. Check out the Misprint Joker and Top 15 Balatro Seeds at our Game Hub.
