Overview
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name (EN) | Half Joker |
| Name (JP) | ハーフジョーカー |
| Rarity | Common |
| Cost | $5 |
| Effect | +20 Mult if played hand contains 3 or fewer cards |
| Unlock | Available from the start (no unlock required) |
| Trigger Type | On score (3-or-fewer-card hands only) |
| Overall Tier | A (A+ in pair / three-of-a-kind builds) |
Rating & Analysis
Half Joker grants +20 Mult on 3-or-fewer-card hands — among the highest +Mult Common Jokers at $5. It fires on High Card / Pair / Three of a Kind plays. +20 Mult on a 1-3-card hand is monstrous early-game, easily punching through Ante 1-3 bosses.
The dream pairing is Pair / Three-of-a-Kind axis builds: Jolly Joker (Pair +8 Mult) / Sly Joker (Three of a Kind +50 Chips, but actually Pair +50 — verify) / The Duo (Pair x2 Mult) / The Trio (Three of a Kind x2 Mult). The Family (Four of a Kind x1.5) is incompatible (4-card play breaks the 3-or-fewer condition).
Hack (2-5 retriggers) is especially strong — effectively double-fires the 3-card hand. Blueprint / Brainstorm copy yields +40 Mult. Mime retriggers card-only effects without consuming hands. Tier lists rate Half Joker A overall, A+ in pair/three builds. $5 for +20 Mult is a steal — buy on sight.
Deck Ratings
| Deck | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Abandoned | A+ | No faces — Pair / Three of a Kind stable |
| Red / Blue | A | Strong on standard decks |
| Anaglyph | A | Double tags accelerate hand level-ups |
| Plasma | A- | Chip averaging dilutes +Mult to chip-equivalent |
| Plain | B+ | Debuffs trim damage — mind your support |
Good Joker Synergies
| Joker | Why |
|---|---|
| Jolly Joker | Pair +8 Mult — 2-card play yields +28 Mult combined. |
| Sly Joker | Pair +50 Chips — main 2-card axis. |
| The Duo | Pair x2 Mult — 2-card play doubles damage. |
| The Trio | Three of a Kind x2 Mult — 3-card play doubles damage. |
| Hack | 2-5 retriggers — doubles 3-card play damage. |
| Blueprint / Brainstorm | Copies +20 Mult to effective +40 Mult. |
Recommended Builds
| Build | Core Loop | Target Consumables |
|---|---|---|
| Pair axis | Half Joker + Jolly Joker + The Duo | Strength Tarot |
| Three-of-a-Kind axis | Half Joker + Sly Joker + The Trio | Strength Tarot |
| Hack combo | Half Joker + Hack + The Trio | Enhancement Tarots |
| Blueprint stacking | Half Joker + Blueprint = +40 Mult | Black Hole / The Soul |
Tips & Usage
- Mandatory pickup. $5 for +20 Mult is unbeatable.
- Aim for 3-or-fewer-card hands; alternate with 5-card hands as needed.
- Hack / Mime / Hanging Chad retriggers extend output.
- Place Blueprint to its right for +40 Mult.
- The Family (4) / The Order (5) target different hand sizes.
Caveats
- Doesn't fire on 4-5-card plays — Flush / Straight / Full House builds bypass it.
- Perishable still works as an early-game carry.
- Eternal locks the build path — plan accordingly.
- Single-card High Card plays trigger but yield low absolute damage.
- Face-axis builds (Baron) target different incentives.