Overview
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name (EN) | Madness |
| Name (JP) | マッドネス |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Cost | $7 |
| Effect | When Small or Big Blind is selected: gain permanent +x0.5 Mult and destroy a random Joker (starts at x1) |
| Unlock | Available from the start (no unlock required) |
| Trigger Type | On Blind selection |
| Overall Tier | S |
Rating & Analysis
Madness is one of Balatro's premier "self-harm scaling" Jokers. Each Small/Big Blind selection grants +x0.5 Mult permanently, but at the cost of destroying one random Joker. The downside looks brutal, but +x0.5 is among the largest single-event growth values in the game, and pairs beautifully with "lone-wolf" builds that intentionally minimize Joker count.
The dream pairing is Anaglyph Deck + skip strategy. Since "selecting" includes "skipping," every Ante gives 2–3 Madness triggers — averaging permanent +x1.0–1.5 Mult per Ante. Protect your core Joker (Showman / Joker Stencil / Mr. Bones) with Eternal edition or Negative edition to keep Madness firing safely.
On high Stakes, an Eternal Madness with weak filler Jokers around it is one of the strongest scaling axes in the game. Sell Perishable Madness immediately — the timer ruins the loop. Tier lists place Madness at S+ in skip-build configurations.
Good Joker Synergies
| Joker | Why |
|---|---|
| Blueprint / Brainstorm | Copy Madness's xMult — double the scaling efficiency. |
| Mr. Bones | Insurance against Joker destruction. |
| Eternal-edition strong Jokers | Excluded from Madness's destruction pool. |
| Cartomancer | Adds skip triggers + Tarot supply for resilient builds. |
| Joker Stencil (Eternal/Negative) | Protected Stencil + Madness gives dual xMult scaling. |
| Acrobat / Madness-style growers | Parallel scaling axes. |
Recommended Builds
| Build | Core Loop | Target Consumables |
|---|---|---|
| Anaglyph + Madness | x0.5 per skip, Double Tag for reinforcement | Skip-related Tags |
| Lone-wolf focus | 1–2 core Jokers + Madness scaling | Eternal-granting effects |
| Eternal protection | Eternal Jokers absorb destruction risk | Enhancement Tarots |
| Blueprint stacking | Blueprint right of Madness for double xMult | Black Hole / The Soul |
Tips & Usage
- Each selection grows +x0.5 — skip-heavy builds maximize the effect.
- Protect critical Jokers via Eternal (high-stake) or Negative editions.
- Keep "destruction fodder" (weak Jokers) in spare slots if you can't yet protect the core.
- Blueprint copying Madness doubles the per-skip Mult — set this up by mid-Ante.
- Sell Perishable Madness on sight — the build collapses when it expires.
Caveats
- Joker destruction triggers on every selection — protection is mandatory long-term.
- Random target — your best Joker can be the casualty.
- Drawing Madness early without protection options is dangerous.
- Mr. Bones doesn't protect against Madness's destruction (different effect).
- Stake-tied Eternal/Perishable rates affect protection options on high Stakes.