You’re only as good as your best hand inBalatro, which goes twice as much when you are looking to get high scores and complete your runs. You’ll need to ensure you’re investing in the right strategies to beat your previous attempts and soar through the difficulties.

While there is a certain element of luck involved in getting a high score in Balatro, there are ways you can boost your chances in each run. For example, ensuring that all hands are getting more points is a great way to ensure that you’re able to consistently get a higher score overall.

A screenshot from Balatro showing the in-game screen with an orange circle around a 16 multiplier to highlight it. The 16 is on fire as it’s enough to surpass the Blind’s goal.

Invest In The Multiplier

While it can be tempting tofocus on the Chips and Multiplierper hand equally, thelatter is your keyto getting even higher scores.Don’t neglect the number of chipsper hand, butincreasing your multiplierwill ensure that each hand you play isbeing stretched even further.

Agreat way to do thiscould bethrough Jokers. There’s adifference between the cardsthat add to the multiplier and those that multiply it times a certain number.Those that multiply are betterthan those that add to the multiplier, butmake sure they’re on the far right sideof the selection for optimal use.

A screenshot from Balatro showing the Joker ‘Buffoon’ Booster pack with the standard ‘Joker’ selected, offering an additional four multiplier points.

Stack Joker Effects

You’llget your best scores in Balatro if you have a strategyand usingJokers can be a great frameworkfor that. UsingJokers of the same focus, like Face cards, every time youplay a hand with those cards earns additional pointsfor every included Face card.

Another example is touse the Jokers to cover any holesleft by your other special cards. Somecards put emphasis on specific suits, sousing all fourof the suit-based Jokers will makeevery hand you play trigger up to four bonuses. You can alsouse them to boost any handsyou haven’t been able to upgrade.

A screenshot from Balatro showing the Planet Cards Booster Pack with the Saturn card being selected, offering the player the option to upgrade the Straight hand.

Never Stop Upgrading

While you’llearn interest on your saved-up earnings, it’sfar better to spend it on upgradeswhenever possible. Whether that beBooster Packs,Planet Cards, orArcana Cards, you shouldpurchase new optionsto improve your deck and score overall.

ManyJokers can give you additional fundsto ensure you’re always earning money.

A screenshot from Balatro showing the Enhanced Cards Collection screen showing the ‘Mult’ card selected and offering an addition four multiplier.

Planet Cards are one of the best upgradesin the game sincethey’ll increase your Chips and the Multiplierfor a specific hand. Furthermore, if you canfind the ‘Black Hole’ Spectral Card, you’lllevel all of your hands up in onemotion.

Use Seals And Enhancements Effectively

As you add more cards to your deck,your opportunities for better hands will increase. However, thereal benefit comes from adding additional attributesto those hands byupgrading your cards with Enhancements or Seals, whichwill add a bonus every time you playor use another action on that card.

Having ahealthy amount of each Seals in your deckis a great way toget additional money and special cardsto further upgrade your run.

A screenshot from Balatro showing the Seals page in the Collection menu, with the ‘Gold Seal’ hovered over, offering the player 3 dollars when the card is played and scores.

Retriggers the card once.

Blue

Creates a Planet Card if this card is in your hand at the end of the Round.

Purple

Creates a Tarot Card when discarded if you have room.

In addition to the Seals, you shouldensure that every card has an Enhancement,if possible. Theseadd additional Chips,Multipliers, andMoney to each handyou play.

A screenshot from Balatro showing the Standard Booster Pack screen where their are five cards to choose from, with two of them being stone cards.

25 percent chance to break the card when played.

Steel

Multiply the multiplier by one and a half while this card is in your deck.

No rank or suit.

Gold

Gives you three dollars if this card is in your hand at the end of the round.

20 percent chance to add 50 to the multiplier.

Six percent chance to immediately win $20.

Eachcard can have one Seal and one Enhancementeach, somake sure that you’re upgrading cards to take advantageof both bonuses when you can.Stacking multiple Seals or Enhancementsis a great way to get higher scores.

Buy Standard Packs

Increasing the size of your base deck will provide you withmore opportunities to get hands which can lead to higher scores. One of the best ways to add these cards to your deck is topurchase the Standard Booster Packsthat show up in the store after each round.

When possible,choose a card with a Seal and an Enhancementfrom the Standard Booster Packs.Glass Cards are excluded.

In addition to having regular playing cards, you’ll alsofind plenty of cards that have additional Enhancements and Seals, which will further benefit your deck. Some Jokers will also give you additional pointsbased on the number of additional cardsand Enhancements in your deck.