Throwback

How Throwback scales

Throwback gives ×0.25 Mult per Blind skipped this run. The mult is checked every hand based on total skips, so it grows linearly as you skip more Blinds.

A full run has up to 16 skippable Blinds (Small + Big across 8 antes; Boss Blinds cannot be skipped). Skipping every available Blind:

Maxing out Throwback alone caps at ×4. The mult is mid-tier — the value comes from what skipping a Blind gets you.

Why skipping is valuable beyond Throwback

Skipping a Blind:

• Skips that Blind's chip requirement.
• Awards a skip tag: a one-time bonus (extra cash, a free Pack, a Negative tag for the next joker, a Boss reroll, etc.).
• Saves a round of pressure.

The skip tags are often more valuable than the gold from playing the Blind. With Throwback, every skip is also +×0.25 permanent mult — a "free" bonus on top of the tag.

Best skip tags for Throwback runs

Some tags push a Throwback run forward harder than others:

• Negative Tag (next joker becomes Negative): Negative jokers don't take slots and can't be destroyed by Madness. Stack with Madness for runaway mult.
• Polychrome Tag (next joker becomes Polychrome): ×1.5 mult joker for free.
• Coupon Tag (next shop has all items at $0): massive economy.
• Charm Tag / Buffoon Tag / Meteor Tag: free Pack.

A Throwback run prioritizes seeing more shops by skipping ahead.

Throwback + Madness

Madness gains ×0.5 Mult per Blind selected (not skipped). Throwback gains ×0.25 Mult per Blind skipped. The two are mutually exclusive per Blind — selecting feeds Madness, skipping feeds Throwback.

Generally, mix: skip Blinds that have valuable tags, select Blinds when the cash is needed. Both grow but neither maxes.

The exclusivity creates a real decision per Blind rather than auto-pilot.

Throwback + Blueprint / Brainstorm

Throwback's X mult is multiplicative. Blueprint at Throwback ×3 contributes another ×3 from one slot. Brainstorm same.

The growth (per skip) only happens on Throwback. Blueprint just doubles current value.

What kills Throwback

• Aggressive Blind-playing runs: builds that need every cash dollar can't skip many Blinds.
• Bosses ahead with hard requirements: skipping a Big Blind to face a hard Boss the same round leaves no warm-up.
• No skip tag plan: skipping just for Throwback +×0.25 with a bad tag is suboptimal — the tag is most of the value.

When to take, when to skip

Take Throwback:

• Early Throwback paired with skip tags showing favorable rewards.
• You have Director's Cut (Boss reroll) so you can dodge hard bosses on skip-light antes.
• Charm Tag / Negative Tag chains already in motion.

Skip Throwback:

• Cash-tight runs that must play every Blind.
• High Stake difficulties where Blind chip requirements grow fast — skipping costs more than the +×0.25 is worth.
• Late acquisition — most of the run's skips have already been used.

Related Jokers

Same rarity or category as Throwback.

Throwback FAQ