Corruption timing and defensive Skills
In the Exhaust Ironclad build, Corruption makes Skills free, but it does not require you to play every Skill in hand. If the enemy is not attacking, leave an unnecessary Defend unplayed. It enters the discard pile normally and can provide defense on the next cycle. Playing it for zero useful Block permanently removes that copy from the fight.
A hand containing two ordinary one-Energy defensive Skills can recover the upgraded Power’s two-Energy setup cost that turn. Whether that exchange is worthwhile depends on the enemy’s remaining HP and the Skills you will need afterward.
Long fights and Exhaust payoffs
Feel No Pain adds Block when cards Exhaust; Dark Embrace replaces exhausted cards with draws. These rewards improve Corruption, but the Power can still solve a short encounter without either. Conversely, owning both rewards does not guarantee enough remaining defense for a long boss or another phase of Test Subject.
Against a long fight, consider delaying Corruption until after an initial deck cycle. Use ordinary Skills while they can still return, then convert the remaining fight into a faster attack sequence. Delaying also has a cost: you may spend more Energy blocking and take longer to deploy damage.
The upgrade reduces Corruption’s cost from three to two. It changes how comfortably you can set up; it does not change the Exhaust rule. Corruption is an Ancient card in this sequel, so an Exhaust deck should function before receiving it.
