Do transformations keep upgrades and enchantments?

Ordinary random transformations replace the selected card with a new card. The original upgrade and enchantment do not carry over. Pandora’s Box transforms every Strike and Defend, so an enchanted starter is part of the cost of choosing it, even when its replacement is a more useful card.

Transforming upgraded and modified cards

An unupgraded, unenchanted starter is often a less expensive target than an upgraded card that already solves a fight. Compare the card’s present role with the range of replacements, rather than treating every starter as equally disposable.

For example, Spiraling Whirlpool can give a basic Defend Replay. That Defend is no longer equivalent to the untouched copy beside it. A random transform discards both its basic effect and its useful extra play. If you only need to remove an ordinary Strike, selecting the enchanted Defend sacrifices more without guaranteeing a better replacement.

The same applies to an early damage common that has become less useful. Transforming it may be reasonable, but the new card will not normally inherit the Smith upgrade you spent on it. Compare that gamble with a guaranteed card removal when both options are available.

Named Ancient transformations have exceptions

Claws turns up to six selected cards into Maul. An upgraded target can produce Maul+, so the choice is different from an ordinary random transform. Maul deals damage twice and increases the damage of all Maul cards during the combat; upgraded Maul also improves that shared increase. Several copies therefore have a concrete interaction beyond merely being new Attacks.

Compatibility still matters. Spiral is restricted to basic Strikes and Defends; a Maul is neither. Do not expect every enchantment to survive simply because a different one carried over in a screenshot. Likewise, Archaic Tooth is a specific starter conversion, not proof that all Ancient rewards preserve modifications.

Curse transformations

A random Curse transformation produces another Curse. It is not a reliable way to turn a bad draw into a normal character card. A transformation that explicitly names its resulting card can follow different rules, so inspect the actual effect before selecting the Curse.

Eternal prevents permanent removal and transformation. A card effect that temporarily transforms something during combat does not necessarily alter the run’s deck afterward. Entropy changes cards in your hand during the fight; it should not be counted as a Merchant removal or as permanent repair of an unwanted deck card.