The Goad
Effect: All Spade cards are debuffed (do not score or trigger effects).
The Goad in Balatro: All Spade cards are debuffed (do not score or trigger effects). Counter strategies and which jokers beat it.
Eligible antes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Threat level: Low
Strategy
Play around Spades: the other three suits all work normally.
Strategy Tip
Avoid Spades. Hearts and Diamonds work normally. Smeared Joker debuffs both Spades and Clubs, making the debuff worse.
How to counter The Goad
Danger Tier: C
Group: Card debuffs (Cards keep their hand type but lose scoring abilities)
Counter: Score with Hearts or Diamonds; Smeared Joker also exposes Clubs to the debuff.