Hiker

Every time a played card scores, Hiker permanently adds +5 chips to that card.

Effect: Every played card permanently gains +5 Chips when scored

Hiker gives every scored card a permanent +5 chips in Balatro. Uncommon, $5, no unlock. How it scales and the retrigger combos that speed it up.

Cost: $5

Rarity: Uncommon

Category: Additive Chip Jokers

Unlock requirement: Available from start.

How to play Hiker

Long run chip engine: keep playing many cards so they 'bank' +5 permanently. Splash counts all played cards; Scary Face/Pareidolia add reliable chip bases that Hiker amplifies over time.

Best synergies

Splash
Scary Face
Pareidolia

How it works

Every time a played card scores, Hiker permanently adds +5 chips to that card. The bonus stays on the card for the rest of the run, even if you later sell Hiker. Retriggers count as extra scores, so each one adds another +5. It is Uncommon, costs $5, available from the start, and Blueprint and Brainstorm can copy it.

How to unlock

Available from the start.

Copyable by Blueprint/Brainstorm

yes

Best combos

Hanging Chad: The first scored card triggers three times, gaining +15 chips per hand.
Seltzer: Ten hands of retriggers on every scoring card.
Splash: Every played card scores, so every played card grows.
Dusk: Retriggers all scoring cards on the final hand of a round.

Frequently asked questions

Does Hiker's bonus stay on the card?

Yes. The extra chips are permanent, even after Hiker is gone.

Do retriggers give more chips with Hiker?

Yes. Each trigger of a card adds +5 chips.

Does Hiker need to be unlocked?

No. It is available from the start.

Next steps

Checked for Balatro 1.0.1

Try in the calculator

All Balatro Jokers