---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-17
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-17
lang: en
title: Character development within the run
summary: >-
  The player grows stronger during an attempt. Each upgrade changes immediate
  decisions but may be lost when the run ends.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-17/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-17.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-17.md
aliases:
  - Upgrades within a run
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-7f09c8a736762f4f
sources:
  - id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f
    title: Slay the Spire
    url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-17
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-17'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Upgrades within a run
    description: >-
      The player grows stronger during an attempt. Each upgrade changes
      immediate decisions but may be lost when the run ends.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-rest.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Slay the Spire
      sourceUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
      originalUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/images/ss11.jpg'
      credit: Mega Crit
      rights: © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.
      caption: Upgrading a card instead of resting
      alt: 'Slay the Spire: a campfire offers a card upgrade or health recovery.'
      markers:
        - x: 58
          'y': 34
          label: The upgrade improves a card for this run
        - x: 43
          'y': 34
          label: Rest competes for the same opportunity
    tips:
      - Let players judge an upgrade in the context of their current build.
      - Distinguish temporary upgrades from persistent unlocks.
    examples:
      - title: Slay the Spire
        url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Character development within the run

id: roguelike--family-17
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-17
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-17/

The player grows stronger during an attempt. Each upgrade changes immediate decisions but may be lost when the run ends.

## At a glance

![Slay the Spire: a campfire offers a card upgrade or health recovery.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-rest.webp)

[Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) · © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.

1. The upgrade improves a card for this run
2. Rest competes for the same opportunity

- Let players judge an upgrade in the context of their current build.
- Distinguish temporary upgrades from persistent unlocks.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/)

## How it works

Decisions within an attempt develop the characteristics and set of available actions of the character.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-17-variants"></a>

- Experience for actions and victories <a id="variant-roguelike-17-01"></a>
- Level Up <a id="variant-roguelike-17-02"></a>
- Selecting one upgrade from several <a id="variant-roguelike-17-03"></a>
- Attribute Points Distribution <a id="variant-roguelike-17-04"></a>
- Learning Active Abilities <a id="variant-roguelike-17-05"></a>
- Gaining Passive Skills <a id="variant-roguelike-17-06"></a>
- Skill trees with prerequisites <a id="variant-roguelike-17-07"></a>
- Mutually exclusive specializations <a id="variant-roguelike-17-08"></a>
- Skill development through use <a id="variant-roguelike-17-09"></a>
- Increased Weapon Proficiency <a id="variant-roguelike-17-10"></a>
- Mutations and body changes <a id="variant-roguelike-17-11"></a>
- Transformation into another form <a id="variant-roguelike-17-12"></a>
- Absorbing Opponents' Abilities <a id="variant-roguelike-17-13"></a>
- Redistribution of previously invested points <a id="variant-roguelike-17-14"></a>
- Temporary improvements for several battles or floors <a id="variant-roguelike-17-15"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) (id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors