---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-34
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-34
lang: en
title: 'Dice, combinations and scoring'
summary: >-
  Players assemble combinations and modify their value with effects to reach a
  target score.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-34/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-34.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-34.md
aliases:
  - Combinations and scoring
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-95898fded900bcf2
  - source-10b015ff3d1d4888
sources:
  - id: source-95898fded900bcf2
    title: Official description
    url: 'https://www.playbalatro.com/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-10b015ff3d1d4888
    title: Balatro
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-34
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-34'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: Combinations and scoring
    description: >-
      Players assemble combinations and modify their value with effects to reach
      a target score.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/systems-balatro-00.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Balatro
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/2379780/96208723dbedef49d71bf1b0a74aee1689018c50/ss_96208723dbedef49d71bf1b0a74aee1689018c50.1920x1080.jpg?t=1790693638
      credit: LocalThunk / Playstack
      rights: © LocalThunk / Playstack. All rights reserved.
      caption: A pair of jacks and a pair of eights form Two Pair
      alt: A pair of jacks and a pair of eights form Two Pair
      markers:
        - x: 12
          'y': 45
          label: Two Pair provides a base of 40 chips ×2
    tips:
      - Show how the combination and modifiers contribute to the final score.
    examples:
      - title: Balatro
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/'
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
---
# Dice, combinations and scoring

id: roguelike--family-34
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-34
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-34/

Players assemble combinations and modify their value with effects to reach a target score.

## At a glance

![A pair of jacks and a pair of eights form Two Pair](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/systems-balatro-00.webp)

[Balatro](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/) · © LocalThunk / Playstack. All rights reserved.

1. Two Pair provides a base of 40 chips ×2

- Show how the combination and modifiers contribute to the final score.

- [Balatro](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/)

## How it works

The combination of poker hands, wild card rule changes and strong interactions is at the heart of Balatro. Official description

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-34-variants"></a>

- Dice rolls with different actions on the sides <a id="variant-roguelike-34-01"></a>
- Limited transfers <a id="variant-roguelike-34-02"></a>
- Capturing selected results <a id="variant-roguelike-34-03"></a>
- Modifying and replacing faces <a id="variant-roguelike-34-04"></a>
- Distribution of results between actions <a id="variant-roguelike-34-05"></a>
- Collecting poker and other combinations <a id="variant-roguelike-34-06"></a>
- Limited number of scoring attempts <a id="variant-roguelike-34-07"></a>
- Discarding part of your hand for a new combination <a id="variant-roguelike-34-08"></a>
- Base points and multipliers <a id="variant-roguelike-34-09"></a>
- Dependence of the result on the order of application of bonuses <a id="variant-roguelike-34-10"></a>
- Re-scoring of a combination element <a id="variant-roguelike-34-11"></a>
- Modifiers for individual cards, symbols or dice <a id="variant-roguelike-34-12"></a>
- Changing the rules for valid combinations <a id="variant-roguelike-34-13"></a>
- Point threshold for passing the stage <a id="variant-roguelike-34-14"></a>
- Special boss restriction on the way to score points <a id="variant-roguelike-34-15"></a>
- Skip a stage for a separate reward <a id="variant-roguelike-34-16"></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.

- [Official description](https://www.playbalatro.com/) (id: source-95898fded900bcf2)
- [Balatro](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/) (id: source-10b015ff3d1d4888)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors