Monster Train 2’s Lost Arsenal Update Adds Clanless Cards, Returns Classic Relics, and Teases a New

Monster Train 2’s First Free Update Actually Moves the Meta

Lost Arsenal isn’t just a bonus pack of odds and ends-it’s the kind of early post-launch update that can reshape how Monster Train 2 plays. As someone who sank an embarrassing number of hours into the original and has been impressed by MT2’s more tactical three-floor tweaks, this caught my attention because it tackles variety from two angles that matter: deckbuilding flexibility and mid-run decision tension.

• Clanless Room and Equipment cards broaden build paths across runs.
• Returning relics and warriors bring back fan-favorite play vibes with MT2-era balance.
• Balance passes on original clan cards aim to curb runaway combos without killing creativity.
• A Switch framerate unlock (primarily for Switch 2) speeds up the feel of play.

Breaking Down Lost Arsenal

The headline feature is clanless Room and Equipment cards joining the pool alongside new Spells. Monster Train’s identity has always been about making two clans sing together, then piloting that synergy through vertical floor gambits. Clanless tools could be a big deal because they grease the gears between concepts that normally don’t mix cleanly. If you’ve ever drafted a perfect top-floor setup but whiffed on the utility you needed from your allied clan, neutral Room and Equipment cards coming from Merchants could be the safety valve that turns a doomed run into a puzzle worth solving.

The “Room” concept remains Monster Train 2’s boldest twist, and more Room cards-especially ones that aren’t gated by clan-mean higher odds that your plan survives bad draws. Equipment, meanwhile, has been quietly pivotal in MT2’s run identity; a clanless pool implies we’ll see more universally useful supports rather than narrow, clan-locked upgrades. That should diversify early draft choices and lower the number of “auto-skip” offerings you see by mid-run.

I’m equally curious about the balance changes to original Monster Train clan cards. The first game had some notorious snowball lines that either steamrolled or fizzled depending on a single artifact or event. MT2’s tempo is generally tighter, with enemies that punish sloppy floor planning. If Lost Arsenal truly integrates those older cards into MT2’s pacing, we might get that satisfying “build explodes on turn three” feeling without the all-or-nothing volatility that defined certain MT1 builds.

Then there are the returning relics and warriors—nostalgia plays, sure, but they’re also smart glue for veterans transitioning fully to MT2. Old passives coming back with the sequel’s balance philosophy could unlock “classic” archetypes in a way that feels earned. The caveat: power creep is real. If the relic pool expands without adequate pruning, the run variance swings wider. Shiny Shoe’s track record suggests they’ll keep tuning, but it’s something to watch.

PC Deluxe Edition and the Switch Performance Toggle

Lost Arsenal lands alongside the PC launch of Monster Train 2: Deluxe Edition, which bundles the base game at a 10% discount with the digital soundtrack and compendium. If you’re new, that’s the cleanest way to board the Train on PC right now. If you already own the base game, there’s no must-have upgrade in that bundle—Lost Arsenal itself is free, and Shiny Shoe is signaling a longer tail of support anyway.

On Nintendo Switch, the new unlocked framerate option is primarily aimed at Switch 2 hardware. For a deckbuilder, that might sound cosmetic, but anyone who’s speed-running dailies or grinding unlocks knows how much pacing matters. Faster transitions and snappier animations cut friction, which adds up over dozens of runs. The real test will be whether handheld performance stays stable in longer, effect-heavy battles. If it does, MT2 just became an even better commute companion.

The Roadmap: Free Updates Now, Paid DLC Later

Shiny Shoe has mapped support into early 2026, with new bosses, artifacts, and a brand-new clan on the horizon—and yes, paid DLC is part of the plan. That sets expectations: frequent free touches to keep the meta fresh, punctuated by bigger beats you’ll pay for. If this follows the Monster Train playbook, think “expansion that meaningfully shifts the draft landscape” rather than nickel-and-dime add-ons. The new clan tease is the most intriguing part; in MT1, the extra clan dramatically altered draft logic. If MT2’s sixth faction brings equally distinct mechanics (more Room manipulation? floor denial? enemy faction counters?), we could be looking at another renaissance moment for the game’s strategy layer.

There’s always risk. Add too much and you bury newer players under jargon; add too little and veterans churn. Lost Arsenal feels like a measured first step—broader options via clanless cards and returning staples, grounded by balance passes that keep runs challenging rather than degenerate.

What Gamers Should Watch For

• Drop rates and Merchant tuning: If clanless cards are too rare, they won’t fix awkward drafts. Too common, and clans lose identity.
• Relic pool health: Returning favorites are great, but stale auto-picks aren’t. Keep an eye on nerfs and synergies that outshine everything else.
• Run pacing on Switch: Unlocked framerate is only a win if it remains stable in effect-heavy turns.
• DLC communication: If a new clan is paid, make sure the free updates keep the base game’s meta vibrant for everyone.

Credit where it’s due: this is how you kick off a live roguelike deckbuilder. Big Fan (the Devolver label) and Shiny Shoe aren’t flooding the game with filler; they’re nudging the draft economy and seeding nostalgia, while promising a bigger shake-up later. As someone who loved the original’s ceiling for absurd synergies, I’m happy to see MT2 lean into flexibility without surrendering its stricter tactical spine.

TL;DR

Lost Arsenal adds clanless Room and Equipment cards, returning relics and warriors, balance tweaks, and a Switch framerate unlock—good, meta-relevant stuff that should make runs more interesting right now. A new clan and more content are on the roadmap into 2026, with paid DLC coming later. If you’ve been waiting to hop on PC, the Deluxe Edition is a solid entry point; everyone else gets meaningful toys for free.