Epoch AI's SpireClimb benchmark tests AI models on Slay the Spire 1 and 2
Overview
Epoch AI launches SpireClimb, a visual benchmark that has AI models play full runs of Slay the Spire 1 and 2 at maximum difficulty through a graphical interface.
Each model gets 15 independent single-shot attempts per character in both games, on a fixed set of arbitrarily chosen seeds.
Epoch AI says frontier models now win at least 90% of Slay the Spire 1 runs at base difficulty (Ascension 0), up from barely winning six months earlier. At Ascension 20 Heart, the hardest setting, GPT-6 Astra wins 17% of runs and GPT-6.1 Sol wins 20%, while top human players win 80% or more. Models also win more often on Slay the Spire 2 at Ascension 10, which Epoch AI says is the easier game, and the authors say a visual interface may limit model performance.
Written by AI from the articles below · updated Oct 14, 4:06 PM ET
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Developments
5 developments
- Oct 14, 3:59 PM ET · 1 articleEpoch AI says visual interface may limit frontier model game performanceEpoch AI: Epoch AI says visual interface may limit frontier model game performance
- Oct 14, 3:59 PM ET · 1 articleEpoch AI describes SpireClimb, a game benchmark where models play through a graphical interfaceEpoch AI: Epoch AI says models now play SpireClimb through a graphical interface like humans
- Oct 14, 3:59 PM ET · 1 articleEpoch AI reports frontier model win rates on a game sequel, with GPT-6 Astra trailing top humansEpoch AI: Frontier models score higher on game sequel but trail top humans
- Oct 14, 3:59 PM ET · 1 articleEpoch AI reports frontier models trail top humans on hardest difficulty in both gamesEpoch AI: Frontier models still trail top human players on hardest difficulty
- Oct 13, 8:00 PM ET · 2 articlesEpoch AI launches SpireClimb benchmark testing AI on Slay the Spire 1 and 2Epoch AI: Frontier AI models now win Slay the Spire at high rates on the SpireClimb benchmark
Article timeline
The articles in this story. Times are ET.
Epoch AI@EpochAIResearchOfficialEpoch AI says visual interface may limit frontier model game performanceAIEpoch AI says the visual interface could be limiting model performance in its game benchmark. Frontier models still win over 90% of games on the easiest difficulty, so the interface does not appear to severely hamper them. Epoch AI says measuring how models play under human-like conditions is worthwhile regardless.
Epoch AI@EpochAIResearchOfficialEpoch AI says models now play SpireClimb through a graphical interface like humansAIEpoch AI says models now play SpireClimb through a graphical interface, the same way humans do. A few months ago, models in a similar setup failed to read on-screen text, clicked cards inaccurately, and forgot to check key interface elements.
Epoch AI@EpochAIResearchOfficialFrontier models score higher on game sequel but trail top humansAIEpoch AI reports that frontier model win rates on the sequel, which is broadly considered easier, are somewhat higher than on the first game. The leading model, GPT-6 Astra, still performs significantly worse than top human players.

Epoch AI@EpochAIResearchOfficialFrontier models still trail top human players on hardest difficultyAIEpoch AI reports that frontier models are improving quickly, but their win rates on the hardest difficulty in both games remain far below those of top human players. GPT-6.1 Sol leads in the original game.

Epoch AI@EpochAIResearchOfficialEpoch AI's SpireClimb shows frontier models now win 20% of hardest Slay the Spire runsAIEpoch AI says its new SpireClimb benchmark shows frontier AI models now win over 90% of Slay the Spire runs at the easiest difficulty. At the hardest difficulty, they win up to 20% of runs. Six months ago, the same models could barely beat the game.

- Epoch AIOfficialFrontier AI models now win Slay the Spire at high rates on the SpireClimb benchmark
AIEpoch AI's SpireClimb benchmark finds frontier models beat Slay the Spire 1 at base difficulty (Ascension 0) at least 90% of the time, up from struggling six months earlier. GPT-6 Astra reached a 17% win rate and GPT-6.1 Sol a 20% win rate at maximum difficulty (Ascension 20 Heart), far below top human players at 80% or more. Models also won more often on Slay the Spire 2 at Ascension 10 than on the comparable original tier, though the authors note that game is easier.
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