Throwback (Joker) Balatro Wiki Fandom
Throwback gains x0.25 Mult for each Blind skipped in a run. This effect is retroactive, in that Blinds skipped before picking it up count towards its X Mult. It is unlocked by going to the Main Menu and continuing an ongoing run. Anaglyph Deck is by far the best deck to use Throwback with, as... 
Effect
X0.25 Mult for each Blind skipped this run (Currently X1 Mult)X0.25 Mult for each Blind skipped this run (Currently X1 Mult)
Rarity
UncommonUncommon
Stats
Buy Price
$ 6
Sell Price
$ 3
Type
Multiplicative Mult
Activation
Independent
Buy Price
$ 6 $ 6
Sell Price
$ 3 $ 3
Type
Multiplicative Mult Multiplicative Mult
Activation
Independent Independent
Unlock Requirement
Continue a run from the Main Menu. Continue a run from the Main Menu.
Decks
Anaglyph Deck is by far the best deck to use Throwback with, as the Double Tags it generates make skipping Blinds much more appealing. It also works well with decks that do not necessarily gain much from going to shops or from playing Blinds, like 
Black Deck (that already plays fewer hands per Blind, meaning you get less money or Joker effects from it).
Jokers
Jokers that have powerful up-front effects generally work great with Throwback, as they allow you to skip blinds and boost Throwback without compromising the other Jokers' scaling. Flat x Mult jokers, like 
Driver's License, 
Cavendish, 
Seeing Double, etc., provide an exponential effect for Throwback. Flat + Mult jokers, like 
Half Joker, 
Mystic Summit, 
Jolly Joker, etc., can provide a larger base mult for Throwback, though depending on your build's hand type, per-card mult boosts may be stronger.
Since Throwback can boost mult to insane values, it can be worth investing in a + Chips joker, like 
Stuntman or 
Bull, to improve that side of the equation.
Since Throwback prioritizes skipping blinds, consumable Jokers (
Popcorn, 
Ice Cream, go through fewer hands, allowing them to be useful for more Antes.
Diet Cola empowers the skips you do, allowing you to double the bonus from a strong tag.
Because Throwback needs to skip Blinds to scale, it is very bad with Jokers that require action taken in Blinds or the shop to scale. For example, 
Hologram, 
Vampire, 
Supernova, 
Loyalty Card, etc. It can be decent if a couple of blinds were skipped in the past as a temporary midgame choice, but there are often better alternatives for builds that use these kinds of scaling.
Other synergies
Glass cards work very well with Throwback, as you can gain x2 Mult, and the risk to losing the cards is reduced because you are playing fewer hands.
Throwback inherently does better on higher Stakes, as multiple of them lessen the reward from fighting Blinds or from the Shop, making skips more enticing. However, it can occasionally struggle from the faster Ante scaling from Green and Purple Stake.
Trivia
- This Joker originally gave x0.5 Mult per Blind skipped in the second demos, but this effect was only for Blinds skipped after picking it up. It has since been changed to be retroactive, and to only give x0.25 Mult.
- The name Throwback is possibly a reference to the 80s styling of this Joker, with the arcade carpet detailing in the background lending a retro feel. It may also be a reference to the Vaporwave internet phenomenon.
In other languages
| Language | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese (Simplified) | 回溯 | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 復古小丑 | |
| Dutch | Retro | |
| French | Rappel | |
| German | Rückblick | |
| Indonesian | Throwback | |
| Italian | Tuffo nel passato | |
| Japanese | スローバック | |
| Korean | 회귀 | |
| Polish | Powrót do przeszłości | |
| Portuguese (Brazilian) | Retorno | |
| Russian | Возврат | |
| Spanish (Spain) | Retro | |
| Spanish (Latin America) | Retro |
| Jokers in Balatro |
|---|
| Chips Jokers |
| Additive Mult Jokers |
| Multiplicative Mult Jokers |
| Chips and Mult Jokers |
| Economy Jokers |
| Effect Jokers |
More Balatro Wiki- 1Jokers
- 2Vouchers
- 3Poker Hands
FAQs
How do you copy the Joker in Balatro?
Once a Poker hand is played Blueprint will continue copying the last Joker to its right even if its moved around afterward. This can be exploited by first playing the winning hand then moving Blueprint to copy the end-of-round effect Joker such as Reserved Parking or Mime while scoring is calculated.
What happens if a hand is played with 3 dollars or less Balatro?
Balatro. The wording in this game is baffling sometimes. What it means is: If you have $3 or less when you play a hand you get a tarot card. If you play 3 hands while you have <$3 you will get 3 tarot cards.
How does madness work in Balatro?
Madness is an uncommon multiplicative Mult Joker that fuels itself with the sacrifice of other Jokers. At the start of every Small and Big Blind it gains X0. 5 Mult and destroys another Joker at random. The destruction of another Joker and gaining X0.
