In Balatro, the "ante" represents the current level or stage of progression within a run. It increases by one each time you defeat a boss round, marking how far you have advanced in the game
. Each ante consists of three blinds: the Small Blind, Big Blind, and Boss Blind, with progressively higher chip requirements to beat each one. After defeating the Boss Blind, you advance to the next ante, which refreshes and raises the blinds, making the game more challenging
. The ante essentially sets the baseline score or chip amount you need to reach to clear rounds, and as it increases, so do the difficulty and the stakes. This mechanic forces players to adapt their strategy and manage resources carefully, as the ante influences the risk and reward balance in the game. Higher antes mean higher required scores but also larger potential rewards
. Completing all eight antes in a run unlocks new decks and allows you to enter an Endless Mode where the ante continues to increase, with scores required growing exponentially
. Thus, the ante in Balatro is a core gameplay element that drives progression, difficulty scaling, and strategic depth by linking poker betting concepts to roguelike mechanics
