Defend Skill

Is Defend good in Slay the Spire 2?

Defend is a basic Defect skill in Slay the Spire 2. In combat it resolves as: Gain 5 Block. It currently underperforms most alternatives, sitting at D tier in our Slay the Spire 2 card rankings.

Across 5398 recorded runs, decks running it win 8.6% of the time, trailing the 13.8% average by 5.2%. It’s a popular draft, appearing in 21.4% of eligible decks. Defect players keep it in 97.4% of their runs, so it’s a familiar sight in those decks. On average it shows up 3.8 times in the decks that take it.

It performs best next to Apotheosis — together they post a +44.2% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic History Course, which moves its win rate by +51.6%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 5.4% of runs and usually joins the deck around floor 1.

Upgraded, it gains +3 Block, which is why so many decks invest a rest-site upgrade in it. That’s 456 wins, 4832 deaths, and 110 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Kaiser Crab Boss, which closes out 3.6% of its appearances. Read on for Defend’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Defect run.

When to Pick Up Defend

Defend is strongest when it joins the deck in Starting deck, where runs win 8.6% across 5391 runs — one of 2 recorded pickup windows.

Win rate of runs by the act Defend entered the deck. Acts that have not reached the sample floor show their run count only.

Best Cards to Pair with Defend

Ranked by win-rate lift, Defend performs best alongside Apotheosis (+44.2%), Apparition (+39.3%), and Mad Science (+33.7%).

Apotheosis+44.2%39 runsApparition+39.3%21 runsMad Science+33.7%167 runsMayhem+25.9%36 runsNostalgia+24.3%20 runsRegret+23.6%33 runs

Based on small co-occurring samples — treat these as early signals, not final verdicts.

Defend Win Rate by Class

Defend is drafted only by the Defect, where it holds a 8.6% win rate across 5398 runs.

The Defectappears in 97.4% of its runs (5398 tracked)

Best Relics for Defend

Defend pairs best with the relics History Course (+51.6%), Iron Club (+46.9%), and Jewelry Box (+44.2%), ranked by win-rate lift.

History Course+51.6%23 runsIron Club+46.9%33 runsJewelry Box+44.2%39 runsSword of Jade+43.4%57 runsSignet Ring+41.2%55 runsDelicate Frond+40.9%18 runs

Based on small co-occurring samples — treat these as early signals, not final verdicts.

Defend Card Details

Defend is a basic skill costing 1 energy; it’s upgraded in 5.4% of runs and usually picked up by floor 1.

Gain 5 Block.

Upgrade: +3 Block

What Ends Runs with Defend

Defend’s most common run-enders are Kaiser Crab Boss (3.6%), Knowledge Demon Boss (3.2%), and Phantasmal Gardeners Elite (2.7%).

• Kaiser Crab Boss3.6% of runs
• Knowledge Demon Boss3.2% of runs
• Phantasmal Gardeners Elite2.7% of runs
• Infested Prisms Elite2.6% of runs
• Decimillipede Elite2.6% of runs

See Also

Compare Defend with the rest of the best Slay the Spire 2 cards, relics, and classes below.