Defend•Skill

Is Defend good in Slay the Spire 2?

In Slay the Spire 2, Defend is a basic skill from the Ironclad card pool. Its effect: Gain 5 Block. The data flags it as a weaker pick, settling at F tier — usually one to pass on unless your deck specifically wants it.

Over 698 tracked runs its win rate sits at 20.3%, 1.3% ahead of the 19.0% all-deck baseline. Players reach for it often — it shows up in 18.4% of runs that can take it. Within Ironclad runs it’s drafted 98.7% of the time, making it a regular part of that class’s decks. Decks that include it run about 3.8 copies on average.

Its standout pairing so far is Believe in You, which lifts its win rate by +26.9% when the two share a deck. On the relic side, Mango??? is its standout companion, worth a +34.9% win-rate swing alongside it. It costs 1 energy, gets upgraded 9.1% of the time, and tends to be picked up near floor 1.

Upgrading the card adds +3 Block to its stat line. Of the runs that drafted it, 102 ended in victory against 401 deaths and 195 abandons. Its most common run-ender is Knowledge Demon Boss, finishing 3.9% of the runs it shows up in. See the synergies, class split, and threats below for the full picture of where Defend fits a Ironclad deck.

Best Cards to Pair with Defend

Defend’s strongest card pairings so far are Believe in You (+26.9%), Offering (+24.8%), and Regret (+24.3%), each shown with the win-rate lift it adds.

Believe in You+26.9%7 runsOffering+24.8%56 runsRegret+24.3%8 runsEternal Armor+22.8%6 runsCruelty+22.6%58 runsDoubt+22.0%9 runs

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

Defend Win Rate by Class

Exclusive to the Ironclad, Defend posts a 20.3% win rate over 698 tracked runs.

The Ironcladappears in 98.7% of its runs (698 tracked)

Best Relics for Defend

The relics that swing Defend’s win rate the most are Mango??? (+34.9%), Kifuda (+29.9%), and Delicate Frond (+29.9%), with each lift shown.

Mango???+34.9%10 runsKifuda+29.9%6 runsDelicate Frond+29.9%8 runsJeweled Mask+29.9%12 runsRoyal Stamp+27.8%15 runsRazor Tooth+27.7%13 runs

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

Defend Card Details

A 1-energy basic skill, Defend is upgraded 9.1% of the time and tends to enter the deck around floor 1.

Gain 5 Block.

Upgrade: +3 Block

What Ends Runs with Defend

Runs holding Defend end most often against Knowledge Demon Boss (3.9%), The Insatiable Boss (3.6%), and Decimillipede Elite (3.4%) — the share of its runs each accounts for is shown.

• Knowledge Demon Boss3.9% of runs
• The Insatiable Boss3.6% of runs
• Decimillipede Elite3.4% of runs
• Test Subject Boss3.0% of runs
• Kaiser Crab Boss2.9% of runs

See Also

Keep exploring Slay the Spire 2 tier lists and stats below.