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 D tier — usually one to pass on unless your deck specifically wants it.

Over 49 tracked runs its win rate sits at 16.3%, 3.7% ahead of the 12.6% all-deck baseline. It sees niche play, included in only 9.4% of eligible runs. Within Ironclad runs it’s drafted 100.0% of the time, making it a regular part of that class’s decks. Decks that include it run about 3.6 copies on average.

Its standout pairing so far is Forgotten Ritual, which lifts its win rate by +50.4% when the two share a deck. On the relic side, Venerable Tea Set is its standout companion, worth a +83.7% win-rate swing alongside it. It costs 1 energy, gets upgraded 7.9% 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, 7 ended in victory against 36 deaths and 6 abandons. Its most common run-ender is The Insatiable Boss, finishing 8.2% 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 Forgotten Ritual (+50.4%), Metamorphosis (+50.4%), and Feel No Pain (+50.4%), each shown with the win-rate lift it adds.

Forgotten Ritual+50.4%3 runsMetamorphosis+50.4%3 runsFeel No Pain+50.4%3 runsBully+33.7%6 runsDemon Form+33.7%6 runsUppercut+33.7%4 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 16.3% win rate over 49 tracked runs.

The Ironcladappears in 100.0% of its runs (49 tracked)

Best Relics for Defend

The relics that swing Defend’s win rate the most are Venerable Tea Set (+83.7%), Leafy Poultice (+58.7%), and War Paint (+55.1%), with each lift shown.

Venerable Tea Set+83.7%4 runsLeafy Poultice+58.7%4 runsWar Paint+55.1%7 runsCandelabra+50.4%3 runsBag of Preparation+50.4%3 runsFestive Popper+50.4%3 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 7.9% 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 The Insatiable Boss (8.2%), Lagavulin Matriarch Boss (6.1%), and Knowledge Demon Boss (6.1%) — the share of its runs each accounts for is shown.

• The Insatiable Boss8.2% of runs
• Lagavulin Matriarch Boss6.1% of runs
• Knowledge Demon Boss6.1% of runs
• Terror Eel Elite4.1% of runs
• Ceremonial Beast Boss4.1% of runs

See Also

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