Defend Skill

Is Defend good in Slay the Spire 2?

Defend is a basic Regent 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 3126 recorded runs, decks running it win 14.6% of the time, right in line with the typical deck. It’s a popular draft, appearing in 14.9% of eligible decks. Regent players keep it in 95.1% 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 Mad Science — together they post a +43.8% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic History Course, which moves its win rate by +49.6%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 6.3% 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 445 wins, 2606 deaths, and 75 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Knowledge Demon Boss, which closes out 3.8% of its appearances. Read on for Defend’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Regent run.

When to Pick Up Defend

Defend is strongest when it joins the deck in Starting deck, where runs win 14.6% across 3118 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 Mad Science (+43.8%), Apotheosis (+39.5%), and Folly (+33.9%).

Mad Science+43.8%121 runsApotheosis+39.5%26 runsFolly+33.9%26 runsMaster of Strategy+33.9%26 runsBad Luck+33.5%18 runsApparition+31.8%20 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 Regent, where it holds a 14.6% win rate across 3126 runs.

The Regentappears in 95.1% of its runs (3126 tracked)

Best Relics for Defend

Defend pairs best with the relics History Course (+49.6%), Crossbow (+49.3%), and Sword of Jade (+46.0%), ranked by win-rate lift.

History Course+49.6%25 runsCrossbow+49.3%22 runsSword of Jade+46.0%37 runsJeweled Mask+43.8%37 runsSai+42.6%38 runsLooming Fruit+40.2%31 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 6.3% 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 Knowledge Demon Boss (3.8%), Decimillipede Elite (3.5%), and Phrog Parasite Elite (3.1%).

• Knowledge Demon Boss3.8% of runs
• Decimillipede Elite3.5% of runs
• Phrog Parasite Elite3.1% of runs
• Infested Prisms Elite2.9% of runs
• The Insatiable Boss2.7% of runs

See Also

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