Defend•Skill

Is Defend good in Slay the Spire 2?

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

Across 962 recorded runs, decks running it win 20.3% of the time, comfortably clear of the 18.9% average, by 1.4%. It’s a popular draft, appearing in 25.4% of eligible decks. Silent players keep it in 98.0% of their runs, so it’s a familiar sight in those decks. On average it shows up 4.7 times in the decks that take it.

It performs best next to Mad Science — together they post a +39.8% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic Signet Ring, which moves its win rate by +39.8%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 5.8% 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 138 wins, 541 deaths, and 283 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Knowledge Demon Boss, which closes out 4.0% of its appearances. Read on for Defend’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Silent run.

Best Cards to Pair with Defend

Ranked by win-rate lift, Defend performs best alongside Mad Science (+39.8%), Knife Trap (+31.1%), and Afterimage (+28.2%).

Mad Science+39.8%30 runsKnife Trap+31.1%75 runsAfterimage+28.2%93 runsApotheosis+26.6%6 runsFlanking+24.8%30 runsTracking+23.2%40 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 Silent, where it holds a 20.3% win rate across 962 runs.

The Silentappears in 98.0% of its runs (962 tracked)

Best Relics for Defend

Defend pairs best with the relics Signet Ring (+39.8%), Sword of Jade (+38.1%), and Fragrant Mushroom (+36.2%), ranked by win-rate lift.

Signet Ring+39.8%16 runsSword of Jade+38.1%14 runsFragrant Mushroom+36.2%29 runsForgotten Soul+32.5%26 runsBeautiful Bracelet+32.5%9 runsSai+32.5%9 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 5.8% 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 (4.0%), Lagavulin Matriarch Boss (3.5%), and Entomancer Elite (3.2%).

• Knowledge Demon Boss4.0% of runs
• Lagavulin Matriarch Boss3.5% of runs
• Entomancer Elite3.2% of runs
• Ceremonial Beast Boss2.8% of runs
• Vantom Boss2.4% of runs

See Also

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