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 D tier in our Slay the Spire 2 card rankings.

Across 103 recorded runs, decks running it win 12.9% of the time, right in line with the typical deck. It’s a popular draft, appearing in 19.9% of eligible decks. Silent players keep it in 99.0% of their runs, so it’s a familiar sight in those decks. On average it shows up 4.6 times in the decks that take it.

It performs best next to Doubt — together they post a +87.1% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic Shovel, which moves its win rate by +87.1%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 7.3% 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 8 wins, 54 deaths, and 41 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Vantom Boss, which closes out 5.8% 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 Doubt (+87.1%), Tracking (+87.1%), and Ultimate Defend (+53.8%).

Doubt+87.1%3 runsTracking+87.1%4 runsUltimate Defend+53.8%5 runsMayhem+37.1%4 runsHidden Daggers+37.1%10 runsPinpoint+37.1%5 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 12.9% win rate across 103 runs.

The Silentappears in 99.0% of its runs (103 tracked)

Best Relics for Defend

Defend pairs best with the relics Shovel (+87.1%), Touch of Orobas (+87.1%), and Pael's Wing (+87.1%), ranked by win-rate lift.

Shovel+87.1%3 runsTouch of Orobas+87.1%3 runsPael's Wing+87.1%3 runsRing of the Drake+87.1%3 runsMiniature Cannon+87.1%4 runsYummy Cookie+53.8%5 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 7.3% 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 Vantom Boss (5.8%), Phrog Parasite Elite (4.9%), and Lagavulin Matriarch Boss (3.9%).

• Vantom Boss5.8% of runs
• Phrog Parasite Elite4.9% of runs
• Lagavulin Matriarch Boss3.9% of runs
• Entomancer Elite3.9% of runs
• Knowledge Demon Boss2.9% of runs

See Also

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