Ultimate Defend•Skill

Is Ultimate Defend good in Slay the Spire 2?

Ultimate Defend is an uncommon Colorless skill in Slay the Spire 2. In combat it resolves as: Gain 11 Block. It ranks among the strongest cards its class can draft right now, earning a spot at B tier in our Slay the Spire 2 card tier list.

Across 129 recorded runs, decks running it win 35.1% of the time, comfortably clear of the 19.0% average, by 16.1%. It’s a more selective pick, turning up in just 3.4% of decks that could run it. Necrobinder players keep it in 2.8% of their runs, so it’s a familiar sight in those decks. On average it shows up 1.1 times in the decks that take it.

It performs best next to Scourge — together they post a +20.9% swing in win rate. It also has strong chemistry with the relic Book of Five Rings, which moves its win rate by +22.4%. At 1 energy, it’s upgraded in 14.5% of runs and usually joins the deck around floor 21.

Upgraded, it gains +4 Block, which is why so many decks invest a rest-site upgrade in it. That’s 40 wins, 74 deaths, and 15 abandoned runs with it in the deck. The encounter that most often ends a run carrying it is Knowledge Demon Boss, which closes out 10.1% of its appearances. Read on for Ultimate Defend’s complete synergy, class, and threat breakdown to decide whether it earns a slot in your Colorless run.

Best Cards to Pair with Ultimate Defend

Ranked by win-rate lift, Ultimate Defend performs best alongside Scourge (+20.9%), Adrenaline (+18.6%), and Death's Door (+18.1%).

Scourge+20.9%8 runsAdrenaline+18.6%4 runsDeath's Door+18.1%6 runsSupercritical+17.7%8 runsSnakebite+15.0%4 runsFollow Through+15.0%3 runs

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

Ultimate Defend Win Rate by Class

Ultimate Defend is played across 5 classes, led by Necrobinder (42.1%), Silent (37.0%), and Defect (37.0%) by win rate.

The Necrobinder42.1%23 runsThe Silent37.0%33 runsThe Defect37.0%27 runsThe Regent29.4%20 runsThe Ironclad29.2%26 runs

Best Relics for Ultimate Defend

Ultimate Defend pairs best with the relics Book of Five Rings (+22.4%), Blood Vial??? (+21.6%), and Lizard Tail (+20.2%), ranked by win-rate lift.

Book of Five Rings+22.4%12 runsBlood Vial???+21.6%5 runsLizard Tail+20.2%9 runsGhost Seed+18.6%5 runsForgotten Soul+18.1%6 runsSword of Jade+18.1%6 runs

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

Ultimate Defend Card Details

Ultimate Defend is an uncommon skill costing 1 energy; it’s upgraded in 14.5% of runs and usually picked up by floor 21.

Gain 11 Block.

Upgrade: +4 Block

What Ends Runs with Ultimate Defend

Ultimate Defend’s most common run-enders are Knowledge Demon Boss (10.1%), Test Subject Boss (7.8%), and The Insatiable Boss (5.4%).

• Knowledge Demon Boss10.1% of runs
• Test Subject Boss7.8% of runs
• The Insatiable Boss5.4% of runs
• Queen Boss3.9% of runs
• Kaiser Crab Boss3.9% of runs

See Also

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