Defend

Defend (Defect) is the blue version of the universal starter skill: 1 Energy, 5 Block (8 upgraded). Like all Defend variants, it provides straightforward Block with no synergies. The Defect often defends through Frost Orb passive effects and cards like Glacier and Coolheaded, making vanilla Defends less central to the game plan than they might be for other characters.

Defect decks built around Frost Orbs generate significant passive Block each turn, which reduces reliance on Defend considerably. Replace these with higher-value defensive options or Orb-generating skills as soon as possible. Upgrading a Defend should only happen when there's truly no better target.