Channel

Channel is a mechanic exclusive to The Defect that places an Orb into the rightmost empty Orb slot. If all Orb slots are already filled, the leftmost Orb is first Evoked (triggering its powerful one-time effect) before the new Orb is placed. The Defect starts with 3 Orb slots, which can be expanded with cards and relics.

The four types of Orbs that can be Channeled are Lightning (deals damage each turn and Evokes for more damage), Frost (grants Block each turn and Evokes for more Block), Dark (accumulates damage each turn and Evokes as a massive hit), and Plasma (generates 1 Energy each turn). Managing which Orbs to Channel and when is central to The Defect's strategy, particularly balancing Lightning for offense and Frost for defense.