Cracked Core

Cracked Core is the Defect's starting relic, automatically equipped at the beginning of every run with this character. At the start of each combat, it channels 1 Lightning orb into the Defect's orb slots. This provides a small but consistent source of passive damage (3 damage when evoked) and immediate Lightning passive damage (1 damage per turn) without spending any energy or cards.

The relic's value scales significantly with builds that leverage orbs. In Lightning-focused decks, the free channeled orb contributes to Electrodynamics chain damage and fills orb slots that can be immediately evoked for burst damage. In mixed-orb builds, having a free orb at combat start means fewer turns spent setting up. Cracked Core is relatively minor in isolation but becomes a meaningful free resource in synergistic Defect builds. It is replaced by Frozen Core upon defeating the first boss, which channels a Frost orb at the end of each turn if any orb slots are empty.