Defy

NecrobinderSkillCommon
Ethereal.
Gain 6 Block.
Apply 1 Weak.

One energy for 6 Block (9 upgraded) and then 1 Weak on the target, so its next attack deals 25% less. It is Ethereal, exhausting if left in hand at end of turn, and playing it counts as an Ethereal card played. Artifact removes the Weak but the Block still lands.

Character
Necrobinder
Type
Skill
Rarity
Common
Cost
1 Energy
Target
One enemy

When to take Defy

A better Defend for hard hitting Act 1 elites, and it feeds Ethereal payoffs for free. Its value drops once the deck moves to Doom and Osty defense.

Cards that synergize with Defy

Debilitate
Attack
1
Deal 10 damage.
Vulnerable and Weak are twice as effective against the enemy for the next 2 turns.
Debilitate makes the Weak cut 50% instead of 25%.Deal 10 damage.
Vulnerable and Weak are twice as effective against the enemy for the next 2 turns.
Sleight of Flesh
Power
2
Whenever you apply a debuff to an enemy, they take 9 damage.
Sleight of Flesh deals 9 damage when the Weak lands.Whenever you apply a debuff to an enemy, they take 9 damage.
Misery
Attack
0
Deal 7 damage.
Apply any debuffs on the enemy to ALL other enemies.
Misery copies the Weak to the other enemies.Deal 7 damage.
Apply any debuffs on the enemy to ALL other enemies.
Spirit of Ash
Power
1
Whenever you play an Ethereal card, gain 4 Block.
Spirit of Ash adds 4 Block per Ethereal play.Whenever you play an Ethereal card, gain 4 Block.
Veilpiercer
Attack
1
Deal 10 damage.
The next Ethereal card you play costs 0 .
Veilpiercer makes it free.Deal 10 damage.
The next Ethereal card you play costs 0 .
Pagestorm
Power
1
Whenever you draw an Ethereal card, draw 1 card.
Pagestorm draws when you draw it.Whenever you draw an Ethereal card, draw 1 card.
Pull from Below
Attack
1
Deal 5 damage for each Ethereal card played this combat.
Pull from Below rewards Ethereal cards, and Defy is oneDeal 5 damage for each Ethereal card played this combat.
Banshee's Cry
Attack
9
Deal 33 damage to ALL enemies.
Costs less for each Ethereal card played this combat.
Banshee's Cry rewards Ethereal cards, and Defy is oneDeal 33 damage to ALL enemies.
Costs less for each Ethereal card played this combat.
Beacon of Hope
Power
1
Whenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block.
Beacon of Hope makes Block count for more, and Defy gains itWhenever you gain Block on your turn, other players gain half that much Block.
Entrench
Skill
2
Double your Block.
Entrench makes Block count for more, and Defy gains itDouble your Block.
Prolong
Skill
0
Next turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.
Prolong makes Block count for more, and Defy gains itNext turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.

Relics that synergize with Defy

Burning Sticks
Burning Sticks triggers when cards are Exhausted, and Defy Exhausts itselfThe first time each combat you Exhaust a Skill, add a copy of it into your Hand.
Joss Paper
Joss Paper triggers when cards are Exhausted, and Defy Exhausts itselfEvery 5 times you Exhaust a card, draw 1 card.
Forgotten Soul
Forgotten Soul triggers when cards are Exhausted, and Defy Exhausts itselfWhenever you Exhaust a card, deal 1 damage to a random enemy.
Parrying Shield
Parrying Shield makes Block count for more, and Defy gains itIf you end a turn with at least 10 Block, deal 6 damage to a random enemy.
Sturdy Clamp
Sturdy Clamp makes Block count for more, and Defy gains itUp to 10 Block persists across turns.
Pael's Legion
Pael's Legion makes Block count for more, and Defy gains itDoubles Block gained from a card, then goes to sleep for 2 turns.
Vambrace
Vambrace makes Block count for more, and Defy gains itThe first time you gain Block from a card each combat, double the amount gained.
✦
Enfeebling Touch
Skill
1
Ethereal.
Enemy loses 8 Strength this turn.
Parse
Skill
1
Ethereal.
Draw 3 cards.
Putrefy
Skill
1
Apply 2 Weak.
Apply 2 Vulnerable.
Exhaust.
Seance
Skill
1
Ethereal.
Transform a card in your Draw Pile into Soul.
Defile
Attack
1
Ethereal.
Deal 13 damage.
Fear
Attack
1
Ethereal.
Deal 7 damage.
Apply 1 Vulnerable.
Lethality
Power
1
Ethereal.
The first Attack each turn deals 50% additional damage.
Demesne
Power
3
Ethereal.
At the start of your turn, gain and draw 1 additional card.

Changes by version

  1. 19 Mar 2026ChangeWeakBeta branch
    Upgrade no longer increases Weak, but increases Block by +3 instead of +1
  2. 18 Dec 2025TextFearDirgeInternal playtest
    Fear to Defy (no longer Dirge)

Internal playtest notes are from before the Early Access release. Names and numbers in them can differ from the game today.

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