Version

Shadow Shield

DefectSkillUncommon
Gain 11 Block.
Channel 1 Dark.

You gain 11 Block (15 upgraded), then a Dark orb is channeled into your first empty slot. Dark starts at 6 evoke damage and gains 6 more at the end of every turn it sits there; when evoked it hits the enemy with the lowest current HP. If every slot is full, the leftmost orb is evoked to make room.

Character
Type
Skill
Rarity
Uncommon
Cost
2 Energy
Target
Yourself

When to take Shadow Shield

The Defect's big single-card Block and a slow bomb in one. Best in Act 1 when your defense is thin, or in Dark decks where the orb only grows.

Cards that synergize with Shadow Shield

Darkness
Skill
1
Channel 1 Dark.
Trigger the passive ability of all Dark Orbs.
Darkness triggers every Dark orb's passive at once.Channel 1 Dark.
Trigger the passive ability of all Dark Orbs.
Consuming Shadow
Power
2
Channel 2 Dark.
At the end of your turn, Evoke your leftmost Orb.
Consuming Shadow evokes the leftmost orb each turn, cashing the charge in.Channel 2 Dark.
At the end of your turn, Evoke your leftmost Orb.
Defragment
Power
1
Gain 1 Focus.
Defragment boosts the passive gain through Focus.Gain 1 Focus.
Capacitor
Power
1
Gain 2 Orb Slots.
Capacitor gives Dark room to sit.Gain 2 Orb Slots.
Thunder
Power
1
Whenever you Evoke Lightning, deal 6 damage to each enemy hit.
Thunder works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsWhenever you Evoke Lightning, deal 6 damage to each enemy hit.
Barrage
Attack
1
Deal 5 damage for each Channeled Orb.
Barrage works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsDeal 5 damage for each Channeled Orb.
Hailstorm
Power
1
At the end of your turn, if you have Frost, deal 6 damage to ALL enemies.
Hailstorm works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsAt the end of your turn, if you have Frost, deal 6 damage to ALL enemies.
Shatter
Attack
1
Deal 7 damage to ALL enemies.
Evoke all of your Orbs twice.
Shatter works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsDeal 7 damage to ALL enemies.
Evoke all of your Orbs twice.
Tesla Coil
Attack
0
Deal 3 damage.
Trigger all Lightning against the enemy.
Tesla Coil works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsDeal 3 damage.
Trigger all Lightning against the enemy.
Biased Cognition
Power
1
Gain 4 Focus.
At the start of your turn, lose 1 Focus.
Biased Cognition works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsGain 4 Focus.
At the start of your turn, lose 1 Focus.
Quadcast
Skill
1
Evoke your rightmost Orb 4 times.
Quadcast works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsEvoke your rightmost Orb 4 times.
Multi-Cast
Skill
X
Evoke your rightmost Orb X times.
Multi-Cast works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsEvoke your rightmost Orb X times.
Coolant
Power
1
At the start of your turn, gain 2 Block for each unique Orb you have.
Coolant works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsAt the start of your turn, gain 2 Block for each unique Orb you have.
Hotfix
Skill
0
Gain 2 Focus this turn.
Exhaust.
Hotfix works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsGain 2 Focus this turn.
Exhaust.
Synchronize
Skill
1
Gain 2 Focus this turn for each unique Orb you have.
Exhaust.
Synchronize works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsGain 2 Focus this turn for each unique Orb you have.
Exhaust.
Compile Driver
Attack
1
Deal 7 damage.
Draw 1 card for each unique Orb you have.
Compile Driver works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsDeal 7 damage.
Draw 1 card for each unique Orb you have.
Dualcast
Skill
1
Evoke your rightmost Orb twice.
Dualcast works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsEvoke your rightmost Orb twice.
Focused Strike
Attack
1
Deal 9 damage.
Gain 1 Focus this turn.
Focused Strike works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsDeal 9 damage.
Gain 1 Focus this turn.
Loop
Power
1
At the start of your turn, trigger the passive ability of your rightmost Orb.
Loop works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsAt the start of your turn, trigger the passive ability of your rightmost Orb.
Modded
Skill
0
Gain 1 Orb Slot.
Draw 1 card. Increase this card's cost by 1.
Modded works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsGain 1 Orb Slot.
Draw 1 card. Increase this card's cost by 1.
Hibernate
Skill
2
This turn, your Frost grants ALL allies Block.
Channel 2 Frost.
Hibernate works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsThis turn, your Frost grants ALL allies Block.
Channel 2 Frost.
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 Shadow Shield 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 Shadow Shield gains itDouble your Block.
Prolong
Skill
0
Next turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.
Prolong makes Block count for more, and Shadow Shield gains itNext turn, gain Block equal to your current Block.
Exhaust.

Relics that synergize with Shadow Shield

Symbiotic Virus
Symbiotic Virus starts each fight with a Dark already charging.At the start of each combat, Channel 1 Dark.
Emotion Chip
Emotion Chip works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsIf you lost HP during the previous turn, trigger the passive ability of all Orbs at the start of your turn.
Metronome
Metronome works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsThe first time you Channel 7 Orbs each combat, deal 30 damage to ALL enemies.
Runic Capacitor
Runic Capacitor works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsStart each combat with 3 additional Orb Slots.
Data Disk
Data Disk works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsStart each combat with 1 Focus.
Infused Core
Infused Core works with the Orbs Shadow Shield ChannelsAt the start of each combat, Channel 3 Lightning. Lightning deals 1 additional damage.
Parrying Shield
Parrying Shield makes Block count for more, and Shadow Shield 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 Shadow Shield gains itUp to 10 Block persists across turns.
Pael's Legion
Pael's Legion makes Block count for more, and Shadow Shield gains itDoubles Block gained from a card, then goes to sleep for 2 turns.
Vambrace
Vambrace makes Block count for more, and Shadow Shield gains itThe first time you gain Block from a card each combat, double the amount gained.
Intimidating Helmet
Intimidating Helmet triggers on cards that cost 2 or more, and Shadow Shield is oneWhenever you play a card that costs or more, gain 4 Block.

Changes by version

  1. 9 Apr 2026ArtBeta branch
    Added portrait art
  2. 8 Jan 2026Block10(14)11(15)Internal playtest
    Block increased from 10 to 11 (upgraded 14 to 15)
  3. 18 Dec 2025ArtInternal playtest
    Added beta card art
All 4 patch notes1 older
  1. 11 Dec 2025AddedInternal playtest
    Added to the game

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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