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Defense From Fire Emblem Wiki, your source on Fire Emblem information. By fans, for fans.
Defense (Japanese: 守備 defense ), abbreviated Def , is a statistic belonging to units which determines a unit's ability to resist physical damage. It is used to reduce the hit point damage taken from incoming physical attacks fueled by the strength stat. When attacking physically - for instance, with lances , swords or bows - a unit's calculated attack has their target's defense subtracted from it to produce the damage they actually deal against this target, and vice versa. Defense can be temporarily enhanced by taking shelter in terrain types which give defense boosts, such as forests or forts, and can also be boosted through some support bonuses.
This article is about the stat. For the staff from New Mystery of the Emblem , see Defense (staff) .
Some classes , most notably the various members of the Knight class family, are built to possess very high defense on average compared to other classes. As a general rule, units and classes with high defense tend to be slow , while it is common for units and classes with high skill and speed (such as the Myrmidon class family) or who wield magic to have poor defense. There is also a correlation between defense and hit points , where units and classes with high defense will also frequently have high HP.
A unit's defense stat will not protect them against magical attacks at all. When a unit is defending against an enemy who is using tomes or magic weapons , their resistance stat is used to reduce damage instead.
Calculations
Damage
Note that this does not include alterations to damage from critical hits , skills , special effects on items and weapons, etc.
style="Template:Roundtl ; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222" | Game
Formula
style="Template:Roundtr ; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222" | Notes
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Gaiden
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is zero or negative, damage is one.
Mystery of the Emblem
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Genealogy of the Holy War
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is zero or negative, damage is one.
Thracia 776
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Magic* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
The Binding Blade
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
The Sacred Stones
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Path of Radiance
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Radiant Dawn
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Shadow Dragon
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
New Mystery of the Emblem
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Awakening
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Fates
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is negative, damage is zero.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
If result is zero or negative, damage is one.
style="Template:Roundbl ; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222; text-align: center" | Heroes
(attacker's Attack ) - (defending unit's Defense* /Resistance* )
style="Template:Roundbr ; border: 1px solid #b0b0b0; background: #222222; text-align: center" | If result is negative, damage is zero.
Items and skills affecting defense
style="Template:Roundtl ; border:none" width="100%" colspan="2"|Weapons, items, and skills providing equipping bonus
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Item
Defense increase
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Firestone
+12 /+20 /+9 when equipped.
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light , The Binding Blade , Shadow Dragon , New Mystery of the Emblem
Divinestone
+15 when equipped.
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light , The Binding Blade , Shadow Dragon , New Mystery of the Emblem
Magestone
+16 /+20 /+11 when equipped.
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light , The Binding Blade , Shadow Dragon , New Mystery of the Emblem
--
Earthstone
+23 when equipped.
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light
Leather Shield
+3 /+1 when equipped.
Gaiden , Echoes: Shadows of Valentia , Three Houses
Steel Shield
+5 /+3 when equipped.
Gaiden , Echoes: Shadows of Valentia , Three Houses
Silver Shield
+7 /+4 when equipped.
Gaiden , Echoes: Shadows of Valentia , Three Houses
Blessed Shield
+13 against monsters when equipped.
Gaiden , Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Dracoshield
+13 when equipped.
Gaiden , Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Safeguard
+7 when equipped.
Genealogy of the Holy War
Gungnir
+10 when equipped.
Genealogy of the Holy War , Thracia 776 (Unused )
Gáe Bolg
+10 /+5 when equipped.
Genealogy of the Holy War , Awakening
Helswath
+20 /+5 when equipped.
Genealogy of the Holy War , Awakening
Valflame
+10 when equipped.
Genealogy of the Holy War
Naga
+20 /+5 when equipped.
Genealogy of the Holy War , Awakening
Shield Ring
+5 when in inventory.
Genealogy of the Holy War
Paragon Sword
+5 when equipped.
Thracia 776
Binding Blade
+5 when equipped.
The Binding Blade
Armads
+5 when equipped.
The Binding Blade , The Blazing Blade , Awakening
Spear (Vaida 's)
+4 when equipped.
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
Flametongue
+20 when equipped.
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
Vidofnir
+5 when equipped.
The Sacred Stones
Ivaldi
+5 when equipped.
The Sacred Stones
Wretched Air
+20 when equipped.
The Sacred Stones
Ravager
+15 when equipped.
The Sacred Stones
Demon Light
+10 when equipped.
The Sacred Stones
Dragonstone
+15 /+10 /+4 when equipped.
The Sacred Stones , Awakening , Fates
Amiti
+3 when equipped.
Path of Radiance , Radiant Dawn
Vague Katti
+3 when equipped.
Path of Radiance , Radiant Dawn
Alondite
+3 when equipped.
Path of Radiance , Radiant Dawn
Ragnell
+5 /+3 when equipped.
Path of Radiance , Radiant Dawn , Awakening , Fates
Double Bow
+3 /+5 when equipped.
Path of Radiance , Radiant Dawn , Awakening
Rexaura
+3 when equipped.
Path of Radiance , Radiant Dawn
Knight Ward
+2 when equipped.
Path of Radiance
Unlock
+1 when equipped.
Radiant Dawn
Ward
+2 when equipped.
Radiant Dawn
Hammerne
+3 when equipped.
Radiant Dawn
Rescue
+4 when equipped.
Radiant Dawn
Matrona
+5 when equipped.
Radiant Dawn
Ashera Staff
+1 when equipped.
Radiant Dawn
Rudol Gem
+10 when in inventory.
Radiant Dawn
Icestone
+13 when equipped.
New Mystery of the Emblem
Wyvernstone
+8 when equipped.
New Mystery of the Emblem
Pisces Shard
+1 when in inventory.
New Mystery of the Emblem
Taurus Shard
+1 when in inventory.
New Mystery of the Emblem
Cancer Shard
+2 when in inventory.
New Mystery of the Emblem
Starsphere
+2 when in inventory.
New Mystery of the Emblem
Binding Shield
+2 when in inventory.
New Mystery of the Emblem
Finn's Lance
+2 when equipped.
Awakening
Hector's Axe
+2 when equipped.
Awakening
Micaiah's Pyre
+2 when equipped.
Awakening
Beaststone
+1 when equipped.
Awakening
Beaststone+
+4 when equipped.
Awakening
Dragonstone+
+13 /+9 when equipped.
Awakening , Fates
Defense +2
+2 when active.
Awakening , Fates , Three Houses
All Stats +2
+2 when active.
Awakening
Visitation Seal
+2 when in inventory.
Fates
Master Emblem
+1 when in inventory.
Fates
Siegfried
+4 when in inventory.
Fates
Xander's Lance
+2 when equipped.
Fates
Nohrian Blade
+3 when equipped
Fates
Camilla's Axe
+3 when equipped.
Fates
Ike's Backup
+3 when equipped.
Fates
Arthur's Axe
+3 when equipped.
Fates
Yato
Grim and Alpha forms: +2 when in inventory. Shadow and Omega forms: +4 when in inventory.
Fates
Guard Naginata
+5 when equipped.
Fates
All naginata other than the Guard Naginata , Bold Naginata , and Hinoka's Spear
+1 when equipped.
Fates
Adamant Club
+4 when equipped.
Fates
Ox Spirit
+1 when equipped.
Fates
Dragon Spirit
+1 when equipped.
Fates
Calamity Gate
+1 when equipped.
Fates
Horse Spirit
+3 when equipped.
Fates
Sheep Spirit
+1 when equipped.
Fates
Beastrune
+4 when equipped.
Fates
Iron Shield
+4 /+2 when equipped.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia , Three Houses
Rion Shield
+2 when equipped.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Fugue Shield
+2 when equipped.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Royal Shield
+3 when equipped.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Sage's Shield
+5 when equipped.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Duma's Shield
+2 when equipped.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Eleven Shield
+4 when equipped.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Hexlock Shield
+2 when equipped.
Three Houses
Aurora Shield
+3 when equipped.
Three Houses
Kadmos Shield
+3 when equipped.
Three Houses
Lampos Shield
+3 when equipped.
Three Houses
Seiros Shield
+5 when equipped.
Three Houses
style="Template:Roundtl ; border:none" width="100%" colspan="2"|Items providing a permanent increase
style="Template:Roundtl ; border:none; background-color:#222222; color:#fff" width="1%"|
Item
Defense increase
style="Template:Roundtr ; border:none; background-color:#222222; color:#fff" width="40%"|Games
Dracoshield
Permanent +2 /+4 /+3 increase when used.
Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light , Mystery of the Emblem , The Binding Blade , The Blazing Blade , The Sacred Stones , Path of Radiance , Radiant Dawn , Shadow Dragon , New Mystery of the Emblem , Awakening , Fates
Shield Ring
Permanent +2 increase when used.
Thracia 776
Naga's Tear
Permanent +2 increase when used.
Awakening
Dragon Herbs
Permanent +1 increase when used.
Fates
Ambrosia
Permanent +2 /+1 increase when used.
Echoes: Shadows of Valentia , Three Houses
style="Template:Roundtl ; border:none" width="100%" colspan="2"|Items and skills modifying the growth rate
style="Template:Roundtl ; border:none" width="100%" colspan="2"|Items and skills providing a temporary boost
style="Template:Roundtl ; border:none" width="100%" colspan="2"|Weapons providing a temporary decrease after use
Trivia
Etymology and other languages
Names, etymology, and in other regions
Language
Name
Definition, etymology, and notes
English
Defense
Spanish
Defense
Defense
French
Défense
Defense
German
Verteidigung
Defense
Italian
Abilità di difesa
Defense ability
Dutch
Verdediging
Defense
Korean
수비
Simplified Chinese
防守
Traditional Chinese
防守
Gallery
References