Defense Ploy

Defense Ploy Icon of the Def Ploy 1 skill in Heroes. At start of turn, inflicts Def-3 on foes in cardinal directions with Res < unit’s Res through their next actions.

Type(s) Passive (Type C) Game(s) Heroes

Defense Ploy (Japanese: 守備の謀策 Defense Scheme) is a three-tiered passive type C skill which debuted in Fire Emblem Heroes; the individual tiers of the skill are known as Def Ploy 1, Def Ploy 2, and Def Ploy 3 in order from lowest to highest. Units with a Defense Ploy skill allows their wielders to lower the Defense of foes in cardinal directions from the user whose Resistance is below the user's through their following actions; the size of the Defense drop is affected by the skill's tier.

Data

Game	Icon	Effect	Activation	Capacity	Notes
Heroes (Def Ploy 1)		At start of turn, reduces Defense by 3 of all foes in a cardinal direction of user whose Resistance is lower than user's through foe's next action.	--	--	Cost: 60 SP
Heroes (Def Ploy 2)		At start of turn, reduces Defense by 4 of all foes in a cardinal direction of user whose Resistance is lower than user's through foe's next action.	--	--	Cost: 120 SP
Heroes (Def Ploy 3)		At start of turn, reduces Defense by 5 of all foes in a cardinal direction of user whose Resistance is lower than user's through foe's next action.	--	--	Cost: 240 SP

Availability

Heroes

Def Ploy 1

Units	Cecilia: Festive Instructor • Arivs: Emperor of Flame • Flora: Cold as Ice • Gaius: Thief Exposed (Rarity requirements vary per character)
Tempest Trials Mini	January 2018: 10,000 points
Sacred Seal Forge (Creation)	Requires 100 regular Verdant Badges, 20 Great Verdant Badges, and 20 Sacred Coins.

Def Ploy 2

Units	Cecilia: Festive Instructor • Arivs: Emperor of Flame • Flora: Cold as Ice • Gaius: Thief Exposed (Rarity requirements vary per character)
Sacred Seal Forge (Enhancement)	Requires 200 regular Verdant Badges, 60 Great Verdant Badges, 50 Sacred Coins, and the Seal Atk 1 seal.

Def Ploy 3

Units	Cecilia: Festive Instructor • Arivs: Emperor of Flame • Flora: Cold as Ice • Gaius: Thief Exposed (Rarity requirements vary per character)
Sacred Seal Forge (Enhancement)	Requires 400 regular Verdant Badges, 1,000 Great Verdant Badges, 100 Sacred Coins, and the Seal Atk 2 seal

Flavor text

Game	Text (English)	Text (Japanese)
Heroes (Def Ploy 1)	At start of turn, inflicts Def-3 on foes in cardinal directions with Res < unit’s Res through their next actions.	ターン開始時、十字方向にいる、自身より魔防が１以上低い 敵は、守備－３（敵の次回行動終了まで）
Heroes (Def Ploy 2)	At start of turn, inflicts Def-4 on foes in cardinal directions with Res < unit’s Res through their next actions.	ターン開始時、十字方向にいる、自身より魔防が１以上低い 敵は、守備－４（敵の次回行動終了まで）
Heroes (Def Ploy 3)	At start of turn, inflicts Def-5 on foes in cardinal directions with Res < unit’s Res through their next actions.	ターン開始時、十字方向にいる、自身より魔防が１以上低い 敵は、守備－５（敵の次回行動終了まで）

Etymology and other languages

Names, etymology and in other regions
Language	Name	Definition, etymology and notes
English	Defense Ploy	Abbreviated as Def Ploy.
Japanese	守備の謀策	Defense Scheme
Spanish	Ardid Defensa	Defense ruse; abbreviated as Ardid Def in the European localization and as Ardid Def. in the Latin American localization.
French	Ruse Défense	Defense ruse; abbreviated as Ruse Déf.
German	Verteidigung-Trick	Defense Trick; abbreviated as Ver.-Trick.
Italian	Complotto Difesa	Defense plot; abbreviated as Complotto Dif.
Portuguese (Brazil)	Manobra Defesa	Defense maneuver; abbreviated as Manobra Def.
Traditional Chinese	防守謀策	Defense scheme

See also

• Attack Ploy
• Resistance Ploy
• Speed Ploy

Passive skills in Heroes

Type A skills Aether Raids-Defensive Attack/Defense • Aether Raids-Defensive Attack/Resistance • Aether Raids-Defensive Attack/Speed • Aether Raids-Defensive Speed/Defense • Aether Raids-Defensive Speed/Resistance • Aether Raids-Offensive Attack/Defense • Aether Raids-Offensive Attack/Speed • Aether Raids-Offensive Speed/Resistance • Armored Blow • Ashera's Chosen • Attack + • Attack/Defense + • Attack/Defense Bond • Attack/Defense Catch • Attack/Defense Form • Attack/Defense Ideal • Attack/Defense Push • Attack/Defense Solo • Attack/Defense Unity • Attack/Resistance • Attack/Resistance Bond • Attack/Resistance Form • Attack/Resistance Ideal • Attack/Resistance Push • Attack/Resistance Solo • Attack/Resistance Unity • Attack/Speed • Attack/Speed Bond • Attack/Speed Catch • Attack/Speed Form • Attack/Speed Ideal • Attack/Speed Push • Attack/Speed Solo • Blade Session • Blue Duel Cavalry • Blue Duel Flying • Blue Duel Infantry • Bonus Doubler • Bracing Blow • Bracing Stance • Brazen Attack/Defense • Brazen Attack/Resistance • Brazen Attack/Speed • Brazen Defense/Resistance • Brazen Speed/Defense • Brazen Speed/Resistance • Close Counter • Close Defense • Close Foil • Close Ward • Colorless Duel Cavalry • Colorless Duel Infantry • Darting Blow • Darting Breath • Darting Stance • Death Blow • Defense + • Defense/Resistance Bond • Defense/Resistance Catch • Defense/Resistance Form • Defense/Resistance Solo • Defense/Resistance • Defiant Attack • Defiant Defense • Defiant Resistance • Defiant Speed • Distant Counter • Distant Defense • Distant Foil • Distant Ward • Dragonskin • Dragoon Shield • Earth Boost • Fierce Breath • Fierce Stance • Fire Boost • Flashing Blade • Fortress Defense • Fortress Defense/Resistance • Fortress Resistance • Fury • Grani's Shield • Green Duel Flying • Green Duel Infantry • Heavy Blade • HP + • HP/Attack • HP/Defense • HP/Resistance • HP/Speed • Iote's Shield • Kestrel Stance • Laws of Sacae • Life and Death • Mila's Turnwheel • Mirror Impact • Mirror Stance • Mirror Strike • Ostian Counter • Red Duel Cavalry • Red Duel Flying • Red Duel Infantry • Resistance + • Scendscale • Sorcery Blade • Speed + • Speed/Defense • Speed/Defense Bond • Speed/Defense Form • Speed/Defense Solo • Speed/Resistance • Speed/Resistance Bond • Speed/Resistance Form • Speed/Resistance Solo • Shield Session • Steady Blow • Steady Breath • Steady Impact • Steady Posture • Steady Stance • Sturdy Blow • Sturdy Impact • Sturdy Stance • Svalinn Shield • Swift Sparrow • Swift Stance • Swift Strike • Triangle Adept • Warding Blow • Warding Breath • Warding Stance • Water Boost • Wind Boost Type B skills Aerobatics • Armored Wall • Atrocity • Attack Cantrip • Attack Feint • Attack/Defense Far Trace • Attack/Defense Link • Attack/Defense Near Trace • Attack/Defense Snag • Attack/Resistance Far Trace • Attack/Resistance Link • Attack/Resistance Ruse • Attack/Speed Link • Attack/Speed Ruse • Attack/Speed Snag • Axebreaker • Belief in Love • Beorc's Blessing • Binding Necklace • Binding Shield • Black Eagle Rule • Blaze Dance • Blue Lion Rule • Blue Tomebreaker • Bold Fighter • Bowbreaker • Brash Assault • Bushido • Caldera Dance • Cancel Affinity • Chill Attack • Chill Attack/Defense • Chill Attack/Resistance • Chill Attack/Speed • Chill Defense • Chill Resistance • Chill Speed • Chill Speed/Resistance • Chilling Seal • Close Call • Crafty Fighter • Crusader's Ward • Daggerbreaker • Daring Fighter • Dazzling Staff • Deadly Balance • Defense Cantrip • Defense Feint • Defense/Resistance Link • Defense/Resistance Ruse • Deluge Dance • Desperation • Disarm Trap • Dive-Bomb • Double Lion • Drag Back • Dragon's Ire • Dragon Wall • Dull Close • Dull Ranged • Earth Dance • Escape Route • Even Follow-Up • Fallen Star • Fireflood Dance • Firestorm Dance • Flier Formation • Flow Refresh • Follow-Up Ring • Freezing Seal • Frenzy • Gale Dance • Geyser Dance • Green Tomebreaker • Guard • Guard Bearing • Hit and Run • Holy War's End • Killing Intent • Knock Back • Lancebreaker • Light and Dark • Live for Bounty • Live for Honor • Live to Serve • Lull Attack/Defense • Lull Attack/Resistance • Lull Attack/Speed • Lull Speed/Defense • Lull Speed/Resistance • Lunge • Murderous Lion • Mystic Boost • Null C-Disrupt • Null Follow-Up‎ • Obstruct • Odd Follow-Up • Obstruct • Pass • Poison Strike • Quick Riposte • Raging Storm • Recover Ring • Red Tomebreaker • Renewal • Repel • Resistance Cantrip • Resistance Feint • Rockslide Dance • S Drink • Sabotage Attack • Sabotage Defense • Sabotage Resistance • Sabotage Speed • Sacae's Blessing • Seal Attack • Seal Attack/Defense • Seal Attack/Speed • Seal Defense • Seal Defense/Resistance • Seal Resistance • Seal Speed • Seal Speed/Defense • Seal Speed/Resistance • Shield Pulse • Slick Fighter • Solar Brace • Soul of Zofia • Special Fighter • Special Spiral • Speed Feint • Speed/Defense Link • Speed/Defense Near Trace • Speed/Defense Ruse • Speed/Defense Snag • Speed/Resistance Far Trace • Speed/Resistance Link • Speed/Resistance Ruse • Speed/Resistance Snag • Spurn • Sudden Panic • Sun-Twin Wing • Swordbreaker • Torrent Dance • Vantage • Vengeful Fighter • Warp Powder • Wary Fighter • Watersweep • Windsweep • Wings of Mercy • Wrath • Wrathful Staff • Yngvi Ascendant • Yune's Whispers Type C skills Air Orders • Armor March • Armored Stride • Attack Opening • Attack Ploy • Attack Smoke • Attack Tactic • Attack/Defense Gap • Attack/Defense Menace • Attack/Defense Near Save • Attack/Defense Oath • Attack/Defense Rein • Attack/Resistance Far Save • Attack/Resistance Gap • Attack/Resistance Menace • Attack/Resistance Oath • Attack/Resistance Rein • Attack/Speed Gap • Attack/Speed Oath • Attack/Speed Rein • Axe Experience • Axe Valor • Beast Experience • Beast Valor • Blue Tome Experience • Blue Tome Valor • Bow Experience • Bow Valor • Breath of Life • Chaos Named • Close Guard • Dagger Experience • Dagger Valor • Defense Opening • Defense Ploy • Defense Smoke • Defense Tactic • Defense/Resistance Gap • Defense/Resistance Near Save • Defense/Resistance Oath • Distant Guard • Divine Fang • Domain of Ice • Dragon Valor • Drive Attack • Drive Defense • Drive Resistance • Drive Speed • Even Attack Wave • Even Defense Wave • Even Recovery • Even Resistance Wave • Even Speed Wave • Even Tempest • Fatal Smoke • Flier Guidance • Fortify Armor • Fortify Beasts • Fortify Cavalry • Fortify Defense • Fortify Dragons • Fortify Fliers • Fortify Resistance • Glare • Goad Armor • Goad Beasts • Goad Cavalry • Goad Dragons • Goad Fliers • Green Tome Experience • Green Tome Valor • Ground Orders • Guidance • Hone Armor • Hone Attack • Hone Beasts • Hone Cavalry • Hone Dragons • Hone Fliers • Hone Speed • Human Virtue • Inevitable Death • Infantry Flash • Infantry Pulse • Infantry Rush • Infantry Hexblade • Joint Drive Attack • Joint Drive Resistance • Joint Drive Speed • Joint Hone Attack • Joint Hone Defense • Joint Hone Resistance • Joint Hone Speed • Lance Experience • Lance Valor • Odd Attack Wave • Odd Defense Wave • Odd Recovery • Odd Resistance Wave • Odd Speed Wave • Odd Tempest • Order's Restraint • Ostia's Pulse • Panic Ploy • Panic Smoke • Pulse Smoke • Red Tome Experience • Red Tome Valor • Resistance Opening • Resistance Ploy • Resistance Smoke • Resistance Tactic • Rouse Attack/Defense • Rouse Attack/Resistance • Rouse Attack/Speed • Rouse Defense/Resistance • Rouse Speed/Defense • Rouse Speed/Resistance • Savage Blow • Solitary Dream • Speed Opening • Speed Ploy • Speed Smoke • Speed Tactic • Speed/Defense Gap • Speed/Defense Oath • Speed/Defense Rein • Speed/Resistance Gap • Speed/Resistance Rein • Spur Attack • Spur Attack/Defense • Spur Attack/Resistance • Spur Attack/Speed • Spur Defense • Spur Defense/Resistance • Spur Resistance • Spur Speed • Spur Speed/Defense • Spur Speed/Resistance • Staff Experience • Staff Valor • Surtr's Menace • Sword Experience • Sword Valor • Threaten Attack • Threaten Attack/Defense • Threaten Attack/Resistance • Threaten Attack/Speed • Threaten Defense • Threaten Resistance • Threaten Speed • Threaten Speed/Defense • Time's Pulse • Upheaval • Vision of Arcadia • Ward Armor • Ward Beasts • Ward Cavalry • Ward Dragons • Ward Fliers • Wings of Light • With Everyone! Sacred Seals Armored Boots • Attack Ploy • Attack + • Attack/Defense Bond • Attack/Defense + • Attack/Speed • Attack/Speed Bond • Attack Smoke • Blade Seal • Blaze Dance • Boots Seal • Brash Assault • Brazen Attack/Resistance • Breath of Life • Charm Seal • Chill Attack • Close Defense • Darting Stance • Defense Ploy • Defense + • Defense Tactic • Deflect Magic • Deflect Melee • Deflect Missile • Distant Defense • Drive Attack • Drive Defense • Drive Resistance • Drive Speed • Earth Dance • Elixir Seal • Embla's Ward • Even Resistance Wave • Fierce Stance • Flashing Blade • Flier Formation • Fortify Defense • Fortify Resistance • Fortress Defense • Fortress Resistance • Gale Dance • Guardian Seal • Guidance • Gullinbursti • Hardy Bearing • Heavy Blade • Hone Attack • Hone Speed • HP + • Horn Seal • HP/Resistance • HP/Speed • Initiate Seal Attack • Initiate Seal Defense • Initiate Seal HP • Initiate Seal Resistance • Initiate Seal Speed • Iote's Shield • Live to Serve • Múspellflame • Obstruct • Panic Ploy • Phantom Resistance • Phantom Speed • Poison Strike • Quick Riposte • Quickened Pulse • Resistance Ploy • Resistance + • Resistance Tactic • Røkkr • Savage Blow • Seal Attack • Seal Speed • Sparkling Boost • Speed Ploy • Speed + • Speed/Defense • Speed/Resistance Bond • Speed Smoke • Spur Attack • Spur Defense • Spur Defense/Resistance • Spur Resistance • Spur Speed • Squad Ace A • Squad Ace AA • Squad Ace AB • Squad Ace AC • Squad Ace AD • Squad Ace AE • Squad Ace AF • Squad Ace AG • Squad Ace AH • Squad Ace AI • Squad Ace AJ • Squad Ace AK • Squad Ace AL • Squad Ace AM • Squad Ace AN • Squad Ace AO • Squad Ace AP • Squad Ace AQ • Squad Ace AR • Squad Ace AS • Squad Ace AT • Squad Ace AU • Squad Ace AV • Squad Ace B • Squad Ace C • Squad Ace D • Squad Ace E • Squad Ace F • Squad Ace G • Squad Ace H • Squad Ace I • Squad Ace J • Squad Ace K • Squad Ace L • Squad Ace M • Squad Ace N • Squad Ace O • Squad Ace P • Squad Ace Q • Squad Ace R • Squad Ace S • Squad Ace T • Squad Ace U • Squad Ace V • Squad Ace W • Squad Ace X • Squad Ace Y • Squad Ace Z • Threaten Attack • Threaten Defense • Threaten Resistance • Threaten Speed • Veil Seal • Warding Stance • Water Boost • Wind Boost