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 , 20 , and 20

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 , 60 , 50 , and the Def Ploy 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 , 1,000 , 100 , and the Def Ploy 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

Type C passive skills in Heroes

Debuffing skills Atk Ploy • Atk Smoke • Atk/Def Rein • Atk/Res Rein • Atk/Spd Rein • Chaos Named • Def Ploy • Def Smoke • Glare • Panic Ploy • Res Ploy • Res Smoke • Spd Ploy • Spd Smoke Experience-related skills Axe Experience • Axe Valor • Beast Exp. • Beast Valor • B Tome Exp. • B Tome Valor • Bow Exp. • Bow Valor • Dagger Exp. • Dagger Valor • Dragon Exp. • Dragon Valor • G Tome Exp. • G Tome Valor • Lance Exp. • Lance Valor • R Tome Exp. • R Tome Valor • Staff Exp. • Staff Valor • Sword Exp. • Sword Valor Healing skills Breath of Life • Even Recovery • Odd Recovery • Sparkling Boost Mobility skills Air Orders • Armor March • Armored Stride • Assault Troop • A/D Near Save • A/R Near Save • A/R Far Save • Canto Control • D/R Far Save • D/R Near Save • Even Tempest • Flier Guidance • Ground Orders • Guidance • Odd Tempest • Opening Retainer • Solitary Dream Proximity skills Armor March • Armored Stride • Atk Tactic • A/D Far Save • Atk/Def Gap • Atk/Def Hold • Atk/Def Menace • A/D Near Save • Atk/Def Oath • Atk/Def Rein • A/R Far Save • Atk/Res Gap • Atk/Res Hold • Atk/Res Menace • A/R Near Save • Atk/Res Oath • Atk/Res Rein • Atk Smoke • Atk/Spd Gap • Atk/Spd Hold • Atk/Spd Menace • Atk/Spd Oath • Atk/Spd Rein • Breath of Life • Chaos Named • Close Guard • Cross Spur Atk • Cross Spur Res • Darkling Guardian • Def Tactic • Def/Res Gap • Def/Res Menace • D/R Near Save • Def/Res Oath • Def/Res Rein • Def Smoke • Distant Guard • Divine Fang • Domain of Flame • Domain of Ice • Drive Atk • Drive Def • Drive Res • Drive Spd • Even Recovery • Everliving Domain • Faith in Humanity • Fatal Smoke • Fortify Armor • Fortify Beasts • Fortify Cavalry • Fortify Def • Fortify Dragons • Fortify Fliers • Fortify Res • Glare • Goad Armor • Goad Beasts • Goad Cavalry • Goad Dragons • Goad Fliers • Goddess Bearer • Heir to Light • Holy Ground • Hone Armor • Hone Atk • Hone Beasts • Hone Cavalry • Hone Dragons • Hone Fliers • Hone Spd • Human Virtue • Inevitable Death • Infantry Breath • Infantry Flash • Inf. Hexblade • Inf. Null Follow • Infantry Pulse • Infantry Rush • Inf. Spd Tactic • Joint Dist. Guard • Joint Drive Atk • Joint Drive Def • Joint Drive Res • Joint Drive Spd • Joint Hone Atk • Joint Hone Def • Joint Hone Res • Joint Hone Spd • Odd Recovery • Opened Domain • Order's Restraint • Ostia's Pulse • Panic Smoke • Pulse Smoke • Res Smoke • Res Tactic • Rouse Atk/Def • Rouse Atk/Res • Rouse Atk/Spd • Rouse Def/Res • Rouse Spd/Def • Rouse Spd/Res • Savage Blow • Severance • Solitary Dream • Spd/Def Gap • Spd/Def Hold • Spd/Def Menace • Spd/Def Oath • Spd/Def Rein • Spd/Res Gap • Spd/Res Hold • Spd/Res Menace • Spd/Res Oath • Spd/Res Rein • Spd Smoke • Spd Tactic • Spur Atk • Spur Atk/Def • Spur Atk/Res • Spur Atk/Spd • Spur Def • Spur Def/Res • Spur Res • Spur Spd • Spur Spd/Def • Spur Spd/Res • Stall Ploy • Surtr's Menace • Surtr's Portent • Threaten Atk • Threat. Atk/Def • Threat. Atk/Res • Threat. Atk/Spd • Threaten Def • Threat. Def/Res • Threaten Res • Threaten Spd • Threat. Spd/Def • Threat. Spd/Res • Ward Armor • Ward Beasts • Ward Cavalry • Ward Dragons • Ward Fliers • With Everyone! Stat boosting skills All Together! • Atk Opening • Def Opening • Res Opening • Spd Opening • Vision of Arcadia • Wings of Light Turn-related skills A/D Near Save • A/R Far Save • Breath of Life • D/R Near Save • Even Atk Wave • Even Def Wave • Even Recovery • Even Res Wave • Even Spd Wave • Even Tempest • Fatal Smoke • Future-Focused • Odd Atk Wave • Odd Def Wave • Odd Recovery • Odd Res Wave • Odd Spd Wave • Odd Tempest • Savage Blow Miscellaneous skills Blue Feud • C Feud • Divine Fang • Green Feud • Impenetrable Dark • Red Feud • Time's Pulse • Upheaval • Worldbreaker

Sacred Seal skills in Heroes

Debuffing skills Atk Feint • Atk Ploy • Atk Smoke • Chill Atk • Chill Atk/Def • Chill Def • Chill Res • Chill Spd • Chill Spd/Res • Def Feint • Def Ploy • Def Smoke • Panic Ploy • Res Feint • Res Ploy • Res Smoke • Seal Atk • Spd Feint • Seal Spd • Spd Ploy • Spd Smoke Follow-up strike skills Brash Assault • Deflect Magic • Deflect Melee • Deflect Missile • Null Follow-Up • Quick Riposte Healing skills Breath of Life • Live to Serve • Mystic Boost • Renewal Mobility skills Aerobatics • Air Orders • Armor March • Armored Boots • Flier Formation • Flier Guidance • Ground Orders • Guidance • Obstruct Proximity skills Armor March • Atk Smoke • Atk/Def Bond • Atk/Def Form • Atk/Def Solo • Atk/Res Bond • Atk/Res Form • Atk/Res Oath • Atk/Res Solo • Atk/Spd Bond • Atk/Spd Form • Atk/Spd Solo • Breath of Life • Close Guard • Def Tactic • Def/Res Bond • Def/Res Form • Def/Res Solo • Dist. Counter (D) • Distant Guard • Drive Atk • Drive Def • Drive Res • Drive Spd • Hone Atk • Hone Beasts • Hone Dragons • Hone Spd • Inf. Hexblade • Infantry Rush • Res Tactic • Savage Blow • Sorcery Blade • Spd Tactic • Spd Smoke • Spd/Def Bond • Spd/Def Form • Spd/Def Solo • Spd/Res Bond • Spd/Res Form • Spd/Res Oath • Spd/Res Solo • Spur Atk • Spur Atk/Def • Spur Atk/Spd • Spur Def • Spur Def/Res • Spur Res • Spur Spd • Threaten Atk • Threaten Def • Threaten Res • Threaten Spd • Ward Beasts • Ward Dragons Squad Ace skills Squad Ace A • 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 • 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 AW • Squad Ace AX • Squad Ace AY • Squad Ace AZ • Squad Ace BA • Squad Ace BB • Squad Ace BC • Squad Ace BD • Squad Ace BE • Squad Ace BF • Squad Ace BG • Squad Ace BH • Squad Ace BI • Squad Ace BJ • Squad Ace BK • Squad Ace BL Stat-boosting skills Attack + • Attack/Def + • Atk/Def Catch • Atk/Def Push • Attack/Res • Atk/Res Ideal • Atk/Res Push • Atk/Spd • Atk Opening • Atk/Spd Push • Blaze Dance • Bonus Doubler • Brazen Atk/Def • Brazen Atk/Res • Brazen Atk/Spd • Brazen Def/Res • Brazen Spd/Def • Brazen Spd/Res • Defense + • Def Opening • Def/Res • Defiant Atk • Defiant Def • Defiant Spd • Earth Boost • Earth Dance • Fire Boost • Fortify Def • Fortify Res • Fortress Def • Fort. Def/Res • Fortress Res • Fury • Gale Dance • HP + • HP/Atk • HP/Def • HP/Res • HP/Spd • Initiate Seal Atk • Initiate Seal Def • Initiate Seal HP • Initiate Seal Res • Initiate Seal Spd • Life and Death • Resistance + • Res Opening • Speed + • Spd Opening • Spd/Def • Spd/Res • Torrent Dance • Water Boost • Wind Boost Turn-related skills Armored Blow • Blade Session • Bracing Stance • Breath of Life • Close Def • Darting Blow • Darting Stance • Death Blow • Distant Def • Even Atk Wave • Even Def Wave • Even Res Wave • Even Spd Wave • Fierce Stance • Kestrel Stance • Mirror Strike • Mirror Stance • Odd Def Wave • Odd Spd Wave • Poison Strike • Quick Riposte • Savage Blow • Shield Session • Steady Blow • Steady Breath • Steady Posture • Steady Stance • Sturdy Blow • Sturdy Stance • Swift Sparrow • Swift Stance • Swift Strike • Warding Blow • Warding Breath • Warding Stance Miscellaneous skills Flashing Blade • Hardy Bearing • Heavy Blade • Iote's Shield • Phantom Res • Phantom Spd • Quickened Pulse Enemy-exclusive skills Blade Seal • Boots Seal • Charm Seal • Elixir Seal • Embla's Ward • Guardian Seal • Gullinbursti • Horn Seal • Múspellflame • Niðavellir Axiom • Røkkr • Veil Seal