Defense

Defense raises your evasion, the rating every enemy attack rolls against, whether it comes from a sword, a bow or a spell. It also gates the metal armour ladder: Steel at Defense 5, Black at 10, Silvern at 20, Adamant at 30, Runesteel at 40 and Dragon at 60. The US spelling is deliberate: when Manu Idle became Tideward, the British "Defence" became "Defense". Same role: stand there and do not get hit.

How Defense works

Every incoming attack rolls the enemy's accuracy against your evasion. Your effective Defense level is the main input to that rating, multiplied by the defence bonus your armour carries against the enemy's style. Some armour also carries damage reduction, which shrinks the hits that do get through.

Defense trains through three styles: Block in melee, Longrange with a bow or crossbow, and Defensive with Magic. Block pays all of its XP into Defense; Longrange and Defensive split theirs between Defense and the weapon's own skill. While you use them, Block adds six hidden levels to your Defense, and Longrange and Defensive add three.

Forging makes the metal platebodies (a Dragon Platebody is Forging 99), Handicraft makes leather and dragonhide, and Inscription makes wizard robes. Defense gates the metal armour; leather and dragonhide ask for Ranged levels and robes for Magic levels instead.

Tips for training Defense

1. Block adds six hidden Defense levels while you use it; Longrange and Defensive add three.
2. A shield adds evasion. Two-handed weapons give up the shield slot.
3. Safeguard (Vigil 28) and Stone Skin (80) add flat damage reduction, and the three Wards (Vigil 46, 48 and 50) give an 80% chance to dodge one style of attack.
4. Falling in a fight takes one random piece of your gear off and puts it in your bank. Nothing is destroyed, and the Protect Item Vigil (26) stops even that.
5. The Melee Evasion Potion opens at Apothecary 10.

Skills that pair with Defense

The 28 trades aren't isolated. Defense works best alongside these:

Frequently asked about Defense

Why is Defense spelled with an "s" instead of a "c"?

When Manu Idle became Tideward in May 2026, the British "Defence" changed to the US "Defense" for App Store consistency. The skill itself did not change.

Can I AFK Defense overnight?

Yes. Combat keeps running while the app is closed, for up to 24 hours away, and auto-eat feeds you from your food slots. The limits are your food supply and an enemy whose hits your evasion and Vitality can absorb.

Does Defense protect against magic?

Yes. Your Defense level feeds your evasion against all three styles. What changes is the armour: every piece carries its own defence bonus against melee, ranged and magic, so the same Defense level holds up differently depending on what you wear and what you fight.