---
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-12
type: mechanic
id: roguelike--family-12
lang: en
title: Defense and damage prevention
summary: >-
  Defense reduces or prevents incoming damage. The player weighs the expected
  threat against its cost and other available actions.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-12/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-12.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/roguelike--family-12.md
aliases:
  - Block and defense
tags:
  - Roguelikes and roguelites
  - Mechanics catalog
sourceIds:
  - source-7f09c8a736762f4f
sources:
  - id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f
    title: Slay the Spire
    url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: roguelike
    id: family-12
    title: Roguelikes and roguelites
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/roguelike/#family-12'
    categoryIds:
      - section-1
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
    title: Block and defense
    description: >-
      Defense reduces or prevents incoming damage. The player weighs the
      expected threat against its cost and other available actions.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-battle.webp
      width: 1440
      height: 810
      game: Slay the Spire
      sourceUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
      originalUrl: 'https://www.megacrit.com/images/ss8.jpg'
      credit: Mega Crit
      rights: © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.
      caption: The player’s block and an announced attack
      alt: >-
        Slay the Spire: the player has five block and an enemy displays an
        upcoming attack.
      markers:
        - x: 19.5
          'y': 71
          label: Block will reduce incoming damage
        - x: 70
          'y': 38
          label: The announced attack helps estimate the threat
    tips:
      - Explain what is blocked and when the defense expires.
      - Reveal the threat early enough to allow a defensive decision.
    examples:
      - title: Slay the Spire
        url: 'https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on
  2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are
  preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire
  classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and
  editorial review.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/roguelike
---
# Defense and damage prevention

id: roguelike--family-12
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/roguelike--family-12
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/roguelike--family-12/

Defense reduces or prevents incoming damage. The player weighs the expected threat against its cost and other available actions.

## At a glance

![Slay the Spire: the player has five block and an enemy displays an upcoming attack.](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/slay-the-spire-battle.webp)

[Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) · © Mega Crit. All rights reserved.

1. Block will reduce incoming damage
2. The announced attack helps estimate the threat

- Explain what is blocked and when the defense expires.
- Reveal the threat early enough to allow a defensive decision.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/)

## How it works

The player reduces threat through dodging, blocking, positioning, and temporary defensive states.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-12-variants"></a>

- Damage Reducing Armor <a id="variant-roguelike-12-01"></a>
- Armor affecting hit probability <a id="variant-roguelike-12-02"></a>
- Blocking attacks <a id="variant-roguelike-12-03"></a>
- Directional Shield <a id="variant-roguelike-12-04"></a>
- Parry with precise timing <a id="variant-roguelike-12-05"></a>
- Probabilistic Evasion <a id="variant-roguelike-12-06"></a>
- Motion invulnerability frames <a id="variant-roguelike-12-07"></a>
- Brief invulnerability after taking damage <a id="variant-roguelike-12-08"></a>
- Barrier or separate shield reserve <a id="variant-roguelike-12-09"></a>
- Absorb one hit <a id="variant-roguelike-12-10"></a>
- Resistances to certain types of damage <a id="variant-roguelike-12-11"></a>
- Immunity to certain effects <a id="variant-roguelike-12-12"></a>
- Redirect damage to an ally or resource <a id="variant-roguelike-12-13"></a>
- Reflect damage to attacker <a id="variant-roguelike-12-14"></a>
- Covers and breaking the attack line <a id="variant-roguelike-12-15"></a>
- Limit the maximum damage from one hit <a id="variant-roguelike-12-16"></a>

## Context and limits

A wide author's map of classic turn-based roguelikes, modern roguelites and hybrids. Families describe options for organizing a run, and not mandatory features of the genre. Constant metaprogression is not found in all roguelikes. Related systems can be combined; the list is not a closed standard.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.

- [Slay the Spire](https://www.megacrit.com/press-kits/slay-the-spire/) (id: source-7f09c8a736762f4f)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors