Defense Character Tier List

• Role: Defender/Attacker
• Intercepts enemy single-ally attacks with Hostility UpMore likely to be attacked
  and SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  .
• Easily survives enemy Charge Attacks with high DEF, a strong ArmoredChance of lowering DMG taken
  Duration: 0.5 turns100% chance to reduce damage taken by 80%.Applied during the attack phase.
  On the next turn, it'll have 0 turns remaining., and Lethal Attack DodgedCan withstand lethal DMG (Leaves 1 HP)
  .
• May be difficult to keep alive after sustaining repeated attacks without taking advantage of DrainDamage dealt is partially absorbed to HP
  using external multiattack sources.

• Role: Attacker
• Does surprisingly high amounts of damage between her buff and Body Heat mechanic.
• Brings a little utility in Charm and a team heal.
• Can die easily if attacked with too many Body Heat stacks.

• Role: Attacker/Defender/Support
• Excellent party defender with 70% DMG CutTaking 70% less DMG
  Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage!
• Mirror-BladeATK, DEF, and charge attack DMG are boosted (Can't be removed / Max: 5)
  grant considerable self-buffs
• 1.2m nuke
• Boosts all allies' Earth attack by 30% when they are affected by Earth ATK UpEarth ATK is boosted
  
• Covers multiple roles in HL raids

• Role: Defender/Support
• Requires management of SpiritUses 1 Spirit per skill
  stacks.
• Passive and active Hostility UpMore likely to be attacked
  .
• Party wide 100% DEF UpDEF is boosted
  Strength: 100%Duration: 3 turns and ArmoredChance of lowering DMG taken
  Duration: 5 turns70% chance to reduce damage taken by 30% allows for more survivability.
• Self heal and full clear to help sustain.
• Permanent C.A. DMG Up (Stackable)Charge attack DMG is boosted (Stackable/Can't be removed)
  Strength: 15%Duration: IndefiniteCan't be dispelled up to 75% upon taking damage.

• Role: Support/Debuffer
• Offensive support through 15% Fire ATK UpFire ATK is boosted
  Strength: 15%Duration: 5.5 turnsApplied during the attack phase.
  On the next turn, it'll have 5 turns remaining. with high uptime.
• Inflicts 15% ATK DownATK is lowered
  Strength: 15%Base Accuracy: 90%Duration: 180 secondsStacking: Dual and 15% DEF DownDEF is lowered
  Strength: 15%Base Accuracy: 90%Duration: 180 secondsStacking: Dual.
• Additional party support through healing, 20% DMG CutTaking 20% less DMG
  Duration: 1 turn Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage!, VeilDebuffs will be nullified (1 time)
  "Veil" is an unofficial name used by the wiki for this status effect. Its actual in-game name is "Immune." and Charge Bar +20%Instantly boosts Charge Bar by 20%
  Strength: 20%.

• Role: Defender/Debuffer/Support
• Great damage mitigation with 40% Wind CutWind DMG is cut 40%
  Duration: 1 turn Wind Damage Cut., ArmoredChance of lowering DMG taken
  Duration: 3.5 turns70% chance to reduce damage taken by 30%.Applied during the attack phase.
  On the next turn, it'll have 3 turns remaining., DA DownDouble attack rate is lowered
  Base Accuracy: 85%Duration: 180 seconds, and BlindedAttacks have a slight chance to miss
  Base Accuracy: 90%Duration: 180 seconds.
• Additional support with up to 40% DEF Down (Stackable)DEF is lowered (Stackable)
  Strength: 10% (Max: 40%)Base Accuracy: 90%Duration: 180 seconds, 15% Fire ATK UpFire ATK is boosted
  Strength: 15%Duration: 3.5 turnsApplied during the attack phase.
  On the next turn, it'll have 3 turns remaining., RefreshHP is restored on every turn
  Strength: 10% HP (Healing cap: 400)Duration: 3 turns, and DelayReduce a foe's charge diamonds by 1
  Base Accuracy: 100%.
• Wind SwitchElemental DMG from foes turns into wind DMG
  Duration: 3 turns is invaluable for enemies that deal mixed-element damage.
• Deals significant skill damage with her Support Skill if targeted frequently.

• Role: Defender
• SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  and Counters on DodgeDodge and counter one-ally attacks
  Counter attacks grant 5% charge bar per hit. can completely negate a normal enemy turn.
• Only has a randomly-activating 30% Damage Cut against enemy special attacks.
• Has Attack Up and Strength, allowing him to inflict heavy damage on his counter turn.

• Role: Defender
• BulwarkHostility and DEF are boosted / Speed up charge bar upon taking DMG (Can't be removed)
  has permanent uptime.
• Local 60% DMG CutTaking 60% less DMG
  Duration: 1 turn Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage!.
• Anti-synergy between BulwarkHostility and DEF are boosted / Speed up charge bar upon taking DMG (Can't be removed)
  and UnchallengedNext DMG received will be ineffective
  .
• Needs to deactivate BulwarkHostility and DEF are boosted / Speed up charge bar upon taking DMG (Can't be removed)
  in order to get the most benefit from DivineC.A. DMG and C.A. DMG cap is boosted based on Divine lvl (1 time / Can't be removed)
  stacks, leaving allies exposed.
• Very tanky, but offers little other utility.

• Role: Attacker
• Good firepower for well-rounded teams.
• Can gain 10% DEF Up (Stackable / Max: 30%)DEF is boosted while active (Stackable)
  Strength: 10% (Max: 30%)Duration: Indefinite, Undying (1 time)Can withstand lethal DMG (Leaves 1 HP / Can't be removed)
  Duration: Indefinite and Shield (3000)Next ATK received will be ineffective for a fixed amount
  Strength: 3000Duration: Indefinite through skills.
• Boost to stats when below 25% HP.

• Role: Defender/Debuffer
• Provides party-wide DMG Cut, which is scarce among Wind characters.
• Can inflict 15% DEF DownDEF is lowered
  Strength: 15%.

• Role: Defender
• Access to Substitute and Defense Up can keep other party members alive.
• All-around decent defensive skills with no real weaknesses.
• Has no offensive options.

• Role: Defender/Support
• Unreliable skills.
• I Got Your Back! is a powerful defensive skill on a 3 turn cooldown, but requires 50% charge bar to use.

• Role: Defender
• He's a quintessential tank and he does it quite well.
• Completely outclassed by Sara, but Galadar is a suitable alternative if you don't have her.

• Role: Defender/Attacker
• A solid defender and enmity attacker; His 5★ uncap improves the damage mitigation he provides for the party.
• Inflicts 25% ATK DownATK is lowered
  Strength: 25%Duration: 180 seconds and 10% Earth ATK DownEarth ATK is lowered
  Strength: 10%Duration: 180 seconds, helping cap ATK Down when paired with  Miserable MistInflict 25% ATK DownATK is lowered
  Strength: 25%Base Accuracy: 80%Duration: 180 secondsStacking: Dual and 25% DEF DownDEF is lowered
  Strength: 25%Base Accuracy: 80%Duration: 180 secondsStacking: Dual on all foes..
• Has good damage output through a combination of his second skill self-enabling enmity and giving him JammedATK is greatly boosted based on how low HP is
  Strength: 30%-90%Duration: 8 turns with permanent uptime, and his first support skill providing Unique ATK the lower his HP is.
• Third skill can protect the party from both damage and debuffs with its 70% DMG CutTaking 70% less DMG
  Duration: 1 turn Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage! and 100% Debuff Res. UpDebuff resistance is boosted
  Strength: 100%.
• His 5★ Charge attack gives a team-wide Shield (1500)Next ATK received will be ineffective for a fixed amount
  Strength: 1500Duration: Indefinite for further damage mitigation.

• Role: Defender/Support
• Provides party-wide passive DEF Up and Dark DMG LoweredDark DMG is lowered
  Dark DEF Up. Not a Damage Cut.
  Reduces Dark damage taken on a multiplier
  separate from Damage Cuts. or Bonus Light DMGDeals bonus light DMG for one-foe one-ally attacks
  based on the linked skill used.
• Grants allies stackable multiattack rate buffs which stacks with most other types of multiattack buffs.
• Provides a small amount of healing alongside DEF Up (Stackable)DEF is boosted while active (Stackable)
  .

• Role: Attacker/Support
• High damage output via 30% Unique ATK modifier, 65% charge attack bonus damage
• High-uptime party Light ATK UpLight ATK is boosted
  and 20% Dark CutDark DMG is cut 20%
  Dark Damage Cut.
• Can provide one ally RevitalizeRecover HP each turn. Boost to charge bar if HP is full.
  and ShieldNext ATK received will be ineffective for a fixed amount
  
• Can inflict Light DEF DownDEF is lowered for light DMG
  
• Weak without Spirit Shrouds, but they are easy to maintain

• Role: Healer/Support
• Very similar to Katalina in terms of numbers and utility.
• EMP gives some extra utility to healing focused compositions.

• Decent OTK potential due to Charge Attack's extra nuke
• Charge Attack allows her to gain ChokoleitWhen Melissabelle has 3 Chokoleits at end of turn: 20-hit light DMG to random foes / Restores Melissabelle's HP / Consumes all Chokoleits (Max: 3 / Can't be removed)
  Duration: Indefinite and Dispel 1 buff
• Can defend or even sacrifice via Substitute (All-Ally)Receives all attacks in place of allies
  (Includes all-ally attacks)
  Duration: 1 turn , 100% / 80% ArmoredChance of lowering DMG taken
  Strength: 100% chance of taking 80% less damage.Duration: 1 turn , and as an extra 50% Skill DMG UpSkill DMG is boosted
  Strength: 50%Duration: 1 turn all in 1 skill
• Strong synergy with Supplemental Damage due to the nature of her kit, allowing to reach high damage numbers with ease
• Can inflict DEF Down (Stackable)DEF is lowered (Stackable)
  Strength: 10% (Max: 30%)Base Accuracy: 90%Duration: 180 seconds and the rare Light DEF Down (Stackable)DEF is lowered for light DMG (Stackable)
  Strength: 10% (Max: 30%)Base Accuracy: 90%Duration: 180 seconds
• ChokoleitWhen Melissabelle has 3 Chokoleits at end of turn: 20-hit light DMG to random foes / Restores Melissabelle's HP / Consumes all Chokoleits (Max: 3 / Can't be removed)
  Duration: Indefinite will be consumed automatically upon reaching 3 stacks and therefore grant her powerful self-sustain, improving on her role as a defender

• Role: Defender
• One of the few Fire characters with DMG CutTaking less DMG
  Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage! and SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  .
• No particular weaknesses, does not rely on other party members.
• After 5★ uncap, Charge Attack inflicts Fire DEF DownDEF is lowered for fire DMG
  .

• Role: Defender
• One of few Light characters with DMG CutTaking less DMG
  Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage! and SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  .
• No particular weaknesses, does not rely on other party members.

• Role: Defender/Support
• 3rd skill hugely increases party's Charge Attack damage. Very powerful with Strike Time or Mechanic.
• 1st skill provides 50% DMG CutTaking 50% less DMG
  Duration: 1 turn Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage! and 20% Dark CutDark DMG is cut 20%
  Duration: 1 turn Dark Damage Cut.. Can reduce Dark damage to 0 with the appropriate 3* Carbuncle.
• Also provides 25% Light DEF DownDEF is lowered for light DMG
  Strength: 25%Base Accuracy: 85%Accuracy with Lumen Lance: 100% and has increased multiattack rate as long as he is not debuffed.

• Role: Attacker/Defender
• 60% DMG CutTaking 60% less DMG
  Duration: 1 turn Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage! and the substitute effect from Counter StrikeFocused on foe's attacks and ready for a counter (Cannot deal attacks / Can't be removed)
  are rare defensive abilities in Dark.
• Counter StrikeFocused on foe's attacks and ready for a counter (Cannot deal attacks / Can't be removed)
  can nullify enemy one-ally attacks, including one-ally hits from charge attacks.
• Increased hostility can draw attacks away from allies, and ATK Down (Stackable)ATK is lowered (Stackable)
  , high DEF, and self-healing help with survivability.
• Difficult to fit in a party for fights that don't require defensive support.

• Role: Defender
• Innate boost to Hostility through Support Skill. Guaranteed 5% heal every 3 turns.
• Innate Hostility can't be turned off.
• Bonus 15% max health synergizes well with Luminiera Sword Omega.
• Substitute (All-Ally)Receives all attacks in place of allies
  (Includes all-ally attacks)
  Duration: 1 turn and 300% DEF UpDEF is boosted
  Strength: 300%Duration: 1 turn on a 6 turn cooldown.
• Low healing cap on Jumpslash when compared to the total health values she can easily reach.

• Role: Attacker/Defender
• SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  lets her be an effective tank.
• Fire resistance from Pegu Pegu! makes her tankier vs Fire.
• Oh My Bahamut! is extremely potent against raid bosses due to its 9,999,999 plain damage cap, but do note that this very rare.

• Role: Defender/Support
• Lots of self healing (if you get lucky).
• Gains additional longevity in party compositions with StrengthATK is greatly boosted based on how high HP is
  and Water DEF DownDEF is lowered for water DMG
  .

Role: Attacker/Defender

• Protects allies with SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  and innate increased Hostility.
• Works very well with Ayer for Tezcatlipoca teamcomps.
• Has a very strong nuke, capping out at 2.7m damage.
• Requires actually being hit for her skillset to work.
• Good firepower when you need some defense on the team.

• Role: Defender
• SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  and her 1000% DEF UpDEF is boosted
  buff counters enemy single-target charge attacks, even Wind attacks.
• Has 50% Damage Cut, which can completely shut down attacks when paired with the appropriate 3★ Carbuncle.
• Short cooldowns on her skillset allow her abilities to be up for most (if not all) enemy charge attacks.
• Low damage output unless she gets very low on health.

• Role: Defender
• Skills specialized in avoiding or deflecting damage, but with long cooldowns.
• EMP boosts Hostility to better make use of her skills.
• No damaging skills; relies on being attacked to be effective.

• Role: Defender
• Passive Counters on DMG raises Hammer of GraphosDEF, hostility, and debuff resistance are boosted based on Hammer of Graphos lvl (Max: 5 / Can't be removed)
  lvl, which in turn increases her DEF, debuff resistance, and hostility.
• Provides all allies (excluding herself) with an indefinite Shield (1000)Next ATK received will be ineffective for a fixed amount
  Strength: 1000 on a low cooldown. Shield strength is boosted to 2000 at 5 Hammer of GraphosDEF, hostility, and debuff resistance are boosted based on Hammer of Graphos lvl (Max: 5 / Can't be removed)
  .
• Party-wide 60% Dark CutDark DMG is cut 60%
  Dark Damage Cut..
• SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  draws attacks towards herself, and at 3 Hammer of GraphosDEF, hostility, and debuff resistance are boosted based on Hammer of Graphos lvl (Max: 5 / Can't be removed)
  , she also gains the powerful unique ATK buff AfflatusATK is boosted by Afflatus (Can't be removed)
  Strength: 50%Multiplier: UniqueDuration: 1 turn .

• Role: Healer/Debuffer
• Can heal and reduce debuff duration with one click and every foe's special attack.
• Guards allies with very high frequency of SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  .
• Inflicts ATK Down (Stackable)ATK is lowered (Stackable)
  and DEF Down (Stackable)DEF is lowered (Stackable)
  which stacks with Miserable Mist.
• Great full-auto healer, but generally has poor Twinkle StarConsumed upon using Satyr's skills / Gain 2 Twinkle Stars upon using charge attack (Max: 3 / Can't be removed)
  management as the source of all-ally enhancement on her heal.

• Role: Defender/Buffer
• Can protect the party using her 60% DMG CutTaking 60% less DMG
  Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage!.
• Gives whole team consistent multiattack buff at the price of self-inflicting DEF DownDEF is lowered
  and Hostility UpMore likely to be attacked
  .
  • When coupled with her Counters on DodgeDodge and counter one-ally attacks
    Counter attacks grant 5% charge bar per hit., she can safely take a few turns while preventing other characters from being targeted.
  • Does not attack while Closing Dance: Tokiyomi KaiFire allies' multiattack rates are boosted from the dance
    is in effect, but she can maintain a full uptime on her DA UpDouble attack rate is boosted
    and TA UpTriple attack rate is boosted
    and be able to attack on some turns by rotating it with Closing Dance: Tokiyomi KaiFire allies' multiattack rates are boosted from the dance
    
• Charge attack grants whole team 10% Bonus Fire DMGDeals bonus fire DMG for one-foe one-ally attacks
  Strength: 10%Duration: 5 turns.

• Role: Defender
• SOIYA!
• All of his skills give SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  , and he gains stacking Attack Up when hit.
• His Attack Up passive also lowers his defense until you use his first skill.
• Requires careful usage due to high cooldowns and every skill requiring charge bar.
• Some memorization is required since all of his skill icons are the same.

• Role: Support/Defender
• Can use SubstituteReceives foe attack in place of an ally
  (Excludes all-foe all-ally attacks)
  +Other SelfTakes no DMG or debuffs while in effect
  to completely nullify some enemy Charge Attacks.
• Strong team-wide double attack buff complements personal Jade Crest bonus damage effect.
• Falls off when Jade CrestJade Crest is casted
  aren't available.

• Role: Attacker/Support
• ATK Down (Stackable)ATK is lowered (Stackable)
  Duration: 180 seconds paired with Wall Bash improves party survivability.
• Has an underdeveloped enmity skillset in an element with traditionally few enmity options.

• Role: Attacker
• Fight Over and Energy Destruction give him interesting burst potential when Charge bar is full.
• Potentially useful during Strike Time for damage on turn 1.

• Role: Attacker/Debuffer/Defender
• Has Substitute (All-Ally)Receives all attacks in place of allies
  (Includes all-ally attacks)
  and Lethal Attack DodgedCan withstand lethal DMG (Leaves 1 HP)
  on very short cooldown, letting him take hits for the team and live to tell the tale.
•  Heroic Beat400% Water damage to a foe (Damage cap: ~420,000).
  Restore caster's HP (Healing cap: 1500).
  At level 90:
  Damage increased to 500%.
  Damage cap increased to ~500,000.
  Healing cap increased to 2500.
  Also remove 1 debuff from caster.'s auto-activations and double-activations provide lots of skill damage and self-sustain.
• JammedATK is greatly boosted based on how low HP is
  and Soul EruptionATK, DEF, multiattack rate, and other stats are boosted (Can't be removed)
  greatly boost his damage.
• Inflicts 10% Fire ATK DownFire ATK is lowered
  Strength: 10% and up to 30% ATK Down (Stackable)ATK is lowered (Stackable)
  Strength: 10% (Max: 30%) on charge attack.
• Extends buffs on himself with every enemy special attack, allowing him to maintain them almost indefinitely.
• Consumes HP for defensive abilities and requires careful HP management in longer battles.

• Role: Attacker/Defender
• Can substitute all-ally attacks with 1000% bonus DEF and debuff immunity
• Party guaranteed TA and Light ATK UpLight ATK is boosted
  for burst
• Can Dispel
• Effectively 40% increased damage against Dark enemies due to passives
• Managing her bits can be difficult

• Role: Support/Debuffer
• Boost to ATK and DEF when Sara is in the party.
• Very helpful for increasing the survivability of your party.

• Role: Attacker/Defender
• Greatly enhance themselves with Nacht FangATK is boosted / DEF is boosted / Deals bonus dark DMG / DMG is slightly boosted for critical hits / Chance of lowering DMG taken (Can't be removed)
  once they have 5 Lone Wolf TrickLvl rises upon using Schutz aus Eisen or charge attack (Max: 5 / Can't be removed)
  lvls.
• One-time charge diamond clearing to target foe, which is useful in emergency.
• Have slight chance to inflict ATK Down (Stackable)ATK is lowered (Stackable)
  and DEF Down (Stackable)DEF is lowered (Stackable)
  from backline.
• Can immediately gain 5 Lone Wolf TrickLvl rises upon using Schutz aus Eisen or charge attack (Max: 5 / Can't be removed)
  lvls by switching to main ally.

• Role: Defender/Attacker
• Synergizes with DA UpDouble attack rate is boosted
  and TA UpTriple attack rate is boosted
  buffs as well as other buffs, as it applies to his free attack skill.
• Hits hard in Tough Guy mode in conjunction with his Bonus Water DMGDeals bonus water DMG for one-foe one-ally attacks
  skill.
• His unique skill set and Tough Guy mode consuming increasingly more charge bar can be difficult to manage for new players.

• Role: Defender
• One of the only Dark units with Substitute, and also possesses a 40% DMG CutTaking 40% less DMG
  Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage!.
• Favors Axes, giving him decent attack damage in a grid heavy on Celeste Zaghnal Omega.
• If nothing else, he can draw Luminera Omega's entire 50% trigger to himself.

• Role: Support/Defender/Debuffer
• Useful in long battles and Full Auto teams.
• Party-wide offensive buffs: Multiattack rate boost, Supplemental DMGDMG dealt is supplemented
  Strength: 25,252, Dark ATK UpDark ATK is boosted
  , and boost to charge attack specs.
• Party-wide defensive buffs: 40% DMG CutTaking 40% less DMG
  Duration: 1 turn Damage Cut reducing damage taken for all elements.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage! + 30% RepelTaking less DMG and reflects attacks
  Strength: 30%Duration: 1 turn Damage Cut reducing damage taken and reflecting attacks.
  Warning! Does not work for Plain Damage! (total 70% DMG Cut), Shield (1500)Next ATK received will be ineffective for a fixed amount
  Strength: 1500, RefreshHP is restored on every turn
  Strength: (Healing cap: 300)Duration: 5.5 turnsApplied during the attack phase.
  On the next turn, it'll have 5 turns remaining., and passive Light damage reduction.
• Can inflict 20% Light ATK DownLight ATK is lowered
  Strength: 20% and 20% Dark DEF DownDEF is lowered for dark DMG
  Strength: 20% on all foes, and dispel one buff from a foe.