History Main / DefendCommand

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''':

* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOhCardGame'': A major game mechanic, in which any monster (except Link Monsters[[note]]Defence Position is tracked by rotating a monster 90 degrees, which would change where the Link Arrows are pointing[[/note]]) can be told to defend (as it is Special Summoned, or once per turn if it's already been in play for a turn). Defense Position monsters cannot attack, and will (usually) absorb the entirety of an attack that destroys them (when not defending, any damage left over after destroying the monster will hit its controller). Each monster also has separate stats for its combat ability when inside and outside Defense Position, so telling a monster to defend could make it much better or worse at combat.

[[folder:Tabletop RPG]]

Occasionally, however, a boss (or, especially in {{Nintendo Hard}} games, just a particularly nasty enemy) will have a charged-up super move which is best survived by defending on the turn it fires, leaving players used to ignoring the command clueless as to how to survive. It's also a nifty way for {{Squishy Wizards}} to conserve magic and/or while being less at risk of being one-shot by enemies. More recent games, recognizing what a UselessUsefulSpell defend traditionally was, have attempted to bring back its usefulness by allowing the defend command to have other tactical advantages beyond reducing any amount of incoming damage.

Occasionally, however, a boss will have a charged-up super move which is best survived by defending on the turn it fires, leaving players used to ignoring the command clueless as to how to survive. More recent games, recognizing what a UselessUsefulSpell defend traditionally was, have attempted to bring back its usefulness by allowing the defend command to have other tactical advantages beyond reducing any amount of incoming damage.

** Both ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' and ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' have "Hunker Down", an ability that all combatants able to use cover have by default. In the first game it doubles the cover's defense value (so hunkering behind full cover decreases the enemy's hit chance by a ''massive'' 80%) and gives immunity to {{critical hit}}s, but denies line of sight and is negated if the user gets flanked. In the latter, it increases defense by 30 and gives 50 dodge[[note]]a dodged shot only grazes for reduced damge[[/note]], along with the same crit immunity, ''and'' puts out the fire if the user was [[ManOnFire burning]]. [[EscortMission VIPs you're escorting]] can hunker down in ''2'', but in the first they can only use "Head Down" to add 10 to their defense, though they can use it while out of cover.

* ''VideoGame/TheEndTimesVermintide'' and ''VideoGame/VermintideII'': Any melee weapon can be used to block incoming attacks, to shove enemies by attacking while blocking, or to stagger them by timing the block command mid-attack. The effective range and [[SprintMeter Stamina cost]] varies by weapon; [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe offhand shields]] grant the best defense and can negate attacks that other weapons can't, such as [[GatlingGood ratling guns]] and warpfire throwers.

* Three classes from ''Videogame/DarkestDungeon'' have variations on this skill. [[StoneWall The Man-at-Arms]] can take the hit for another party member while buffing his protection, and has a separate skill where he counterattacks anyone that hits him. Paired together he can cover the weaker party members while damaging the enemies that try to ShootTheMedicFirst. [[FragileSpeedster The Houndmaster]] does the same but lacks the counter and buffs his dodge chance instead. [[SupportPartyMember The Antiquarian]] forces someone else to guard her but gives them a buff to protection ''and'' dodging.

One variation may cause a defending character to become the sole target of enemy hostility, either by shielding the rest of the party (kinda hard to reach them when they're behind a big-ass shield) or to draw enemy attention as the character enters a defensive stance, which comes in handy if used by a character who can CounterAttack.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', the Defend command can be equipped to characters junctioning an appropriate [=GF=], and when used completely negates physical damage and halves magical damage. It's quite useful when combined with Cover (user takes physical attacks directed at other characters) and Counter (retaliate against physical attacks). It's also useful when fighting [[BonusBoss Omega Weapon]] as a way to survive [[ThatOneAttack Terra Break]].[[labelnote:Explanation]]Terra Break deals physical damage, and while it does bypass your characters' Vitality stat, it does ''not'' bypass the physical immunity from Defend. And Omega attacks in a fixed pattern, so you'll always know exactly when you need to use Defend.[[/labelnote]]

* ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' has a variation: Aika's Delta Shield negates all magic, and Enrique's Justice Shield halves physical damage to the party. Put 'em together and you've got a solid defense while leaving two characters free to attack or charge up the SP bar. This combo is practically required for some of the BonusBoss fights.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', the Defend command can be equipped to characters junctioning an appropriate [=GF=], and when used completely negates physical damage to the user. As it has no effect whatsoever on magical damage, it usually gets overlooked, but it's useful when fighting [[BonusBoss Omega Weapon]] as a way to survive [[ThatOneAttack Terra Break]].[[labelnote:Explanation]]Terra Break deals physical damage, and while it does bypass your characters' Vitality stat, it does ''not'' bypass the physical immunity from Defend. And Omega attacks in a fixed pattern, so you'll always know exactly when you need to use Defend.[[/labelnote]]

*** Aeons have the ability to greatly reduce the damage done by the next attack, though this prevents their [[LimitBreak Overdrive gauge]] from filling up. It also seems to make them lose a turn.
*** Auron features this ability, including an improved version that cuts incoming damage by 75% rather than 50%.
*** Tidus has a related ability, "Provoke", which causes a single enemy to attack only him.

** Starting with the [[VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy4 fourth]] game, defending instead works by applying the status effect of the same name, which halves damage taken, but makes you unable to counterattack.
** The [[VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy5 fifth]] game introduces the ability for equipment to grant additional effects upon Defending, whether that be positive status effects, or stat buffs (including ''offensive buffs'').

* In ''VideoGame/Persona4'', the Defense command not only reduces the amount of damage you take, but also nullifies {{Critical Hit}}s and [[ElementalRockPaperScissors elemental weaknesses]] while preventing the character from receiving [[StatusEffects status conditions]] during the turn. This makes it surprisingly useful to the point that not using it is sometimes outright suicidal. In fact, it's so useful that the game's first major boss fight is basically just a glorified tutorial on guarding.
** ''VideoGame/Persona3 Portable'' adopted the same mechanic, which has contributed to some people complaining that they reduced the difficulty. However, the new [[HarderThanHard Maniac]] difficulty more than makes up for it.

* It's often actually useful in the ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy'' series, especially in the higher difficulties, where you can't always end your turns at full health and enemies can do most of your health bar in damage. Also, one of the characters can sometimes absorb MP from defended damage taken and in the later games you almost always possess the ability to counterattack and/or spells that are randomly cast for you at the start of the turn.
** The fifth game has quite a few equips that grants defensive ''or even offensive'' stat buffs when defending, as well as some other effects. Defending sadly blocks the ability to counterattack for the given turn, though.

[[AC:TabletopRPG]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

* ''Videogame/SuperMarioRPG'' has both the vanilla Defend command and a variant based on the "Timed Hits" system. The "Timed Hits" version allows Mario and his partymates to reduce damage by pressing B at a specific point during an enemy's attack animation [[TrialAndErrorGameplay (which sometimes takes some guesswork)]]; particularly well timed hits will actually reduce the damage to 0 and can even prevent instant death attacks. True to the trope, the "regular" Defend command is almost completely useless, even moreso than most other [=RPGs=] because a) It's more efficient to just attempt the Timed Hits version -- which does not require spending a turn on the player's part -- and b) It doesn't protect against magic attacks.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona4'', the Defense command not only reduces the amount of damage you take, but also nullifies {{Critical Hit}}s and [[ElementalRockPaperScissors elemental weaknesses]] while preventing the character from receiving [[StandardStatusEffects status conditions]] during the turn. This makes it surprisingly useful to the point that not using it is sometimes outright suicidal. In fact, it's so useful that the game's first major boss fight is basically just a glorified tutorial on guarding.

** The Dwarven Defender PrestigeClass in 3E has a "defensive stance" that gives it a big boost to AC and temporary Constitution bonus (meaning extra HitPoints) at the cost of remaining stationary. It was adapted to ''TableTopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' as the Stalwart Defender.

* The "Default" command in ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' halves all damage and also stores up actions to use for a burst of "Brave" attacks.

** 5e adds the "Dodge" combat action, which gives attackers disadvantage (roll two, take the worst) on attack rolls against you, provided you can see them, and gives you advantage (roll two, take the best) on dexterity saving throws. The action system has been simplified in this edition, but dodging takes up the same action you would normally use on most things worth attacking with. Rogues get an ability to use Dodge as a Bonus Action instead of a normal Action, so they can attack and Dodge at the same time. This is especially useful for Rogues using a melee build, like the Swashbuckler.

* ''VideoGame/LegendOfLegaia'' offers the Spirit command that, in addition to reducing damage taken (''especially'' against Zeto and Xain), also recharges 32 AP and increases the number of attacks you can make. Noa has a long command gauge by default and can use Miracle Arts after using spirit by the time her level is in the mid 20's.
** The sequel also has a Guard command. It does not allow more attacks, but there is an [[GameBreaker accessory]] that lets you double (and later triple) your strength after you Guard. The increased damage is sufficient for a moderately leveled party to one-shot the final boss.