Orb/Focus

The Orb/Focus build is the definitive Defect archetype — JapaneseExport confirms "Frost Focus is still the best thing to do" for Defect in STS2. The approach is patient and methodical: stack permanent Focus through Defragment (now Rare rarity), supplement with temporary Focus from Synchronize on burst turns, channel Frost Orbs to generate passive Block every turn, and let Lightning and Dark Orbs handle offensive pressure. A key STS2 change from STS1 is that temporary Focus (from cards like Synchronize) is now the main scaling tool — JapaneseExport notes "you can't just press end turn" and expect permanent Focus alone to carry. Despite this, "nothing really punishes you for being slow to setup," making this a forgiving archetype. Early in a run, the starting Cracked Core relic channels a free Lightning Orb each combat, giving you immediate passive chip damage while you hunt for your first Focus source. Piloting this build requires understanding the Orb slot economy. You begin with 3 slots, and each turn your Orbs passively trigger before you play any cards. With 3 Focus stacked, a single Frost Orb generates 4 Block per turn — three Frost Orbs means 12 passive Block before you touch your hand. This is why Glacier is such a critical pickup: for 2 energy it places 2 Frost Orbs and grants immediate Block, effectively buying you multiple turns of safety at once. The goal by mid-Act 2 is to have enough Frost coverage that most enemy attacks deal little or no damage to your HP. The transition from defense to offense happens through Dark Orbs. Unlike Frost and Lightning, Dark Orbs grow in power the longer they sit in a slot — each turn they do not evoke, they gain damage. Drop a Dark Orb into your last slot early in a difficult fight, stack Frost in the other slots for Block, and by turn 5 the Dark Orb will evoke for 30-40+ damage with good Focus. Echo Form accelerates this dramatically: doubling your Defragment on turn 1 means you hit Focus thresholds two turns ahead of schedule. Biased Cognition slots in once you have enough Focus already built — the -1/turn penalty is irrelevant if the fight ends in 3-4 more turns. The build's main vulnerability is getting unlucky with Defragment availability. Defragment is now Rare rarity in STS2, so permanent Focus sources are scarcer than in STS1. If Act 2 offers no Defragment, lean heavily on Synchronize for temporary Focus bursts, use Cold Snap and Ball Lightning for their direct damage, and accept that your Block will be moderate rather than overwhelming. Seriously consider pivoting toward the Claw/Zero-Cost archetype if Claws have appeared. A lean Claw deck is more reliable than a Focus build without Focus. That said, JapaneseExport notes that "nothing really punishes you for being slow to setup" as Defect, so even a delayed engine can come online in time.