Is defense worth investing in?

[Ender Engineer]

I admit I'm not the best. Especially when it comes to some bosses. So is it worth going for defense at all or should I just avoid it?

[LordMondayIX]

Defense is mostly useless, particularly against the later bosses of the game, who deal such drastic amounts of damage per hit that a flat -2 damage taken makes little difference.

Defense does however pair quite well with curses that activate upon taking damage, intentionally tanking a weaker hit in order to gain a potent temporary, or even potentially permanent, buff.

The most obvious one being a defense stat high enough to intentionally take damage from the crows in the war level to stack 'manic monday' and get permanently ever climbing scythe damage.

[DEMOS_GRANDE]

If you had enough defense you could negate that 1 damage everytime leaving elevator breakdown, negate the damage from buff magic like mordicine etc

[SalleStar]

Bosses specifically Id say maybe the Ceasefire 5->15 defense curse. It helps with the chunks.

[Dark]

I did a +30 defense run where I was immune to all boss hits, including Time and Life (until phase 3).

Parosel +8
Curses +2, +5, +100% defense
Retaliate +5 def
Boulderrain: +defense on cast

[Kisama]

Yes and no. The biggest thing I'd say is that its a waste of time to TRY to invest in. You'll almost always be better served by adding hp, money bonuses (especially money bonuses) or straight damage.
That said, when you run into +100% defense, grab it.
Most of the time that's the only defense I'll grab, unless it's a throwaway point (bad options).

Once you get to a high enough heat, you take 1 damage every time you leave an elevator. one defense skill can also negate that completely.