Defender

This article is about the Heartless. You may be looking for the shield or the ability.

The Defender (ディフェンダー, Difendā) is an Emblem Heartless that is found in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories.

One of the Hollow Bastion Heartless, the Defender is essentially a Goofy-themed enemy and counterpart to the Wizard. Defenders have two minds; the Defender has a mind of its own. Though Defenders do not do much themselves, their shields use Fire and Blizzard magic, block attacks, and bite approaching targets. There is only a 0.2% chance that a Defender would leave behind its shield, which is equal to a 1 in 500 chance, making the shield extremely rare. It is suggested that the Lucky Strike ability is equipped, as many as possible.

The Defender is similar in many ways to the Lance Soldier from Kingdom Hearts II.

It also has a similarity to Beserkers as they appear to be controlled by their claymores and Defenders appear to be controlled by their shields.

Abilities

• Guards against frontal attacks with its dog-faced shield, though limit attacks can overcome this.
• Shoots fireballs at enemies for a mid-range attack.
• Sprays a freezing "breath" from the "mouth" of its shield.
• "Bites" nearby enemies with its shield.
• Swings its shield around once to knock away nearby enemies.