Defender
Defender +X
From the Comprehensive Rules 4.0:
During the assignment phase, if your assigned companion has the keyword defender +1, you may assign that character to one additional unassigned minion. Defender +2 allows that companion to defend against two additional unassigned minions, and so on. A character with defender +2 (or greater) satisfies any requirement for defender +1.
When a character with defender +X is given an additional defender +X by a card or special ability, the bonuses are added together.
Further Explanations
Resolving a skirmish: If the total strength of one side is more than the strength of the other side (but less than double), the side with the most strength wins that skirmish. (If there is a tie, the Shadow side wins.) Place one wound on each character on the losing side. When the winning side has one or more characters with the keyword damage +1, then each losing character takes one additional wound for each damage +1.
For Example:
- If your Defender +1 wins against 2 Minions, each Minion gains one wound.
- If your Defender +1 and Damage +1 wins against 2 Minions, each Minion gains two wounds.
- If your Defender +1 loses against 2 Minions, your defender gains one wound.
- If your Defender +1 loses against 2 Minions one of which has Damage +1, your defender gains two wounds.
- If your Defender +1 loses against 2 Minions each with Damage +1, your defender gains three wounds.
Companions with intrinsic access to Defender bonuses
Gandalf
Ghan-buri-Ghan, Chieftain of the Woses
Gondor
Aragorn, Ranger of the North (P)
Faramir, Prince of Ithilien (P)
Aragorn, Heir to the Throne of Gondor
Rohan
Shire
Cards that Provide Defender bonuses
Dwarven
Gandalf
Gondor
Horn of Boromir, the Great Horn
Rohan
Sites
Cards that Support companions with Defender bonuses
Gondor
Sites
Cards that Counter Defender Bonuses
Some Shadow (or Site) cards can counter defender bonuses, or at least reduce their usefulness. There's many ways to do that, including but not limited to: preventing more than 1 minion from being assigned to the same companion, triggering harmful effects when a companion is assigned, assigning a minion directly to the defender +X companion to impair the assignment possibilities, assigning directly a minion to a companion which'd be otherwise protected by a defender +X companion, or by simply preventing a defender +X companion from being assigned to a skirmish.
Dunland
Gollum
Isengard
Saruman, Servant of the Eye (P)
Gríma, Servant to Another Master
Men
Moria
Orc
Raider
Sauron
The Mouth of Sauron, Lieutenant of Barad-Dur
Uruk-hai
Wraith
Úlairë Toldëa, Messenger of Morgul
Úlairë Attëa, Second of the Nine Riders