Silent Block package: what should you take?

Backflip, Footwork, Leg Sweep, and Shadowmeld are not four versions of the same defensive card. They solve cycle, scaling, front-loaded survival, and burst multiplication. Start with the problem your deck cannot solve, then check whether the Energy and draw order actually fit.

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Card	Cost	Base effect	Upgrade	Primary job
Backflip	1	5 Block + draw 2	8 Block + draw 2	Cycle while defending
Footwork	1	Gain 2 Dexterity	Gain 3 Dexterity	Scale later Block
Leg Sweep	2	11 Block + 2 Weak	14 Block + 3 Weak	Cover one dangerous turn
Shadowmeld	1 (0+)	Double later Block this turn	Cost becomes 0	Multiply a prepared burst turn

Pick for the missing job, not the card name

Backflip

You need consistency and repeated low-cost Block.

Footwork

The deck already plays several Block cards each cycle.

Leg Sweep

You need an independent defensive answer now.

Shadowmeld

The deck can place multiple reliable Block gains after it.

A defensive package still needs damage. If the deck survives normal turns but cannot end elite or boss fights, adding another Block card can make draws safer without making the run winnable. Treat these as answers to a measured weakness, not as a checklist.

How the cards change each other

Footwork + Backflip: Dexterity raises Backflip's recurring Block while Backflip helps cycle toward the Power and later defensive cards.
Footwork + Leg Sweep: Footwork improves the Block portion, but Leg Sweep still costs 2 Energy; scaling does not remove that tempo constraint.
Shadowmeld + Block cards: play Shadowmeld before the Block gains. It does not retroactively double Block already gained this turn.
Shadowmeld + Footwork: Footwork must already be active to improve later Block cards. Footwork itself grants Dexterity, not Block, so Shadowmeld does not double the Power.

Energy breakpoints that change the answer

At a basic 3 Energy, base Shadowmeld plus Leg Sweep uses the whole turn. Shadowmeld plus two Backflips also costs 3 and can see four additional cards, but only works if the draw does not arrive too late to matter. Upgrading Shadowmeld to 0 cost creates much more flexible combinations; upgrading Backflip or Leg Sweep increases the defensive output rather than changing how many cards fit.

Footwork is a setup investment. Playing it and Backflip costs 2 Energy and gives immediate Block only from Backflip; the Dexterity starts improving affected Block gains after the Power resolves. Safe deployment windows and fight length decide whether that investment pays back.