First descension!

[Gaius]

I was unaware of the "train 1 bil covert planets and you can spy just about anyone". But then still, training defense and "assassin" planets in tandem will make it hard-er for people to descend you.
"The higher their defense" was also a generalization. It implied both defense planets and assassins.

[Angelis~]

I understood what you meant... I kind of trailed off the topic there for a minute.

In order to descend someone with a defense you are required to have 5x(is it still 5x) their defense in strike. So in all honestly it wouldn't take much of a defense to protect yourself from being descended. A 30 quad defense with adequate assassins protecting it would require a 150 quad strike to successfully make a personal attack on the enemies realm. Most wont risk that amount of planets. That is if its still the 5x rule.

Unless you're at war or seriously pissed someone off most people wont destroy a defense to descend someone. I say most because you still got people that do it out of spite. However there are those that will destroy a defense to get the dmu its protecting... I do this occasionally if the dmu is worth it.

[Taegu]

Couple things. It is 20X their defense. And covert planets do have a use. I dont know how many times Ive sabbed out 40Q+ defenses because they have no covert and it costs me 1 planet a time. Assassin is more direct but you can sab out defenses if people don't build right.