What do protective units do in Egg Heists?

They provide damage reduction level one against beginner targets.

The stat boosts help keep your squad intact against hostile Umbra Aniimo guarding Sanctum eggs and opposing squads contesting extraction points. Because only the active Aniimo in your first slot can be directly controlled during combat, these passive defensive benefits free you to focus on direct engagements without leaving the rest of the lineup completely exposed.

Fainting during an extraction run forfeits equipped gear, backpacks, and unslotted loot not protected by talents like the Egg Boat Safe. That added durability becomes vital when escorting the carrier of the central giant egg, who loses all combat abilities after transforming and depends entirely on team defenses to survive evacuation.