Damage Defenses

Skills such as persistence and Retribution specify dealing with Damage dealing attacks. (which feel unlike most of the other Defense mechanics)
My question is, are these defenses meant to cover the overlap of only having archetype defenses, or if these defenses are no exception and also only defend against their Archetype.

Thanks

Defenses (such as the ones you listed) that do not specify an attack type can be used to defend any type of attack, as long as the attack fits the rest of the description of the skill. For example, Persistence and Retribution can only be used against damaging attacks, but they can be Piercing/Melee/Metaphysical/Naming and will still be defended.