PoE 2: Armor System Analysis & Critique

Time: 2025-02-02 by mmojugg Game: Path of Exile 2 Guide Tags: PoE 2 Armor Analysis

Path of Exile 2's recent 0.1.1 patch aimed to improve the utility of armor, but the community has been left with mixed feelings about its effectiveness. This in-depth analysis examines the nuances of the armor system, the impact of the latest patch, and how armor fits into the broader context of the game's defensive mechanics.

Patch 0.1.1 Armor Changes

Formula Adjustment: Prior to the patch, armor mitigation was calculated using Armor / (Armor + 12) * Hit Damage. The new formula, Armor / (Armor + 10) * Hit Damage, was discovered through in-game testing with an Infernalist build. This change means that armor now mitigates slightly more damage, but the effect is marginal:

Example: With 958 armor, 25% of which is fire damage mitigation, the new formula mitigates about 1% more damage than before, which in practical terms could be the difference between 23 and 24 damage points mitigated on a 2,117 pre-resistance hit.

Armor mechanics in detail

Physical damage mitigation: Armor primarily reduces physical damage from hits, not elemental damage (unless specifically noted, as with "Heat Proof"). This specialisation makes armor less versatile than energy shields or evasion in various combat scenarios.

Scaling and Investment

Health and armor: Armor is often associated with Health-based builds due to its proximity in the passive skill tree. However, Health scaling doesn't keep pace with Energy Shield in terms of overall damage mitigation potential. A character with good gear can reach 3,000 to 4,000 health, while an energy shield build can easily surpass 10,000 with a similar investment.

Gear and armor basics

Gear choice: Choosing an armor base over an energy shield base directly competes with the potential for higher effective health pools, making armor a less attractive choice for many builds unless specifically tailored for physical damage mitigation.

Challenges and Competitiveness

Evasion vs. Armor

The appeal of evasion: Evasion not only avoids damage, but does so without the active management that armor sometimes requires (e.g. breaking enemy armor for Scavenged Plating). Skills such as Wind Dancer provide passive evasion increases, making it a simpler and more effective choice in an environment where even regular mobs can deal significant damage.

Skill Interaction

Scavenged Plating: This skill has been tweaked to scale better with monster rarity, allowing up to 10 stacks on unique foes instantly. However, it still requires interaction with Armor Shatter, which can complicate build design and gameplay compared to the passive benefits of Dodge.

Skill Reservation

Buff comparison: Armor-related buffs such as Scavenged Plating are less universal than Evasion or Energy Shield buffs, limiting the flexibility of armor in different build types.

Broader game balance

Monster damage output: The current state of the game, where even white monsters can deal disproportionate damage, exacerbates the perceived weakness of armor. This environment favours evasion or high energy shield pools over the more niche use of armor.

Health vs. Energy Shield: The disparity between health and energy shield scaling creates a fundamental imbalance that affects the desirability of armor. The effectiveness of armor is tied to health, which currently lags behind in terms of defensive potential.

Future Expectations

Economy Reset and Balance Patch: The upcoming major patch, which is expected to include an economy reset, could bring significant changes to the armor balance. GGG has a history of adjusting mechanics based on player feedback and game data, so there's hope that armor will become more competitive.

Potential solutions

Health Buffing: Improving health scaling could indirectly benefit armor by making health-based builds more viable, thus increasing demand for armor.

Armor mechanics: Introducing new mechanics or buffs that make armor more appealing or versatile could be on the table, perhaps something that allows armor to mitigate a wider range of damage types or interact more dynamically with gameplay.

Thank you for reading

Even after the 0.1.1 patch, armor in Path of Exile 2 remains in a precarious position due to the balance dynamics of the game. Its effectiveness is not just a matter of numbers, but of how it fits into a broader defensive strategy against the game's current challenges. Players and developers alike will be watching closely to see how future patches address these imbalances, in the hope that armor will become a more compelling defensive option.