In Path of Exile, armor, resistance, and dodge are key to surviving tougher bosses and exploring dangerous areas. Here’s how to optimize these defensive mechanics.

Maximizing Resistance for Elemental Protection

Reaching 75% resistance for Fire, Cold, and Lightning is crucial to surviving elemental damage. Equip resistance-based gear like rings and boots with resistance rolls, and use Purity of Elements to increase your resistances. Consider Curse Immunity gear or PoE 1 Currency flasks to protect against curses like Elemental Weakness.

Armor: Defending Against Physical Hits

Armor is vital for reducing physical damage, particularly against high-HP bosses. Use armor-based gear like Kaom’s Way or Lioneye’s Vision to mitigate physical damage. Granite Flasks give a temporary boost to armor, while Iron Reflexes converts Evasion into armor, further enhancing your defenses.

Dodge: Avoiding Attacks Completely

Dodge allows you to completely avoid certain attacks, making it an essential defense for fast, agile builds. Invest in Acrobatics and Phase Acrobatics for more dodge chance and combine it with mobility skills like Flame Dash to stay out of danger. High evasion can also work well with dodge for an even stronger defense.

Layering Defense for Maximum Survivability

Combining resistance, armor, and dodge creates a versatile defense system. Armor handles physical damage, resistance protects from elemental damage, and dodge lets you avoid both. A well-rounded defense system ensures you’re ready for all challenges.

Building for Your Playstyle

Tanky builds should focus on armor and resistance to absorb damage, while dodge and evasion are ideal for more mobile builds. A hybrid defense system PoE Currency works well for exploration, offering a mix of both physical and elemental protection.