[PoE 2] Do this instead of building defense on SQUISHY character | 0.5 Return of the Ancient
Summary
- Refutation is a powerful defensive skill that enables squishy builds to block incoming damage effectively, acting similarly to defensive mechanics from previous iterations while being applicable to any archetype.
- The skill requires Runic Warding on gear, which is acquired via the Verisium Anvil.
- Proper scaling involves optimizing Stun Threshold through passive skills, cooldown recovery, and specific unique items.
- The Brass Dome armor is recommended as the optimal item to scale Runic Warding and stun threshold, drastically increasing comfort in mapping.
- Pairing The Brass Dome with Veil of the Night is a potential strategy for characters that do not rely on traditional elemental resistance caps.
Refutation Mechanics and Basic Setup
Refutation is a “runic” skill added to Path of Exile 2. To use it, a character must have Runic Warding on their gear.
- Obtaining Runic Warding: Use the Verisium Anvil to runeforge gear pieces. While high amounts of ward are possible, even a moderate amount (e.g., 20) allows the skill to function.
- Functionality: When activated, the skill automatically blocks all directions and inflicts damage back to the blocked enemy.
- Sustaining the Buff: The skill has a cooldown. To achieve near-permanent uptime, utilize Increased Skill Effect Duration and Cooldown Recovery support gems or passive tree nodes.
- Note: A level 20 Refutation has a 10-second cooldown.
- Quality and Stun: Increasing the gem quality to 20% is essential to avoid being stunned easily.
Scaling for Comfortable Mapping
To prevent being “knocked out” or stunned during high-tier mapping, focus on scaling Stun Threshold. The skill converts a portion of spent Runic Warding into additional Stun Threshold (5% per 10 Runic Warding).
Optimal Defensive Setup
- The Brass Dome: This unique body armor provides a substantial amount of Runic Warding, which directly multiplies Stun Threshold. It also provides immunity to damage from critical strikes, making it highly efficient for survivability.
- Passive Tree: Seek nodes that provide increased Stun Threshold. If playing on the right side of the tree, these are readily available.
- Life Scaling: Since Stun Threshold is partially based on maximum life, high-life pools complement this defensive layer.
Advanced Combinations
- Veil of the Night: This helmet provides a high-efficiency path for players who are not concerned with capping elemental resistances. When used with The Brass Dome, it removes the downside of the armor’s negative elemental resistance modifier, allowing for a build that is highly resistant to stuns and critical hits.
- Resistances: Because Refutation allows for near-constant blocking of hits, some players may find they do not need to cap all elemental resistances, though capping Fire and Chaos resistance remains recommended to mitigate ground damage-over-time effects.
Additional Considerations
- Runic Warding Regeneration: If seeking further optimization, look for Runic Warding regeneration modifiers. Some specific runes (e.g., those providing regeneration while sprinting) can be expensive but impactful.
- Shield Mechanics: While various shields interact with blocking and parrying, most are currently less practical than simply maintaining the Refutation buff.
- Runic Reprieve: Note the existence of the spell “Runic Reprieve.” It requires channeling and does not block damage as effectively as Refutation, making it less optimal for this defensive strategy.