Energy shield
Energy shield is a form of defence that acts as an additional hit point pool on top of life. Along with Armour and Evasion, Energy shield is one of the three defence types that can implicitly appear on equipment. Unlike life, energy shield will quickly regenerate naturally after the character has not taken any damage for 2 seconds.
Every class starts with no energy shield, and gains 2% increased maximum energy shield every 10 intelligence.
Mechanics
Damage mitigation
If the character has any energy shield remaining when damage is taken, that damage is inflicted on energy shield first. Damage is only applied to life once all energy shield is depleted. The exception to this is chaos damage, which ignores energy shield. Shavronne's Wrappings and Solaris Lorica have an exclusive property that prevents chaos damage from bypassing the character's energy shield.
Recharging
Energy shield will automatically begin to recharge if the character does not take any damage for a certain period of time. With Blood Magic, spending life instead of mana to use a skill counts as taking damage. By default, the delay period for energy shield to begin to recharge is 2 seconds. This can be reduced with faster start of Energy Shield Recharge modifiers from passive skills and equipment. By default, Energy shield recharges at a rate equal to one fifth of the character's maximum energy shield per second. Energy shield will stop recharging when it reaches maximum or if the character takes damage. This recharge rate can be increased with increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate modifiers.
Let r be the sum of faster start of Energy Shield Recharge modifiers. The delay period in seconds is given by:
200 / (100 + r)
For example, having 100% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge results in a delay period of 1 second.
Stun avoidance
While the character has any energy shield remaining he has a 50% chance to avoid being stunned. This bonus is not additive with other stun avoidance modifiers from passive skills and equipment; the chance to avoid stun granted by energy shield is rolled separately.[1]
Skills
These auras increase energy shield of the character and nearby allies: Discipline,Vaal Discipline.
Passive skills
There are passive skills that grant energy shield bonuses.
Energy shield
These passive skills grant increased maximum energy shield, more maximum energy shield, or additional base maximum energy shield.
Energy shield on shields
These passive skills grant increased energy shield from equipped shields.
Energy shield recharge rate
These passive skills grant increased rate of energy shield recharge.
Energy shield delay
This passive skill grants faster start of energy shield recharge.
Miscellany
These passive skills are related to energy shield, but do not fit into any other category.
References
- ↑ Mark_GGG (July 15, 2013). "0.11.2 Patch Notes". Official Path of Exile Forums. Retrieved February 5, 2015.