Armour

This page is about the defensive stat. For equipment classified as armour, see Armour (equipment).

For the basic passive skill, see Armour (passive skill).

Armour is a form of defence that mitigates incoming physical damage from hits. Armour rating can be increased by wearing equipment, taking certain passive skills, using skills (e.g. ), and drinking flasks (e.g. Granite FlaskGranite FlaskLasts 6.00 Seconds
Consumes 30 of 60 Charges on use
+1500 to ArmourRequires Level 27Right click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters.).

Mechanics

Along with evasion and energy shield, armour is one of the three defence types that can implicitly appear on equipment. Unlike resistance, armour has diminishing returns as its effectiveness is based on the magnitude of incoming physical damage (multiplied by 10). As a result, armour is most effective in mitigating small hits (i.e. 50% and better reduction for initial damage less than a tenth of the armour value) and least effective in mitigating very large hits (where its absolute reduction can at most be one tenth of the armour value).

Supposedly the most armour monsters have in the game is about 983.

Physical damage reduction from armour only mitigates physical damage from hits. It falls under the modifier #% additional Physical Damage Reduction when Hit. Physical Damage Reduction is capped at 90%.

Elemental damage and damage over time are not mitigated by armour, because armour only mitigates physical damage from hits. Bleed is a damage over time debuff that is based on the initial physical hit, armour would reduce the initial hit but not the damage over time. However both the initial hit and the damage over time can be mitigated with other sources for example Basalt FlaskBasalt FlaskLasts 8.00 Seconds
Consumes 40 of 60 Charges on use
20% more ArmourRequires Level 27Taunts nearby Enemies on useRight click to drink. Can only hold charges while in belt. Refills as you kill monsters. or endurance charges because they don't only apply to hits.

Rule of thumb

• To prevent one third of damage, you need armour 5 times the damage (e.g. 500 armour for 100 damage)
• To prevent half of damage, you need armour 10 times the damage (e.g. 1000 armour for 100 damage)
• To prevent two thirds of damage, you need armour 20 times the damage (e.g. 2000 armour for 100 damage)
• To prevent three quarters of damage, you need armour 30 times the damage (e.g. 3000 armour for 100 damage)
• To prevent 90% of damage, you need armour 90 times the damage (e.g. 9000 armour for 100 damage)
• armour will never prevent more damage than its value divided by 10 (e.g. 1000 armour will never prevent more than 100 damage)

Formulas

For a step by step calculation of formulas, see Armour/math.

The amount of physical damage reduction is a function of armour rating and the physical damage taken.

Relative Physical Damage Reduction (Base Formula)

This is the base formula all other formulas are based upon. It is used to calculate the #% additional Physical Damage Reduction when Hit factor, i.e. the percentage by which the physical damage is mitigated.

$\color [rgb]{0.6392156862745098,0.5529411764705883,0.42745098039215684}DR(A,D_{raw})={A \over A+10*D_{raw}}$

where A is the defender's armour rating and D_raw is the raw physical damage.

Required Armour Rating

To calculate the armour rating you need to mitigate a given amount of Physical Damage at specific ratio, you can use this formula:

$\color [rgb]{0.6392156862745098,0.5529411764705883,0.42745098039215684}A(D_{raw},DR)={DR*10*D_{raw} \over 1-DR}$

Reverse Physical Damage

You can also calculate the raw physical damage that would have resulted for a given Physical Damage Reduction and Armour rating:

$\color [rgb]{0.6392156862745098,0.5529411764705883,0.42745098039215684}D_{raw}(A,DR)={A \over 10*DR}-{A \over 10}$

Resulting Physical Damage

To calculate the net physical damage (i.e. the damage after damage reduction, the following formula can be used:

$\color [rgb]{0.6392156862745098,0.5529411764705883,0.42745098039215684}D_{net}(A,D_{raw})={10*{D_{raw}}^{2} \over A+10*D_{raw}}$

Absolute Physical Damage Reduction

Another way of looking at it is in terms of absolute physical damage reduction:

$\color [rgb]{0.6392156862745098,0.5529411764705883,0.42745098039215684}DR_{abs}(A,D_{raw})={A*{D_{raw}} \over A+10*D_{raw}}$

Defense factor

$\color [rgb]{0.6392156862745098,0.5529411764705883,0.42745098039215684}DF(A,D_{raw})={A \over 10*D_{raw}}+1$

Examples

The plot below displays how much damage reduction occurs at different armour ratings and raw physical damage.

Armour reduction at varying armour ratings and raw physical damage

From the plot below we can further conclude:

• If raw damage is much less than Armour / 10, raw damage has a near-quadratic effect on net damage. Equivalently, in this regime raw damage has a near-linear effect on net DPS if the raw DPS is held constant.
• If raw damage is much greater than Armour / 10, raw damage has a near-linear effect on net damage. Equivalently, in this regime raw damage has little effect on net DPS if the raw DPS is held constant.
• Against attacks of a fixed raw damage, armour has a linear effect on the number of attacks it takes to deplete a certain amount of hit points.

Active skill gems

Main page: List of armour related skill gems

Related base stats

The following skill gems have stats related to armour:

Gem
Ancestral CryAncestral CryWarcry, AoE, Duration Level: (1-20) Cost: (14-19) Mana Cooldown Time: 8.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Use Time: 0.80 sec AoE Radius: 60Requires Level 16Performs a warcry, taunting all nearby enemies to attack the user and exerting subsequent strike attacks. Grants a buff which gives you bonus armour and melee range.Base duration is (4.00-4.90) seconds (0-38)% increased Warcry Speed Counts total Power of Enemies in Range Buff grants +(28-257) to Armour per 5 Power, up to a maximum of +(170-1540) Buff grants +0.2 metres to Melee Strike Range per 5 Power, up to a maximum of +0.6 Exerts the next 8 Melee Strike Attacks you perform Exerted Strikes target 2 additional Enemies Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (2-40)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	16		N/A	N/A
Defiance BannerDefiance BannerAoE, Spell, Duration, Aura, Physical Level: (1-20) Reservation: 10% Mana Cooldown Time: 1.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Casting once reserves mana to carry a banner which increases the armour and evasion of nearby allies, and reduces the critical strike chance of nearby enemies. Gains stages over time while carrying the banner near enemies. Casting the skill again places the banner, ending the mana reservation. Once placed, it becomes more powerful for each stage gained. You cannot have multiple banners at the same time.You and nearby Allies have (15-24)% increased Armour and Evasion Rating Nearby Enemies have (30-40)% reduced Critical Strike Chance Gain 1 Stage every 0.2 seconds while an Enemy is Nearby Taunt nearby Enemies for 0.15 seconds per Stage on Placing the Banner Enemies Taunted this way deal 15% less Damage Base Duration of 10.00 seconds after being Placed +1 second to Base Placed Banner Duration per Stage When placed, 8% increased Area of Effect per Stage When placed, 1% increased Aura effect per Stage Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (0.5-10)% increased effect of AuraPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	16			N/A
DeterminationDeterminationAura, Spell, AoE, Physical Level: (1-20) Reservation: 50% Mana Cooldown Time: 1.20 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: Instant AoE Radius: 36Requires Level 24Casts an aura that grants armour to you and your allies.+(0-1.9) metres to radius You and nearby allies gain (179-2051) additional Armour You and nearby allies gain (40-49)% more Armour Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (2-40)% increased Area of EffectPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	24		N/A	N/A
Molten ShellMolten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Guard Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-12) Mana Cooldown Time: 4.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: Instant AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 4Applies a buff that adds to your armour, and can take some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. When the buff expires or is depleted, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken from the buff. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 3.00 seconds This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect Buff grants +(50-858) to Armour 75% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 10% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 5000 Reflects (100-3000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	4		N/A	N/A
Vaal Molten ShellVaal Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Vaal, Guard Level: (1-20) Cooldown Time: 0.50 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Souls Per Use: 50 Can Store 1 Use(s) Soul Gain Prevention: 14 sec Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 4Applies a buff that raises your armour, and takes some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Each second, the skill deals reflected damage to surrounding enemies based on the damage taken by the buff in that second. When the buff is removed, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken by the buff. You cannot have the buff at the same time as any other Guard skill.Base duration is 9.00 seconds Modifiers to Skill Effect Duration also apply to this Skill's Soul Gain Prevention Buff grants +(50-858) to Armour (35-39)% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000 Reflects (300-9000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage each second, or when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationCorruptedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	4		N/A	N/A

Related quality stats

The following skill gems have stats from quality related to armour:

Gem
Ancestral CryAncestral CryWarcry, AoE, Duration Level: (1-20) Cost: (14-19) Mana Cooldown Time: 8.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Use Time: 0.80 sec AoE Radius: 60Requires Level 16Performs a warcry, taunting all nearby enemies to attack the user and exerting subsequent strike attacks. Grants a buff which gives you bonus armour and melee range.Base duration is (4.00-4.90) seconds (0-38)% increased Warcry Speed Counts total Power of Enemies in Range Buff grants +(28-257) to Armour per 5 Power, up to a maximum of +(170-1540) Buff grants +0.2 metres to Melee Strike Range per 5 Power, up to a maximum of +0.6 Exerts the next 8 Melee Strike Attacks you perform Exerted Strikes target 2 additional Enemies Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (2-40)% increased Cooldown Recovery RatePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	16		N/A	N/A
Defiance BannerDefiance BannerAoE, Spell, Duration, Aura, Physical Level: (1-20) Reservation: 10% Mana Cooldown Time: 1.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 16Casting once reserves mana to carry a banner which increases the armour and evasion of nearby allies, and reduces the critical strike chance of nearby enemies. Gains stages over time while carrying the banner near enemies. Casting the skill again places the banner, ending the mana reservation. Once placed, it becomes more powerful for each stage gained. You cannot have multiple banners at the same time.You and nearby Allies have (15-24)% increased Armour and Evasion Rating Nearby Enemies have (30-40)% reduced Critical Strike Chance Gain 1 Stage every 0.2 seconds while an Enemy is Nearby Taunt nearby Enemies for 0.15 seconds per Stage on Placing the Banner Enemies Taunted this way deal 15% less Damage Base Duration of 10.00 seconds after being Placed +1 second to Base Placed Banner Duration per Stage When placed, 8% increased Area of Effect per Stage When placed, 1% increased Aura effect per Stage Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (0.5-10)% increased effect of AuraPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	16			N/A
DeterminationDeterminationAura, Spell, AoE, Physical Level: (1-20) Reservation: 50% Mana Cooldown Time: 1.20 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: Instant AoE Radius: 36Requires Level 24Casts an aura that grants armour to you and your allies.+(0-1.9) metres to radius You and nearby allies gain (179-2051) additional Armour You and nearby allies gain (40-49)% more Armour Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (2-40)% increased Area of EffectPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	24		N/A	N/A
Molten ShellMolten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Guard Level: (1-20) Cost: (8-12) Mana Cooldown Time: 4.00 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Cast Time: Instant AoE Radius: 15Requires Level 4Applies a buff that adds to your armour, and can take some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. When the buff expires or is depleted, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken from the buff. Shares a cooldown with other Guard skills.Base duration is 3.00 seconds This Skill's Cooldown does not recover during its effect Buff grants +(50-858) to Armour 75% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 10% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 5000 Reflects (100-3000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	4		N/A	N/A
Vaal Molten ShellVaal Molten ShellSpell, AoE, Duration, Fire, Physical, Vaal, Guard Level: (1-20) Cooldown Time: 0.50 sec Can Store 1 Use(s) Souls Per Use: 50 Can Store 1 Use(s) Soul Gain Prevention: 14 sec Cast Time: InstantRequires Level 4Applies a buff that raises your armour, and takes some of the damage from hits for you before being depleted. Each second, the skill deals reflected damage to surrounding enemies based on the damage taken by the buff in that second. When the buff is removed, the skill deals reflected damage to enemies around you based on the total damage that was taken by the buff. You cannot have the buff at the same time as any other Guard skill.Base duration is 9.00 seconds Modifiers to Skill Effect Duration also apply to this Skill's Soul Gain Prevention Buff grants +(50-858) to Armour (35-39)% of Damage from Hits is taken from the Buff before your Life or Energy Shield Buff can take Damage equal to 20% of your Armour, up to a maximum of 10000 Reflects (300-9000)% of Damage taken from Buff as Fire Damage each second, or when Buff expires or is depleted Additional Effects From 1-20% Quality: (1-20)% increased Skill Effect DurationCorruptedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket.	4		N/A	N/A

Support skill gems

Main page: List of armour related skill gems

Related base stats

The following support gems have stats related to armour:

There are no support gems that have stats related to armour.

Related quality stats

The following support gems have stats from quality related to armour:

There are no support gems that have stats from quality related to armour.

Mechanics Scaled by Armour Rating

The following items provide some bonuses that scale with Armour rating.

Item		Stats
Cerberus LimbCerberus Limb Blood SceptreSceptre Physical Damage: 30-55 Critical Strike Chance: 6.00% Attacks per Second: 1.40 Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 47, 81 Str, 81 Int24% increased Elemental Damage(70-100)% increased Spell Damage (15-20)% increased Cast Speed 0.5% of Spell Damage Leeched as Life if Equipped Shield has at least 30% Chance to Block +1 to Maximum Energy Shield per 5 Armour on Equipped Shield +5 to Armour per 5 Evasion Rating on Equipped Shield +20 to Evasion Rating per 5 Maximum Energy Shield on Equipped ShieldThe greatest of guardians make the greatest of sacrifices.	47	24% increased Elemental Damage(70-100)% increased Spell Damage (15-20)% increased Cast Speed 0.5% of Spell Damage Leeched as Life if Equipped Shield has at least 30% Chance to Block +1 to Maximum Energy Shield per 5 Armour on Equipped Shield +5 to Armour per 5 Evasion Rating on Equipped Shield +20 to Evasion Rating per 5 Maximum Energy Shield on Equipped Shield
PerseverancePerseverance Vanguard BeltRequires Level 78+(260-320) to Armour and Evasion Rating(4-8)% increased maximum Life +(20-40)% to Cold Resistance 1% increased Attack Damage per 200 of the lowest of Armour and Evasion Rating Melee Hits which Stun Fortify You have Onslaught while Fortified"Some blows must be evaded. Some blows must be endured. The trick is to tell them apart." - Daresso, the Sword King	78	+(260-320) to Armour and Evasion Rating(4-8)% increased maximum Life +(20-40)% to Cold Resistance 1% increased Attack Damage per 200 of the lowest of Armour and Evasion Rating Melee Hits which Stun Fortify You have Onslaught while Fortified

Related items

Flasks

Item		Duration	Usage	Capacity	Buff Effects	Stats

Unique items

See also: List of unique armours granting armour

Notable Armour Rating

Unique items that can potentially grant upwards of 1,000 Armour rating.

Global Armour increases

Unique items that grant increased global Armour rating.

#invoke: Item table

Global flat Armour

Unique items that grant a flat bonus to global Armour rating.

#invoke: Item table

Passive skills

There are passive skills that grant armour bonuses.

Armour rating

These passive skills grant increased armour rating or additional base armour rating. The Iron Reflexes keystone is special in that it converts evasion rating to armour rating.

Armour rating while Fortify

These passive skills grant increased armour rating while you have Fortify. Template:Passive table

Miscellany

These passive skills are related to armour, but do not fit into any other category.