Final Damage Taken & Resource Loss
Now the final number is applied to Path of Exile 2 Currency the defender's resources:
Order of Application:
1. Diverted Damage (e.g., Wooden Wall)
2. Temporary Buffs (e.g., Sorcery Ward)
3. Guard Mechanics (e.g., Olroth's Resolve)
4. Energy Shield
5. Chaos Damage = double ES drain
6. DoTs like Poison/Bleed bypass ES
7. Mana (Mind Over Matter) - if applicable
8. Life
Modifiers that prevent Life Loss now apply (e.g., Grasping Wounds)
Ailment Strengths like Shock or Scorch are based on damage taken at this step.
Damage Over Time (DoT)
DoTs (e.g., Burning Ground, Poison, Bleed) do not hit and therefore skip many of the above steps, notably:
Cannot Crit
Cannot be blocked or dodged
Only affected by:
Damage Taken As
Resistances
Damage Taken modifiers
Recovery mechanics
Armor and Avoidance do not mitigate standard DoT unless specific modifiers allow it.
Final Thoughts: Why This Matters
Understanding this step-by-step breakdown allows you to:
Choose defensive layers that work at different points in the chain
Know when Avoidance is better than Mitigation
Maximize damage output via timing Double Damage, crits, and conversions
Build smarter around Mind Over Matter, Energy Shield, or guard mechanics
Whether you're a theorycrafter or a hardcore league runner, mastering the order of buy Path of Exile 2 Currency operations is essential for building resilient characters and maximizing damage efficiency in Path of Exile 2.
