Glancing Blows: What Does It Mean in Path of Exile 2?
In Path of Exile 2, Glancing Blows is a unique keystone passive skill that alters the way characters interact with block mechanics. It is crucial for players who are focused on maximizing their block effectiveness while balancing between offense and defense.
Mechanics of Glancing Blows
The Glancing Blows keystone allows players to block a higher percentage of incoming damage, but with a trade-off: instead of completely negating the damage, blocked hits deal a portion of their damage. Specifically, when you block, Glancing Blows causes you to take 65% of the damage from the blocked hit.
- Increases the chance to block both attack and spell damage.
- Allows players to mitigate more damage over time rather than avoiding it entirely.
- Pairs well with builds that have high life regeneration or damage mitigation.
Strategies for Using Glancing Blows
When incorporating Glancing Blows into your build, consider the following strategies:
- Life Regeneration and Leech: Focus on enhancing your character's life or energy shield regeneration to compensate for the damage taken from blocked hits.
- Damage Mitigation: Combine with other forms of damage reduction such as armor or evasion to further reduce the impact of blocked hits.
- Synergy with Skills: Use skills that benefit from block mechanics. For instance, Bone Shatter can be an effective skill to pair with Glancing Blows.
- Spell and Attack Block: Ensure your build has a balanced block chance for both spells and attacks to maximize the benefits of this keystone.
Considerations and Tips
While Glancing Blows can significantly enhance your block effectiveness, it's essential to consider the following:
- Build Impact: Evaluate if your build can handle the additional damage from blocked hits without compromising survivability.
- Synergy with Gear: Equip items that boost your block chance or provide defensive bonuses to complement the keystone.
- Skill Tree Planning: Since Glancing Blows is a keystone, plan your passive skill tree to efficiently reach it without sacrificing other vital nodes.
For more information on enhancing your Path of Exile 2 gameplay, you can explore related guides and strategies such as Follow Through Mechanics and Powerful Ward Mechanics.