Heart of Iron in PoE 2: What Does It Mean?
The Heart of Iron is a notable keystone in Path of Exile 2 that provides unique defensive capabilities to players. This keystone is particularly useful for characters looking to enhance their survivability through armor conversion.
Mechanics
The primary function of Heart of Iron is to convert all your Energy Shield into Armor. This conversion allows characters who might have invested heavily in Energy Shield to repurpose that investment into a more traditional form of defense. As a result, characters can withstand greater physical damage, which is invaluable in many of the game's combat scenarios.
- Heart of Iron is crucial for tanky builds that prioritize physical damage mitigation.
- It synergizes well with other armor-enhancing passives and gear.
- Energy Shield becomes irrelevant for defense, so builds relying on Energy Shield for survival should reconsider this keystone.
Build Strategies
When incorporating Heart of Iron into your build, consider the following strategies:
- Gear Selection: Prioritize equipment that boosts your armor rating. Armor-based gear will further amplify the benefits provided by Heart of Iron.
- Skill Synergy: Use skills that benefit from high armor values, such as those that reduce physical damage taken or reflect damage back to attackers.
- Passive Tree Optimization: Focus on passives that enhance armor and physical damage reduction to maximize the effectiveness of Heart of Iron.
Considerations
There are several factors to consider before committing to Heart of Iron:
- Since Energy Shield is converted, any reliance on Energy Shield-based recovery mechanisms will be nullified.
- This keystone is not ideal for characters focusing on evasion or dodge as their primary defense.
- Ensure that your build has sufficient life regeneration or leech to compensate for the potential loss of Energy Shield-based defenses.
For a deeper understanding of how Heart of Iron can fit into various builds, consult community forums and build guides that focus on armor-centric strategies.