Unwavering Stance: What Does It Mean in Path of Exile 2?

Unwavering Stance is a keystone passive skill in Path of Exile 2 that fundamentally alters the way characters interact with evasion and stun mechanics. It is a popular choice for builds that prioritize consistent damage output and protection against stun effects.

Mechanics

When a character selects the Unwavering Stance keystone, they become immune to being stunned, which can be a crucial advantage in high-damage scenarios where being incapacitated even for a moment can lead to death. However, this benefit comes at the cost of losing all evasion, meaning attacks will always hit the character. This trade-off is typically acceptable for builds that rely on armor or other forms of damage mitigation rather than evasion.

Strategic Considerations

• Armor and Damage Reduction: Characters relying on armor, such as those using the Shield Wall strategy, can benefit from Unwavering Stance, as their defense does not depend on evasion.
• Sustained Damage: Builds using skills like Bone Shatter can maintain consistent damage output without interruptions from stuns.
• Synergy with Support Skills: The use of support gems such as Guardian's Blessing Support can help mitigate the absence of evasion by providing additional defensive bonuses.

Build Integration

Unwavering Stance is best suited for tanks or melee builds that prioritize high health and armor. Characters utilizing Ice Strike or similar skills can take advantage of the uninterrupted attack flow while using Unwavering Stance. Additionally, players might consider pairing this keystone with items that enhance damage mitigation or recovery, such as the Doedre's Apathy.

Overall, Unwavering Stance offers a unique advantage in specific builds within Path of Exile 2, allowing players to tailor their characters to withstand and retaliate against overwhelming onslaughts without the risk of stun-induced downtime.