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Grinding Gear Games has never shied away from making Path of Exile one of the most mechanically dense ARPGs on the market, and with Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3 (The Third Edict), the developers are introducing yet another new layer of defense: Deflection.

Deflection is a brand-new system that promises to make Dexterity-based classes more durable while also giving defensive build crafters another tool for mitigation and layering. While the game already offers Block, Dodge, Evasion, Armour, Energy Shield, and Resistances, Deflection adds a fresh dimension, and importantly, it applies in situations where other mechanics might fail.

In this Path of Exile 2 Deflection mechanic guide, we'll break down what Deflection is, how it works, how to increase your chance of triggering it, and why it may become one of the most impactful mechanics in the game for both new and veteran players.

What Is Deflection in Path of Exile 2?

At its core, Deflection is a damage reduction mechanic. When you successfully Deflect an attack or spell, the incoming damage is reduced by 40% before resistances and other modifiers are applied.

This makes it fundamentally different from mechanics like Block or Evasion:

· Block completely negates an attack but does not apply to spells unless specified.

· Evasion makes you avoid attacks altogether but does nothing against spells or certain unavoidable effects.

· Deflection, on the other hand, applies to almost everything: melee strikes, ranged projectiles, spell projectiles, area-of-effect abilities, and even persistent zone spells like Firestorm.

That alone makes Deflection a game-changer, since it provides consistent damage reduction across attack types where other defenses may fail.

Deflection and Ailments

One of the most intriguing aspects of Deflection is its interaction with Ailments such as Ignite, Poison, or Bleed.

· When an Ailment is Deflected, its duration remains the same, but the damage per instance is reduced by 40%.

· This applies before Resistances, meaning the total effect on survivability can be significant when combined with capped Fire or Chaos resists.

For characters vulnerable to long-duration effects (like Bleed against bow builds or Poison stacks from certain bosses), Deflection offers much-needed breathing room.

Can Deflection Be Improved?

Yes, the default 40% damage mitigation can be pushed higher with gear, passives, and potentially future uniques.

One example revealed so far is Ulaman's Gaze, a new socketable unique for body armour. When equipped, it raises the mitigation value to 43%. That may not sound like much at first glance, but across dozens or hundreds of hits taken in a map, that extra 3% adds up to serious survivability.

Given how GGG tends to design defensive systems, we can expect to see scaling support for Deflection in the Passive Skill Tree, gear affixes, and possibly Ascendancy nodes in the future.

How to Increase Deflection Chance in Path of Exile 2

Unlike Block (which is based on a percentage chance), Deflection works on a rating system tied directly to Evasion.

· Your Deflection Rating is compared to the Monster's Accuracy.

· The higher your Deflection Rating relative to the enemy's Accuracy, the higher your chance to Deflect incoming attacks or spells.

· In theory, if your Deflection Rating is high enough, you can reach a 100% chance to Deflect against certain monsters.

This system is somewhat similar to how Evasion checks against Accuracy in PoE1, but instead of outright avoiding hits, it reduces their impact.

How to Gain Deflection Rating

From what we know so far in Patch 0.3, Deflection Rating comes primarily from:

1. Conversion of Evasion Rating - A portion of your Evasion is converted into Deflection Rating through affixes, gear, and passives.

2. Gear Affixes - Particularly on Dexterity-aligned armour, new mods will allow you to funnel part of your Evasion into Deflection.

3. Passive Skill Tree Nodes - Several nodes grant Deflection conversion or flat increases, similar to how Block chance and Spell Suppression are supported.

This means that Evasion-stacking characters, especially Rangers and other Dex-heavy builds, are positioned to benefit the most from Deflection.

When Does Deflection Shine?

The true strength of Deflection lies in its broad applicability:

· Against Chaos Damage: Evasion does nothing, Armour is useless, and Spell Suppression doesn't fully apply, but Deflection still reduces incoming Chaos damage by 40%.

· Against Area-of-Effect Spells: Many spells bypass Block or Evasion checks, but Deflection can still reduce their impact.

· Against Multi-Hit Boss Attacks: Instead of gambling on Evasion, Deflection ensures each hit is less deadly, smoothing out damage spikes.

· Against Ailment Stacking: By lowering the per-tick damage of Bleed or Poison, Deflection makes sustained ailments far more manageable.

In short, Deflection is a layered defense tool, not a replacement. It doesn't guarantee survival, but it reduces variance and smooths out the "one-shot" problem that has plagued PoE's endgame for years.

Limitations of Deflection

Of course, Deflection isn't a silver bullet. There are limitations to keep in mind:

1. Relies on Evasion Stacking - If you're not running Dex gear or Evasion builds, your Deflection Rating will be low, making the mechanic less effective.

2. Accuracy-Based Scaling - Monsters with the Accurate affix or Waypoint modifiers boosting Accuracy will lower your Deflection chance.

3. Doesn't Fully Negate Damage - Unlike Block, which can completely nullify hits, Deflection only reduces damage. Against very large hits, that 40% may still leave you vulnerable if you don't have other layers.

These drawbacks mean Deflection is best used with buying PoE2 Currency, such as Resistances, Suppression, Block, and Recovery items.

Deflection vs Other Defensive Mechanics

It's worth comparing Deflection with some of PoE2's other mechanics to understand its niche:

· Block: Completely nullifies attacks but is chance-based and doesn't work against most spells. Deflection works against spells but only reduces damage.

· Evasion: Avoids attacks entirely but fails against most spells and certain unavoidable AoEs. Deflection reduces damage in both cases.

· Spell Suppression: Cuts spell damage in half, but doesn't apply to attacks or Chaos DoTs. Deflection covers both.

· Armour: Best against small physical hits but ineffective against Chaos, Elemental, or spells. Deflection applies universally.

From this comparison, it's clear that Deflection is designed to fill the gaps left by other mechanics, especially for Dexterity classes.

Deflection and Dexterity Classes

The biggest winners of the Deflection system will almost certainly be Dex-focused characters like Ranger, Shadow, and potentially the Duelist hybrid builds. These classes often relied heavily on Evasion but were historically fragile against spells and Chaos damage.

With Deflection:

· Their Evasion investments now double as a reliable form of damage mitigation.

· They gain a much-needed counter to Chaos-heavy encounters.

· They can safely stack into Evasion without feeling "one-shot" vulnerable.

This makes Deflection a core defensive layer for Dex classes in PoE2's future meta.

Future Outlook: Will Deflection Be Meta-Defining?

It's too early to call, but based on what's been revealed, Deflection has the potential to become one of the most important defensive mechanics in Path of Exile 2.

· For Dex classes, it could be a mandatory stat.

· For hybrid builds, it opens new defensive layering opportunities.

· For high-end bossing, it smooths out damage intake in ways other mechanics can't.

Of course, the effectiveness of Deflection will depend on how accessible Deflection Rating scaling is. If gear mods and passives are plentiful, expect it to be a core defense. If they're scarce, it may become a niche option only for dedicated Evasion builds.

Final Thoughts

The addition of Deflection in Path of Exile 2 Patch 0.3 (The Third Edict) is one of the most exciting defensive changes the franchise has seen in years. By reducing all forms of damage - from Chaos to AoE spells - Deflection fills critical gaps in survivability and provides much-needed consistency for Dex-heavy characters.

To recap:

· Deflection reduces incoming damage by 40% on trigger.

· It applies to attacks, spells, AoEs, and Ailments.

· It scales with Deflection Rating, derived largely from Evasion.

· Unique Path of Exile 2 Items like Ulaman's Gaze and Passive Tree nodes enhance it.

· It's not a standalone defense but a powerful layer in the overall mitigation puzzle.

While not yet live, Deflection already looks like a mechanic that will define how Path of Exile 2 players build characters going forward. Whether you're an Evasion-stacking Ranger or a hybrid Shadow trickster, keeping an eye on Deflection will be key to surviving Wraeclast's deadliest challenges.