Damage Taken Modifiers

Now we apply modifiers to Path of Exile 2 Currency how much of that mitigated damage ly taken.

Order:
1. Flat Damage Taken (e.g., Ashrend)
2. Increased/Reduced Damage Taken (e.g., Shock, Wither)
3. More/Less Damage Taken (e.g., Bulwark, Dancing Mirage) - multiplicative

Step 6: Stun

After damage is finalized, the game checks if the Hit causes a Stun.

Must exceed the target's Stun Threshold
Player threshold = % of max Life
Strong monsters have custom thresholds
Physical & Melee Hits get a 50% multiplier for Heavy Stun buildup
Note: Players cannot be "Heavily Stunned."

Step 7: Block

Next, the game rolls for Block chance:
Passive Block (from gear/passives)
Active Block (e.g., Raise Shield)

Block fully negates damage, but:
The Hit still occurs
You can still be Stunned, Shocked, Frozen, etc.
Only Projectiles and Strikes are blockable by default.

Step 8: Final Damage Taken & Resource Loss

Now the final number is applied to 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 buy POE2 Currency a hardcore league runner, mastering the order of operations is essential for building resilient characters and maximizing damage efficiency in Path of Exile 2.