The Guardian’s Protection build in POE2 is a tanky, support-oriented build that focuses on providing defensive auras, buffs, and utility to allies while maintaining high survivability. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to create and optimize this build, including ascendancy choices, skill gems, gear recommendations, and playstyle tips.
1. Introduction to the Guardian’s Protection Build
The Guardian’s Protection build revolves around the Guardian ascendancy, which specializes in providing defensive auras, buffs, and utility to allies. This build is ideal for group play, as it enhances the survivability and damage output of your party members. The Guardian’s Protection build is highly durable, making it a reliable choice for both mapping and bossing content in Path of Exile 2.
2. Ascendancy Choices
The Guardian ascendancy offers unique nodes that synergize perfectly with support builds. Here are the key nodes for this build:
| Ascendancy Node | Description | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Radiant Faith | Grants armor equal to 160% of your reserved life to you and nearby allies. | Enhances survivability for you and your party. |
| Unwavering Faith | Auras you cast grant +1% physical damage reduction and 0.2% maximum life regeneration per second to you and allies. | Provides additional defensive layers for your party. |
| Harmony of Purpose | Nearby enemies cannot gain power, frenzy, or endurance charges, and nearby party members share charges. | Boosts party damage and utility. |
| Prayer of Glory | Grants increased attack, cast, and movement speed to you and nearby allies after using a warcry. | Enhances party mobility and damage output. |
3. Skill Gems and Links
The Guardian’s Protection build relies on a combination of defensive auras, utility skills, and support gems to maximize party survivability and damage.
Primary Skills
- Determination: Increases armor for you and nearby allies.
- Grace: Increases evasion for you and nearby allies.
- Discipline: Grants energy shield to you and nearby allies.
Support Gems
- Enlighten: Reduces mana reservation for auras.
- Empower: Increases the level of supported auras.
- Increased Duration: Extends the duration of buffs and auras.
Utility Skills
- Rallying Cry: Grants increased damage and life regeneration to nearby allies.
- Tempest Shield: Provides block chance and lightning damage to attacks.
- Summon Chaos Golem: Grants physical damage reduction to you and nearby allies.
4. Guardian’s Protection build Gear Recommendations
Gear is crucial for maximizing the build’s defensive capabilities and aura effectiveness. Below is a table of recommended gear:
| Gear Slot | Item | Modifiers to Look For |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Ephemeral Edge | +Energy Shield, +Spell Damage |
| Helmet | Alpha’s Howl | +Mana Reservation Efficiency, +Aura Levels |
| Body Armor | Shavronne’s Wrappings | +Energy Shield, Chaos Damage does not bypass Energy Shield |
| Gloves | Voidbringer | +Energy Shield, +Spell Damage |
| Boots | Sin Trek | +Energy Shield, +Movement Speed |
| Amulet | Presence of Chayula | +Energy Shield, +Chaos Resistance |
| Rings | Rare Rings | +Energy Shield, +Resistances |
5. Guardian’s Protection build Passive Skill Tree
The passive skill tree for this build focuses on:
- Mana Reservation Efficiency: Reduces the cost of auras.
- Energy Shield: Enhances survivability.
- Aura Effect: Increases the effectiveness of auras.
- Life Regeneration: Provides additional sustain for you and your party.
Key nodes include Sovereignty, Leadership, and Sanctity.
6. Playstyle and Tips
- Mapping: Stay close to your party members to ensure they benefit from your auras and buffs. Use Rallying Cry and Tempest Shield to enhance party survivability.
- Bossing: Focus on maintaining Determination, Grace, and Discipline to protect your party from heavy hits. Use Summon Chaos Golem for additional physical damage reduction.
- Positioning: Position yourself strategically to maximize the range of your auras and buffs. Use Flame Dash for mobility and repositioning.
- Sustain: Rely on energy shield regeneration and life regeneration to stay alive during prolonged fights.
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the best weapon for this build? | Ephemeral Edge is ideal for boosting energy shield and spell damage. |
| How important is mana reservation efficiency? | Mana reservation efficiency is crucial for maintaining multiple auras. |
| Can this build handle endgame content? | Yes, the Guardian’s Protection build excels in both mapping and bossing due to its high survivability and party utility. |
| What are the best defensive layers? | Energy shield, auras like Determination and Grace, and life regeneration are the core defensive layers of this build. |
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Guardian’s Protection build in Path of Exile 2 (POE2).
you can also check out more POE2 builds.