I'm currently working on an archmage Hierophant build and I'm looking for ways to make armor feel like a reliable defensive layer. Typically, I play on the right side of the skill tree, utilizing evasion-based defenses. However, as a Templar and due to the need for the Arcane Surge cluster, I feel somewhat locked into using energy shield. My issue is that it's much easier for me to achieve a satisfactory level of defense with energy shield and evasion combined. All I require is Grace, Ghost Dance, Soul Thief, a Spell Suppression notable, Lucky Suppression mastery, a Quartz flask, and additional suppression on gear to reach 75% suppression, which feels adequate if I cannot delve further into the right side of the tree. Additionally, evasion provides effective protection against all attack damage.

On the other hand, armor only affects physical damage, while it seems that most late-game threats come from elemental damage. Acquiring spell block (and block in the top of the tree) without sacrificing damage becomes challenging, especially considering my intention to use a non-Aegis Aurora shield. Furthermore, due to being an archmage, I can only utilize one or two auras since Essence Worm can no longer be used with Clarity or other auras unless I rely on double Essence Worm rings. Tempest Shield is also not an option for me.

Do you have any general tips on how to improve my character's defensive capabilities? It's fascinating how our perception is influenced by our preferred playstyle. As someone who mostly plays on the left side of the tree, I feel considerably squishier on the right, where evasion appears to be more susceptible to sudden one-shot deaths.

Apart from archmage, the typical approach involves relying heavily on Mind over Matter (MoM) and Ivory Tower to achieve over 20,000 raw hit points. Surviving powerful hits becomes possible due to the sheer amount of health, and auras are linked to life rather than mana. However, some armor can still be obtained, which helps, especially with the additional benefit of Hierophant's four free endurance charges, providing a flat 16% physical damage reduction. This aspect significantly improves the effectiveness of armor. The reality about armor is that it isn't the best form of physical reduction, but rather the best option available to us. Physical damage can be challenging to mitigate effectively unless you specialize in stacking armor, which is typically the weakest damage type for most builds. That's why the tankiest builds often heavily rely on "phys taken as x" mechanics. To enhance armor effectiveness, consider the following:

1, Increase your armor value. While 20,000 is passable, aiming for 40,000 or more is desirable. However, achieving this level of armor can be challenging without optimal flask management.

2, Obtain flat physical damage reduction, which Hierophant gains through endurance charges (16%). This reduction applies before armor, making it much more effective. If you have a rare shield with 7% flat physical damage reduction, you'll notice a significant improvement in survivability against large hits. Viewing 16% flat physical damage reduction as roughly doubling your armor against most significant hits can help put its effectiveness into perspective.

3, Convert a portion of the physical damage to another damage type. Even a small percentage can make a noticeable difference. For instance, having an overall 15% conversion reduces the initial 10,000 physical damage hit to 8,500 physical and 1,500 elemental damage, resulting in mitigating it to below 3,000 total damage.

4, Reduce the enemy's damage dealt or your own damage taken. While not consistent for boss encounters, reducing enemy damage or mitigating your own can be beneficial. Armor on a Saboteur build, for example, feels more impactful than on an Inquisitor build and is similar to using the Fortify mechanic.

Remember, if you're hit for 10,000 damage with 50,000 armor, you'll take 5,000 damage. However, with 50,000 armor and 4 endurance charges, the damage reduces to 3,333. Additionally, if you have 15% physical damage as elemental, that 10,000 damage calculation starts with 8,500 physical damage and 1,500 elemental damage, resulting in mitigating it below 3,000 total damage. Lastly, be cautious about stacking spell block unless you're using Aegis Aurora, as it can be a misleading option.

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