Resistances
Resistances are the single most important defensive stat in Path of Exile 2, and the game quietly takes them away from you as you progress: by the endgame you are 60% down before a single item is equipped.
The two tables below are the exact penalty ladder — by area level, and by the campaign stage it corresponds to.
Resistance penalty by area level
The penalty is applied to your Elemental Resistances based on the level of the area you are in. It does not affect Chaos Resistance.
| Area level | Penalty | Where an uncapped 75% lands |
|---|---|---|
| 1–15 | None | 75% |
| 16–32 | -10% to all Elemental Resistances | 65% |
| 33–44 | -20% to all Elemental Resistances | 55% |
| 45–53 | -30% to all Elemental Resistances | 45% |
| 54–59 | -40% to all Elemental Resistances | 35% |
| 60–64 | -50% to all Elemental Resistances | 25% |
| 65+ | -60% to all Elemental Resistances | 15% |
Resistance penalty by progress
The same ladder as it lands during a normal playthrough — this is the penalty carried in your hideout at each stage of the campaign.
| Stage | Elemental Resistances |
|---|---|
| Act 1 | None |
| Act 2 | -10% |
| Act 3 | -20% |
| Act 4 | -30% |
| Interlude — first stage | -40% |
| Interlude — second stage | -50% |
| Interlude — third stage | -50% |
| Maps (tiers 1–5) | -60% |
| Maps (tiers 6–10) | -60% |
| Maps (tiers 11+) | -60% |
Keyword reference
Resistances
Resistances reduce damage taken of the corresponding damage type — Fire, Cold, Lightning or Chaos — up to a Maximum. Fire, Cold and Lightning Resistances are Elemental Resistances. Resistances can be improved with Equipment, Passives & Quest items.
Your Elemental Resistances are lowered as you progress through the game. Elemental Resistances are a vital defensive tool, and should be one of the first things to check if you're having difficulty surviving.
Maximum Resistances
Uncapped Resistance
Uncapped Resistance is the value a Resistance would have if ignoring Maximum Resistance. These values are shown in parentheses at the top of the Character Panel.
Overcapped Resistance
Overcapped Resistance is the amount by which your Uncapped Resistance exceeds your Maximum Resistance for that damage type.
Resistance Penetration
Penetration causes the target's corresponding Resistance to be treated as lower than its actual value by the specified amount when of calculating Damage taken from your Hits. Resistances can only be Penetrated down to a minimum of 0% by default.
Since Penetration only affects Hits and applies to the target's defensive stats rather than your own offensive stats, it does not affect damage with Ailments.
Ignoring Resistances
Ignoring Resistances means your damage cannot be modified in any way by the target's Resistance stats.
Exposure
Exposure is a type of Debuff that lowers the affected enemy's Total Elemental Resistances. By default it lowers Resistances by -20% and lasts for 4 seconds, though some sources of exposure can override these values. Like most sources of lowering Resistances, this can cause the enemy's Resistance to become negative.
Higher Rarity enemies are less affected by Exposure:
15% less Exposure effect on Magic monsters
30% less Exposure effect on Rare monsters
50% less Exposure effect on Unique monsters
Elemental Weakness
Elemental Weakness is a Curse that lowers Elemental Resistances. If not otherwise specified, it lowers Elemental Resistances by 30% and has a duration of 20 seconds.
Resisted by Other Value
Damage from your Hits will effectively ignore the value of the target's relevant Resistance, and instead be mitigated by the specified value of Resistance.
This will still occur even if you Ignore the target's Resistance, as this mitigation is not based on their Resistance stats. Similarly, Penetration will not apply to this Resistance value.
Honour Resistance
You lose this much less Honour.
Maximum Honour Resistance is capped at 75% by default and cannot be higher than 90%.
Common questions
What is the maximum resistance in Path of Exile 2?
The default maximum for Elemental or Chaos resistances is 75%. Maximum resistances cannot be raised above 90%.
Why did my resistances go down?
Resistances reduce damage taken of the corresponding damage type — Fire, Cold, Lightning or Chaos — up to a Maximum. Fire, Cold and Lightning Resistances are Elemental Resistances. Resistances can be improved with Equipment, Passives & Quest items.
What is overcapped resistance?
Overcapped Resistance is the amount by which your Uncapped Resistance exceeds your Maximum Resistance for that damage type.
Does penetration work on ailments?
Penetration causes the target's corresponding Resistance to be treated as lower than its actual value by the specified amount when of calculating Damage taken from your Hits. Resistances can only be Penetrated down to a minimum of 0% by default. Since Penetration only affects Hits and applies to the target's defensive stats rather than your own offensive stats, it does not affect damage with Ailments.