Damage Reduction (DR) is the primary means of reducing damage from a hit. It is usually derived from armor, but it can can be raised through magic, abilities, talents, and items. Many creatures also have natural DR.
Damage Reduction is subtracted directly from all incoming damage E.g., a hit that initially does 20 damage to a target with 7 DR will be reduced to 13 damage. Damage will never be reduced below 20% of the initial incoming amount. When this minimum value is reached, a MIN message will be displayed in the relevant attack line of the combat log.
Different suits of armor, as well as different creatures, will grant different DR values against different damage types. For example, Plate armor is vulnerable against Shock damage: its Shock DR modifier is -50% so a plate armor would have 6 shock DR instead of the normal 12 DR and a fine plate armor would have 7 shock DR instead of the 14 base DR.
Buffs in Pillars of Eternity[]
The primary way to increase characters Damage Reduction is to simply wear an armor. Protection of armors can be further enhanced through enchanting by increasing quality or damage proofing them.
The following section lists various other means to (temporarily) increase a character's Damage Reduction. These can be always combined with armor-related protection (i.e., they stack with Damage Reduction from armors).
Passive talents learned as a reward (Watcher-only)[]
Unlimited – permanently active once learned
| Type | Source | Effect | Gained by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quest reward talent | Blooded Hunter | +1  (Slash, Pierce), +1 Stealth
|
Talk to Alwah if you saved her in Prison of Ice. |
| Quest reward talent | Song of the Heavens | +2 (Shock), +1 Perception
|
Reward for the task Songs of the Wild when you give Delem all 3 birds |
| Faction talent (Knights of the Crucible) |
Second Skin | +2 when wearing armor
|
Reward for Winds of Steel |
| Effigy's Resentment talent | Effigy's Resentment: Hiravias | +1 (Slash), +1 Dexterity
|
Sacrifice Hiravias to the Blood Pool |
| Effigy's Resentment talent | Effigy's Resentment: Pallegina | +1 (Shock), +1 Resolve
|
Sacrifice Pallegina to the Blood Pool |
Passive abilities and talents learned via level-up (any character)[]
Unlimited – permanently active once learned
| Type | Source | Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racial ability (Pale elf) |
Elemental Endurance | 1 (auto) | +10 (Burn, Freeze)
|
| Racial ability (Fire godlike) |
Battle-Forged | 1 (auto) | +4 , Target (Attacker): 2 Burn Damage when below 50% Endurance
|
| Barbarian ability | Thick-skinned | 7+ | +3 (Slash, Pierce, Crush)
|
| Monk ability | Iron Wheel [WM1] | 11+ | +1 per Wound
|
| Utility talent | Scion of Flame | 2+ | +5 (Burn), +20% to all burn damage you deal
|
| Utility talent | Heart of the Storm | 2+ | +5 (Shock), +20% to all shock damage you deal
|
| Utility talent | Spirit of Decay | 2+ | +5 (Corrode), +20% to all corrode damage you deal
|
| Utility talent | Secrets of Rime | 2+ | +5 (Freeze), +20% to all freeze damage you deal
|
Weapons[]
Unlimited – while equipped
| Slot | Item | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Burn bonuses
| ||
| Estoc | Drake's Bell | +3 (Burn) (Burn-Proofed) |
Equipment[]
Highest for each damage type – while equipped
Resting bonuses[]
Only one – see table for duration
| Location | Inn | Room | Effect | Lasts for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dyrford Village | Dracogen Inn | Wurm's Nest | +6 (Burn), +2 Dexterity |
2 rests |
| anywhere | Camping Bonus from Survival | +1/+2/+3 (1/7/13 Survival) |
1 rest | |
Consumable items[]
Highest for each damage type – temporary bonus when used
Consumables include:
Foods and Drinks – consumable only before combat[]
| Type | Source | Effect | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drink | Ale | +2
|
150 seconds |
| Drink | Beer | +1
|
300 seconds |
| Drink | Mead | +1
|
300 seconds |
| Drink | White Ynefer [WM1] | +3
|
120 seconds |
Potions – consumable only during combat[]
| Type | Source | Effect | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Potion of Spirit Shield | +3 , +30 Concentration
|
45 sec |
| Level 2 | Potion of Bulwark Against The Elements | +15 (Burn, Shock, Corrode, Freeze)
|
60 sec |
| Level 2 | Potion of Iron Skin | +8
|
Until hit or critically hit |
| Level 4 | Potion of Flame Shield [WM1] | +10 (Freeze), Characters hitting User: 10-15 Burn damage (Accuracy +10 vs. Reflex)
|
45 sec |
Modal or active buffs[]
⚠️‑TODO‑⚠️
Buffs in Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire[]
⚠️‑TODO‑⚠️
Development History[]
- Earlier in development DR would reduce the damage by a percentage and Damage Threshold would subtract directly from the damage. But later in developement the percentage reduction was removed and the direct subtraction was now called Damage Reduction instead of Damage Threshold.