Revamped Fortify Feature Unveiled for Diablo 4
Discover the game-changing addition to Diablo 4 with the Fortify mechanic Gain an edge against enemies with increased defense and damage reduction Master this feature to dominate the battlefield and emerge victorious
Blizzard has introduced some intriguing new features to Diablo 4's combat system, including the addition of Fortify, a defensive mechanism that centres around damage mitigation based on the player's health. While this is a welcome addition, understanding its practical application may initially be a little challenging. With the chaos of battling the denizens of Hell, players may not immediately realise how Fortify is aiding them in combat. Although some builds may not necessarily require this feature, mastering Fortify can prove to be a valuable weapon in a player's arsenal. So, what exactly is Fortify and how does it work?
What does Fortify do in Diablo 4?
When a player's Life falls below their Fortify Life, Fortify kicks in and reduces all incoming damage by 10%. This is visually indicated by a metallic ring around the player's health globe. Fortify can be generated by certain abilities of Barbarians, Druids, and Necromancers. Fortify Life will degrade on its own over time, but will only take damage if players are actively Fortified. In combat, players should aim to generate enough Fortify to keep the damage reduction bonus active at all times.
It is important to note that unlike Barrier, Fortify does not soak up damage. Nevertheless, having Barrier active will prevent any loss of normal or Fortify Life. At present, it remains uncertain whether the Fortified state also minimizes damage inflicted on barriers.
Druids, Barbarians, and Necromancers have the added benefit of Overpower, an offensive combat mechanic that combines their normal health pool with their Fortify health pool for their next hit. This opens up various build paths for these classes, allowing them to focus on staying healthy and triggering big bursts of damage. Interestingly, triggering Overpower does not require players to be in a Fortified state. To further enhance the damage reduction bonus of Fortify, players can slot Sapphires into gear sockets or use specific passive skills like the Barbarian's Defensive Stance. Additionally, players can increase the amount of Fortify generated by their abilities by equipping Helmets and Amulets with relevant Fortify generation stats.
Diablo 4 is available on June 6 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
