Attack
Melee, Strike, AoE
Tier: 3 (Warrior)
Level: 12
Cost: 20 Mana
Attack Speed: 80% of base
Attack Damage: 86%
Requires: Level 42, 96 Str
Requires: Two Hand Mace, One Hand Mace
Attack with a forceful blow, knocking enemies back and weakening their armour.
Knocks Enemies Back on Hit
+2 to Melee Strike Range
Hits Break 1562 Armour
Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.
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Armour Breaker is a Skill Gem in Path of Exile 2 designed for Warrior-class builds that focus on Melee Attacks, Strike skills, and Area of Effect (AoE) damage. This skill offers an effective way to deal with armoured enemies by reducing their Armour and knocking them back with a powerful strike. Armour Breaker is perfect for players who want to both weaken enemies and maintain crowd control during combat.
Key Details of Armour Breaker
Gem Type: Skill Gem
Skill Type: Attack, Melee, Strike, AoE
Level Requirement: Level 42, 96 Strength
Mana Cost: 20 Mana
Attack Speed: 80% of base attack speed
Attack Damage: 86% of base attack damage
Required Weapon: One-Handed Mace or Two-Handed Mace
Core Mechanics of Armour Breaker
Knocks Enemies Back:
Armour Breaker causes a powerful Melee Attack that knocks enemies back on hit. This feature allows players to create space between themselves and the enemy, which can be useful for crowd control or simply preventing enemies from getting too close. This mechanic is especially helpful for builds that rely on keeping enemies at a distance.
Increased Melee Strike Range:
Armour Breaker adds +2 to Melee Strike Range, extending your attack range and making it easier to hit enemies, especially those that are attempting to stay out of your reach. This extended range helps you maintain offensive pressure while ensuring you’re less likely to miss your attacks on moving targets.
Armour Reduction:
When Armour Breaker hits an enemy, it applies a substantial Armour break, reducing the target’s Armour by 1562. This can significantly increase the damage output of your subsequent attacks and those from your allies, making it a valuable skill for boss fights or against heavily armoured enemies.
AoE (Area of Effect):
As an AoE skill, Armour Breaker can hit multiple enemies in a radius, ensuring that it is effective against groups of enemies. This feature makes Armour Breaker a great choice for clearing through packs of enemies while simultaneously reducing their armour to weaken them for follow-up attacks.
How to Maximize Armour Breaker’s Potential
Pair with Armour Penetration:
Since Armour Breaker reduces the Armour of enemies, combining it with Armour Penetration bonuses or skills that further reduce Armour can exponentially increase the effectiveness of this skill. Using Armour Penetration support gems or items that provide Armour Penetration will complement Armour Breaker‘s ability to reduce enemy defences, allowing you to deal even more damage to high-armour targets.
Increase Attack Speed:
Although Armour Breaker has an 80% base attack speed modifier, increasing your attack speed will allow you to hit enemies more frequently and apply Armour Breaker‘s effects more often. Consider investing in Attack Speed nodes or using faster attack support gems to further boost the skill’s utility.
Build Around Knockback:
Knocking enemies back is an integral part of Armour Breaker‘s design. If you want to emphasize the crowd control aspect of the skill, you can pair it with Knockback modifiers from passive tree nodes or gear to increase the distance enemies are knocked back. This can be particularly effective when combined with AoE skills that clear enemies while keeping the battlefield more manageable.
Combine with Damage Buffs:
As Armour Breaker weakens enemies’ defences, using other skills or effects that increase damage against enemies with reduced Armour can significantly amplify its effectiveness. Combining Armour Breaker with Vulnerability or Culling Strike can help ensure that your attacks deal high damage to weakened enemies.
Leverage Melee Strike Range:
The added +2 to Melee Strike Range can be particularly effective when used in tandem with Melee Splash or Melee Physical Damage skills, increasing the skill’s coverage and effectiveness. Armour Breaker‘s increased range helps ensure you can hit enemies that would otherwise be out of reach, making it a great option for high-density combat situations.
How to Use Armour Breaker Effectively
Apply Early in Combat:
Armour Breaker works best when used early in a fight to reduce the Armour of bosses or tough enemies. Its Armour break allows your subsequent attacks to deal more damage, so applying it early ensures you maximize the overall damage output of your team or yourself.
Positioning for Knockback:
Take advantage of the knockback mechanic by positioning yourself in a way that forces enemies into less advantageous areas. By knocking enemies back, you can push them into environmental hazards or just away from you and your allies to prevent them from being swarmed.
Maintain Control Over the Fight:
The Armour Breaker skill also allows for crowd control, as it knocks back enemies who attempt to close the gap between you and them. Use this to your advantage to maintain distance and manage multiple enemies in a fight. This is especially helpful in group battles where you need to control the battlefield.
Pros and Cons of Armour Breaker
Pros:
Reduces enemy Armour, making subsequent attacks more damaging.
Knocks back enemies, providing crowd control and giving you breathing room.
AoE damage allows you to hit multiple enemies at once.
Increased Melee Strike Range makes hitting enemies easier and reduces the chance of missing.
Ideal for Warrior-class builds using One-Handed or Two-Handed Maces.
Cons:
The Mana cost of 20 Mana per use could become significant with frequent use in longer fights.
Reduced attack speed (80% of base) may not suit players seeking high-speed attack builds.
Requires specific weapons (One-Hand Mace or Two-Hand Mace), limiting its versatility for certain builds.
Conclusion
Armour Breaker is a powerful Melee Strike skill gem in Path of Exile 2 that offers both damage reduction and crowd control. With its ability to knock back enemies, reduce Armour, and deal AoE damage, this skill is perfect for builds focused on one-handed or two-handed maces. By weakening the enemy’s Armour and pushing them away, you can significantly increase your damage output while controlling the flow of battle.
Whether you’re clearing packs of enemies or facing off against tough armoured bosses, Armour Breaker is an essential tool for any Warrior-focused character. With proper Mana management, attack speed scaling, and synergy with other damage-enhancing skills, Armour Breaker can become a cornerstone of your Melee build’s effectiveness in Path of Exile 2.