In Path of Exile 2 (POE 2), the game’s vast itemization system provides players with a treasure trove of unique items that can significantly alter gameplay strategies. Among these items is Saffell’s Frame, a unique Emblem Crest shield that stands out due to its powerful defensive capabilities and the strategic advantages it provides in combat. This article will explore the POE 2 Currency features, mechanics, and best use cases for Saffell’s Frame, offering players insights into how they can maximize its potential in their builds.

What is Saffell’s Frame?

Saffell’s Frame is a unique Emblem Crest Shield, part of the expanding catalog of shields in POE 2. As a unique item, it boasts specialized stats and modifiers that are not available on regular shields, making it a highly sought-after item for players who wish to enhance their defenses or bolster specific aspects of their gameplay. In POE 2, shields serve as crucial components in defensive builds, and Saffell’s Frame offers both survivability and unique utility through its stats.

Key Modifiers and Stats

Saffell’s Frame is defined by its notable modifiers, which can drastically change the dynamics of combat. Some of the key features of this shield include:

High Block Chance: As a shield, one of the most crucial aspects of Saffell’s Frame is its ability to increase the chance to block incoming attacks. Block chance is vital for mitigating damage, especially for builds that focus on physical damage or are vulnerable to rapid bursts of damage. With high block chance, players can gain a substantial defensive advantage in sustained fights.

Elemental Resistances: One of the standout features of Saffell’s Frame is its boost to elemental resistances. POE 2 often throws enemies with elemental-based attacks at the player, and this shield helps mitigate that threat. Depending on the exact modifiers, Saffell’s Frame can provide significant boosts to fire, cold, or lightning resistances, making it an excellent choice for players who need to balance defense and resistances.

Bonus to Energy Shield: Saffell’s Frame may come with added bonuses to Energy Shield, which provides an additional layer of protection on top of life. This makes the shield a prime candidate for energy shield-based builds, where players rely on energy shield to absorb damage before it hits their health pool.

Bonus to Maximum Life: Some versions of Saffell’s Frame may also come with increased maximum life, ensuring that players with a life-based defensive build can further improve their survivability. Coupled with energy shield or high block chance, this increases the shield's overall effectiveness.

Increased Effect of Auras: One of the most powerful bonuses tied to Saffell’s Frame is the increase in the effect of auras. Many defensive auras, like Determination, Grace, or Purity of Elements, can become far more potent when combined with Saffell’s Frame. The shield’s ability to boost aura effects enhances the defensive prowess of a character, creating an all-around tanky presence in combat.

Strategic Uses for Saffell’s Frame

Saffell’s Frame is a versatile shield that can be effectively used in various builds. Some of the most effective ways to incorporate this shield into a character’s strategy include:

Block and Auras Build: One of the most popular ways to use Saffell’s Frame is in a block-based defensive build. With a high block chance, players can effectively shrug off incoming attacks, making them extremely difficult to kill in both PvP and PvE content. This is especially effective when paired with auras like Determination for increased armor or Grace for evasion.

Energy Shield-Based Builds: For players focusing on energy shield builds, the additional energy shield granted by Saffell’s Frame offers another layer of protection. Energy shield builds are often fragile in terms of life, so any additional buffer is extremely valuable. This allows for more risk-taking in combat, knowing that the shield will absorb a portion of the damage.

Elemental Resistance Tank: In high-level content or against bosses with elemental damage, Saffell’s Frame can be the perfect choice for elemental resistance stacking. The resistances provided by the shield can significantly reduce the incoming elemental damage, allowing players to take hits from fire, cold, or lightning-based bosses with ease.

Hybrid Life and Energy Shield Builds: Hybrid builds that use both life and energy shield can benefit from Saffell’s Frame due to its synergy with both defense types. This allows players to balance both survival layers, making them resilient to a wide range of attack types.

Combining Saffell’s Frame with Other Gear

To further optimize the use of Saffell’s Frame, players can pair it with other gear that complements its strengths:

High Block Chance Items: Combining Saffell’s Frame with other items that increase block chance or block effectiveness can make for a truly tanky character. Certain rings, amulets, or passive skill tree nodes further amplify the effectiveness of the shield’s block mechanics.

Aura Boosting Gear: Gear that boosts aura effect, such as The Vertex helmet or specific rings with “Increased Effect of Auras,” works synergistically with Saffell’s Frame. This boosts the defensive auras significantly, making you even harder to kill.

Energy Shield and Life Hybrid Items: To enhance the tankiness of a hybrid build, gear that provides both energy shield and life will stack well with the bonuses from Saffell’s Frame.

Conclusion

Saffell’s Frame is a unique and powerful shield in Path of Exile 2 that provides substantial defensive benefits through block chance, elemental resistances, energy shield bonuses, and aura amplification. Its versatility allows it to be used in a wide range of builds, from tanky, block-based setups to energy shield-centric characters. By understanding the synergies between Saffell’s Frame and your build, you can unlock a higher level of defense and survivability in the cheap POE 2 Orbs chaotic world of Path of Exile 2.