This Fortify guide will lay out what the mechanic is, what it is not and how it can be used in Diablo 4. Although any class can technically access the Fortify mechanic it is the Barbarian, Druid and Necromancer who can take full advantage of it.
What is Fortify
Fortify is a damage reduction mechanic that can reduce incoming damage by at least 10% for a variable period of time. It is not a shield like Barrier and does not work in the same way nor is it affected by any buff that kicks in "While you have an active barrier". You can be Fortified and have a Barrier at the same time.
Fortify itself does nothing for you, it is only when your Fortify level is greater than or equal to your current Life (not Max Life) that you become Fortified and that is when the damage mitigation kicks in.
Your health globe will indicate when you have become fortified with a heavy metal encasement around it (image right). If your health level then increases above your Fortify level (you drink a potion or generate health another way) you will become unfortified. This means you can end up flipping between the two states of Fortified and Unfortified very easily so it's a mechanic you should go all in on and stack up on as many Fortify-generating items as you can to ensure you can stay Fortified for the longest period possible.
How Does Fortify Reduce Damage?
Its base damage reduction is 10% but this can be increased by choosing skills and items as detailed below. Once Fortified, you will benefit from at least the base 10% reduction for as long as the level remains above your health level.
If you take a hit that takes your Fortify level below your health you will be Fortified for a portion of the damage below your health line. For example:
- You have 700 Health Level
- You have 500 Fortify Level
- You are hit for 300 reducing your health to 400
- The first 100 of that hit you are not fortified
- The last 200 of theathit you are fortified.
If you stop attacking and therefore generating Fortify the Fortify level will begin to drop and if it drops below your health line you become Unfortified again.
- Fortify is also part of the Overpower calculation.
Fortify Skills
The following active and passive skills generate Fortify or apply bonuses whilst you are Fortified.
Barbarian |
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Basic Tree |
Enhanced BashDamaging a Stunned enemy with Bash grants you 20% to Maximum life as Fortify. Double this amount when using a Two-Handed weapon. Requires point in Bash. Skill |
Defensive Tree |
Strategic Iron SkinIron Skin also grants 20% Maximum Life as Fortify. Double this amount if cast while below 50% Life. Requires point in Enhanced Iron Skin. Skill |
Strategic Rallying CryRallying Cry grants you 10% Maximum Life as Fortify. While Rallying Cry is active, you gain an additional 2% Maximum Life as Fortify each time you take or deal Direct Damage. Requires point in Enhanced Rallying Cry. Skill |
Brawling Tree |
Mighty War CryWar Cry grants 15% Maximum Life as Fortify. Requires point in Enhanced War Cry. Skill |
Thick SkinEach time you take Direct Damage gain 0.4 / 0.7 / 1.1% Maximum Life as Fortify. Passive |
CounteroffensiveWhile you have Fortify for over 50% of your Maximum Life, you deal x 4 / 8 / 12% increased damage. Requires a point in Thick Skin. Passive |
Defensive StanceIncrease the Damage Reduction gained while you are Fortified by an additional 2%. Requires a point in Thick Skin. Passive |
Druid |
Basic Tree |
Fierce Earth SpikeFortify for 12% of your Maximum Life whenever Earth Spike damages enemies who are Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Back. Skill |
Enhanced MaulIf an enemy is hit by Maul, then Fortify for 8% of your Maximum Life. Skill |
Defensive Tree |
Preserving Earthen BulwarkCasting Earthen Bulwark grants 18% of your Maximum Life as Fortify. Skill |
Enhanced Debilitating RoarDebilitating Roar also Fortifies you for 22% Maximum Life. Skill |
Companion Tree |
Ferocious Wolf PackLucky Hit: Your Wolves' attacks have up to a 40% chance to Fortify you for 8% Maximum Life. Skill |
Wrath Tree |
Natural BoulderWhile you have any Fortify, Boulder has +20% increased Critical Strike Chance. Skill |
Natural TrampleCasting Trample grants 20% Maximum Life as Fortify. Skill |
SafeguardCritical Strikes with Earth skills Fortify you for 2 /4 / 7% Maximum Life. Requires a point in Crushing Earth. Passive |
Stone GuardWhile you have Fortify for over 50% of your Maximum Life, your Earth skills deal x 4 /8 / 12% increased damage. Requires a point in Crushing Earth. Passive |
Ultimate Tree |
Supreme Grizzly RageGain 8% Maximum Life as Fortify per second while Grizzly Rage is active. Skill |
Defensive PostureIncrease the amount of Fortify you gain from all sources by + 5 / 10 / 15%. Passive |
Thick HideWhenever you are Stunned, Immobilized, or Knocked Down, Fortify for 10 / 20 / 30% Maximum Life. Requires point in Defensive Posture. Passive |
Nature's Resolve5 / 10 / 15% chance when struck to Fortify you for 4% Maximum life. Requires point in Defensive Posture. Passive |
UnrestrainedReduce the duration of Control Impairing Effects by 5 / 10 / 15%. Doubled this effect while you have Fortify for over 50% of your Maximum Life. Requires a point in Thick Hide or Nature's Resolve. Passive |
Natural FortitudeShapeshifting Fortifies you for 2 / 4 / 6% Maximum Life. Requires a point in Quickshift. Passive |
Necromancer |
Basic Tree |
Initiate's HemorrhageHemorrhage grants 1.6% of your Maximum life as Fortify each time it hits an enemy, and has a 1.5% chance per enemy hit to Fortify you for 100% of your Maximum Life. Skill |
Core Tree |
Supernatural Blood SurgeEach time an enemy is hit by Blood Surge's nova, you are Fortified for 1.1% Maximum life. While you have Fortify for over 50% of your Maximum Life, Blood Surge deals x 30% increased damage. Skill |
Corpse & Macabre Tree |
Drain VitalityLucky Hit: Hitting enemies with Blood skills has up to a 30% chance to Fortify you for 2.5% Maximum life. Point required in Coalesced Blood. Passive |
Fortify Items
The following items either generate Fortify or apply a bonus whilst you are Fortified.
Legendary Aspects
Aspect of Numbing Wrath |
Defensive | Each point of Fury generated while at Maximum Fury grants [] Fortify.
Helm, Chest, Pants, Shield, Amulet (+50%) |
Heathen's Keep (Map) |
Hawezar | Barbarian |
Aspect of Tempering Blows |
Defensive | After swapping weapons 6 times, gain # Fortify.
Helm, Chest, Pants, Shield, Amulet (+50%) |
Defiled Catacomb (Map) |
Fractured Peaks | Barbarian |
Aspect of Retaliation |
Offensive | Your Core Skills deal up to 20 - 30% increased damage based on your amount of Fortify.
Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) |
Seaside Descent (Map) |
Dry Steppes | Druid |
Ballistic Aspect |
Utility | When you have Fortify your Earth Skills gain +2 Ranks.
Helm, Chest, Gloves, Boots, Shield, Amulet (+50%) |
Whispering Pines (Map) |
Scosglen | Druid |
Skinwalker's Aspect |
Defensive | When you use a Shapeshifting Skill that changes your form, gain .07 - .12 Life. If you are at full Life, gain the same amount as Fortify.
Helm, Chest, Pants, Shield, Amulet (+50%) |
Fading Echo (Map) |
Kehjistan | Druid |
Steadfast Berserker's Aspect |
Defensive | Lucky Hit: Up to a 35% chance to gain [#] Fortify whenever you deal direct damage while Berserking.
Helm, Chest, Pants, Shield, Amulet (+50%) |
N/A | Extraction | Barbarian |
Unique Items
Mutilator PlateThe Cathedral of Light's earliest attempts at crafting their penitent armor was to infuse the plate with painful blood magic, before such acts were deemed heretical - Barrett's Book of Implements Type: Chest Armor Description: You are Blood Lanced, and when Blood Lance would deal damage to you it instead Fortifies you for 1 – 2% of your Maximum Life and has a 5% chance to form a Blood Orb. Blood Lance deals x 10 – 20% increased damage. |
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Insatiable FuryWhen the Days of Ash began, the great druid Nafain reminded his disciples that nothing, not even the loss of their humanity, was too great a sacrifice to protect Túr Dúlra from Astaroth's flames. Type: Chest Armor Description: Werebear form is now your true form, and you gain + 3 Ranks to all Werebear Skills . |
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Vasily's Prayer"Roots from the Great Oak growing at the seaward statue of Vasily will, on rare occasions, be found twisted back upon themselves, suffused with ferocious magic." - Barrett's Book of Implements Type: Helm Description: Your Earth Skills are now also Werebear Skills and Fortify you for [x]. |
Affixes: - Item Power 725
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Paragon Glyphs
Battle-HardenedMagic: Barbarian / Druid / Necromancer Bonus:
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Blood-DrinkerRare: Necromancer Bonus:
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Additional Bonus:
Requirements: 40 Intelligence (in radius range) | |
ExhumationRare: Necromancer Bonus:
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Additional Bonus:
Requirements: 40 Intelligence (in radius range) | |
UndauntedRare: Barbarian / Druid / Necromancer Bonus:
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Additional Bonus:
Requirements: 25 Willpower (Barb, Necro) / Intelligence (Druid) (in radius range) |
Fortify Item Affixes
Attribute | Amulet | Ring | Chest | Legs | Boots | Off-Hand | Shield |
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Damage Reduction Whilst Fortified [4.9 - 10.5%] - Barb, Druid, Necro |
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Fortify Generation [15 - 22%] - Barb, Druid, Necro |
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Attribute | Amulet | Ring | Chest | Legs | Boots | Off-Hand | Shield |
Note: Offhand is Druid and Necromancer only and Shield is Necromancer only.
Name | Description |
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Fortify | Fortified characters take 10% reduced damage. You become Fortified when you have more Fortify than your current Life. |