Diablo 4: How to Use Barrier Generation

The Diablo 4 Barrier Generation is an in-game mechanic that improves the survivability of your character. With it, you’ll gain a protective shielding that can mitigate some damage from enemies. Our Diablo 4 Barrier Generation guide discusses how this mechanic works, as well as the skills and gear that affect it.

How to Use Barrier Generation in Diablo 4

Barrier Generation Mechanic — Explained

The Diablo 4 Barrier Generation mechanic is quite different from Fortify. Here’s how they differ:

• Barrier appears as a blue shielding over your character’s HP in the lower-left corner of the screen. Fortify, meanwhile, appears as a bright red outline.
• Both facets increase survivability, albeit in different ways. Fortify creates bonus life, and is subsequently used when you unleash Overpower attacks. Barrier, meanwhile, is flat damage absorption (i.e., the damage is subtracted from the barrier’s value before it decreases your Fortified life).
• Fortify and Barrier are generated and further bolstered by certain skills, items, and aspects, which I’ll detail below.
• Note that certain force fields, such as the one created by Vigo’s Protective Amulet or the Protective Aspect, are not necessarily considered Barriers. Those grant full immunity, not plain damage absorption.

Diablo 4 Classes With Barrier Generation

Some classes have abilities that provide Barrier Generation:

• Druid: Earthen Bulwark — Rocks surround you for three seconds, creating a Barrier that absorbs 45% of your base life.
• Barbarian: Iron Skin — A Barrier absorbs 50% of your missing life for five seconds.
• Sorcerer — The Sorcerer has several perks that provide this effect:
  • Ice Armor — Creates a Barrier made of ice that absorbs 30% of your base life in damage; an additional 5% of the damage you deal is added to this Barrier.
  • Protection — Using a skill with a cooldown grants 10% of your max HP as a Barrier.
  • Deep Freeze — After the ultimate skill ends, you gain 10% of your base life as a Barrier, multiplied by the number of enemies you initially froze using the skill.

Items and Legendary Aspects With Barrier Generation

Even though some classes don’t normally use the Diablo 4 Barrier Generation mechanic by way of skills, there are still certain facets that can maximize this feature. For instance, socketing a Diamond to an armor piece grants increased Barrier Generation.

Likewise, I’ve listed some Legendary Aspects that are applicable to all classes:

• Aspect of the Protector — Damaging an elite enemy grants a Barrier that absorbs X amount of damage.
• Aspect of the Deflecting Barrier — While you have a Barrier active, there is a chance to ignore direct damage from distant enemies.
• Conceited Aspect — Deal increased damage while you have a Barrier active.

All in all, the Barrier Generation mechanic in Diablo 4 is mostly used for extra survivability. However, with the right build, items, and aspects, this facet can also affect your offense. For more tips, walkthroughs, and strategies, our Diablo 4 tips hub has you covered.