
Path of Exile 2: Dawn of the Hunt – All Unique Body Armours
The Dawn of the Hunt expansion for Path of Exile 2 introduces a diverse and ambitious set of Unique Body Armours, each bringing fresh mechanics, build-defining effects, and thematic flair. From the feral synergy of Yriel’s Fostering to the high-risk curse mechanics of Soul Mantle and the defensive mastery of Sacrosanctum, these Uniques cater to a wide range of archetypes—be it Minion builds, Totem specialists, ES recharge tanks, or Companion-focused summoners. This compilation dives into Dawn of The Hunt new Unique Body Armour with critical commentary, evaluating their affix values, synergy potential, and where they fit into the current meta. Whether you’re chasing the next meta-defining setup or looking to meme your way to glory, there’s a chestpiece here for every exile.
Zerphi’s Serape — Scalper’s Jacket
Core Stats
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(60–80)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield
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+40–60 to maximum Mana
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50% increased Attribute Requirements
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(-30–30)% reduced Life Regeneration rate
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(-30–30)% reduced Mana Regeneration Rate
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Grants Soul Eater
Build Synergy
Zerphi’s Serape offers a unique mix of hybrid defense (Evasion + Energy Shield) alongside a highly valuable mod: Soul Eater, which grants stacking skill speed.
This makes it particularly potent for builds that thrive in dense monster packs and improve the speed of either spell casting or melee strike – in turn increase DPS.
Despite this powerful notable, it’s downside are a little too much for several builds – but still offer a pretty unique thing for theory crafter to try out.
Verdict
Due to the level requirement (39) and powerful kill-based scaling, this chest shines best in mid to endgame mapping. Its scaling potential in maps with high density is massive, but it requires careful mitigation of regen penalties. Highly build-dependent.
Hyrri’s Ire — Armoured Vest
“Hyrri loosed a barrage of arrows,tipped with a poisoned hatredonly oppression can ferment.”
Core Stats
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(100–130)% increased Evasion Rating
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Adds (13–20) to (21–31) Cold Damage to Attacks
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+30–40 to Dexterity
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25% increased Chill Duration on Enemies
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Can Evade all Hits if you have not been Hit Recently
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Implicit: (30–40)% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
Build Synergy
This classic returns with a vengeance in PoE2, continuing its synergy with Dexterity-stacking, Cold-based builds or evasive build (Dexterity Base). The temporary invulnerability against hits makes it perfect for hit-and-run playstyles and kiting-based tactics. The cold damage bonus and ailment support round it out as a premium offensive/defensive hybrid.
Verdict
At level 73, this armour is aimed at late-game bow or evasion builds. One of the strongest picks for Cold conversion or evasion stacking characters. With the introduction of Huntress this armor can also be one of the most seek out unique at the end game.
Titanrot Cataphract — Maraketh Cuirass
Core Stats
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(400–500)% increased Armour
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(15–30)% increased Strength
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10% reduced Dexterity
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10% reduced Intelligence
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No Life Regeneration
Build Synergy
This is a pure tanky Strength-based chest, clearly designed for face-tanking melee characters—like Warriors (Warbringer/ Titan or the new Smith of Kitava) The stat penalty to Dex and Int is steep, as is the complete removal of Life regen. However, the extreme Armour scaling and Strength bonus offset this in high-impact melee builds.
Verdict
With a level requirement of only 20, it’s viable from early game, but the build must be highly specialized. Avoid on hybrid or regen-reliant setups.
Cloak of Defiance — Havoc Raiment
“When the throat roars,As eyes weep,When the hand grips hardWith trembling fingers,When belly twists Yet legs stand strong,That is the work Of the Defiant Heart.”
Core Stats
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(50–100)% increased Energy Shield
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+100–150 to maximum Mana
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50% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
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30% of Damage taken from Mana before Life
Build Synergy
The Mind Over Matter (MoM) archetype returns. This chest is a staple for spellcasters and mana-based tanking builds. The high mana regen and flat mana bonus make it ideal for casters using large mana pools as shields—especially those leveraging Mind Over Matter and Archmage setups.
Verdict
A core item for mid-to-late game casters looking to maximize Mana as a defensive layer. Needs support gear for full potential but remains a best-in-slot option for MoM builds.
Sands of Silk — Shrouded Vest
“The desert is ever flowing.”
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Stats:
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Evasion Rating: (153–204)
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Level Requirement: 66
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+50–80 Maximum Mana | +10–20 Dexterity | +10–20 Intelligence | +10–15% Fire Resistance
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15–30% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
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Grants Level 5 Blink skill
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Dodge roll is replaced by Blink
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Synergy:
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This armor is built for mobile casters or ranged fighters who need agility and resource boosts.
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The replacement of dodge with Blink offers a unique movement mechanic, favoring players who plan positioning precisely.
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Benefits from builds using high cooldown mobility skills (e.g., Blink, Shadow Step variants), or mana pool scaling.
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Well if you have ever wonder what is a “discount” Enigma – This is the answer.
The Mutable Star — Cleric Vestments
“Through every great purge, and every fiery inquisition,the Twilight Order endured in secret.”
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Stats:
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Armour: (296–370), Energy Shield: (106–132)
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Level Requirement: 45
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(100–150)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
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(50–100)% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate
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25–35 Life Regen/sec
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(30–50)% reduced Bleeding & Ignite Duration on you
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Defend as if you had 1% more Armour per 1% current Energy Shield
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Synergy:
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Blends tankiness with hybrid scaling: the defensive multiplier based on Energy Shield percentage rewards careful shield management.
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Pairs well with Keystone passives allow for high uptime on ES.
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Verdict:
A very strong mid to end-game option. It offers a reliable balance of regen, mitigation, and ailment resistance—ideal for slow-paced, defensive builds.
Widow’s Reign — Knight Armour
“That day, both the Unblinking Eye andtheir enemies stood in silence. That day,the sky was clear, but it was raining.”
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Stats:
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Armour: (296–370), Evasion: (266–332)
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Level Requirement: 45
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(100–150)% increased Armour and Evasion
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+(100–150) to Maximum Life | +(17–23)% to Chaos Resistance
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+(200–300) to Ailment Threshold
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Life lost to damage is Reserved instead — recoverable after 5 seconds of no Life damage
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Synergy:
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An experimental piece best used in high-regen or Life recovery burst builds.
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The reservation mechanic is defensive but may hinder sustained combat — works well for “hit-and-run” tactics or builds with long immunity phases.
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Great when paired with mechanics like Ward, Totem playstyles, or when using skills like Steelskin for windowed invulnerability.
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Verdict:
Highly niche, but innovative. Excellent in mid-to-late game setups that avoid continuous Life damage. Risky in constant-damage environments like boss arenas.
Waveshaper — Tideseer Mantle
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Stats:
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Armour: 165, Energy Shield: (158–258)
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Level Requirement: 51
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+100–200 to Energy Shield | +20–40 to Spirit
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+25–35% to Fire & Cold Resistance
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Mana Regeneration affects Energy Shield Recharge Rate
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Gain (30–50)% of Maximum Mana as Armour
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Synergy:
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This robe thrives in spirit-heavy, high-mana builds,
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Scales off multiple defense layers: Armour, ES, and Resistances — solid for hybrid tanky casters.
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Can synergize with mana stacking passives and support gems that reward high mana pools (e.g., Arcane Cloak builds).
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Verdict:
Versatile endgame candidate. Especially effective for caster builds that require spirit, and mana-conversion tanks.
Yriel’s Fostering (Strider Vest)
“Feed a beast and it will not hunt.Protect it and it will not fight.Ferocity must be learned, not taught.It is suffering that forges the greatest warriors.”
- Requires Level 52, 107 Dex
(100–150)% increased Evasion Rating+
|(80–120) to maximum Life|+
|(10–30) to Spirit|-
|(40–60)% reduced Bleeding Duration on you|-
|(40–60)% reduced Poison Duration on you|
You can have two Companions of different types
This is the ultimate mid-game armor for Companion-heavy builds. The dual-Companion mechanic is unique and a potential enabler for builds that utilise the new Tame Beast skill. The defensive layers—Life, Evasion, and ailment duration reductions—make it surprisingly robust. However, its true strength lies in synergy with builds focused on Companion scaling and active Beast Companion interactions.
Vis Mortis (Plated Raiment)
“Reap what others have sownMuster them from their gravesParade them for your pleasureZealots in mortis enslaved”
Requires Level 58, 120 Int
(70–100)% increased Energy Shield+
|(70–100) to maximum Mana|
Minions have 50% reduced maximum Life
Minions have Unholy Might
One of the most thematic items for summoner-style builds. The drawback of reduced minion life is offset by the immense benefit of Unholy Might, which gives minions Chaos damage penetration on kill. It’s ideal for fast, aggressive summoner builds that rely on damage over minion durability. Definitely a build-around item.
Soul Mantle (Sacrificial Mantle)
Requires Level 36, 41 Str, 41 Int
(80–120)% increased Armour and Energy Shield+
|10 to Strength|+
|15 to Intelligence|-
|(20–30)% reduced Totem Life|
`+1 to maximum number of Summoned Totems*
Inflicts a random Curse on you when your Totems die, ignoring Curse limit
A returning classic, now with modern POE2 balance. This is the go-to for Totem builds looking to push to five or even six totems with additional support gems. The Curse downside can be mitigated with Curse Immunity or used as a synergy with self-curse setups. It’s an iconic high-risk, high-reward chest.
The Fallen Formation (Lamellar Mail)
“”I will never forget. I will carry your memoryforward, all of you, from this ghastly Vale.”- Artair, last survivor of the Ogham rebellion”
Requires Level 52, 59 Str, 59 Dex
(100–200)% increased Armour and Evasion+
|(20–30) to Strength|+
|(20–30) to Dexterity|+
|(8–12) Life Regeneration per second|-
|20 to maximum Valour|
Banners always have maximum Valour
This chest screams Banner builds. With guaranteed max Valour, it enables banner-triggered effects to always function at peak capacity. Life regen is fantastic for sustain, and attribute boosts allow for broader build flexibility. The Valour penalty hurts, but the payoff is excellent for characters leaning into Banner synergies.
A great option for experiment with Tactician Build
Gloamgown (Elementalist Robe)
Requires Level 45, 94 Int
(100–140)% increased Energy Shield+
|(30–40) to Spirit|+
|(25–35)% to Cold Resistance|
1000% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate
Your base Energy Shield Recharge Delay is 10 seconds
A niche item designed for extreme ES recharge builds. While the delay makes it unusable for fast-paced combat scenarios, it could enable high-reward, hit-and-run strategies or low-life builds using Spirit stacking and instant recovery through recharge tricks. Likely to see use in meme setups or fringe theorycrafts rather than meta-defining builds.
The Road Warrior (Raider Plate)
Requires Level 16, 34 Str+
|(10–15) to all Attributes|+
|(15–30)% to Fire Resistance|+
|(15–30)% to Lightning Resistance|+
|(10–15) Life Regeneration per second|
Moving while Bleeding doesn’t cause you to take extra damage
Despite its low level requirement, this chest has enormous quality-of-life and defensive value. Perfect for early League start characters, it mitigates one of the most dangerous early ailments (Bleed) while providing all-res and regen. Also highly viable in Hardcore modes or self-imposed challenges.
Sacrosanctum (Corvus Mantle)
Requires Level 68, 86 Str, 86 Int
- (80–120)% increased Armour and Energy Shield
+
|(20–30) to Strength- |
+
|(20–30) to Intelligence| +
|(17–23)% to Chaos Resistance|+
|(5–10)% of Damage taken Recouped as Life|- Recouped Life is also Recouped as Energy Shield
This chest excels in hybrid builds that balance tankiness and mitigation. Recoup mechanics are a standout in POE2’s meta, and being able to double-dip with both Life and ES makes this a phenomenal defensive choice. Great for endgame farming, bossing, or any scenario with sustained hits rather than spikes.
Silks of Veneration (Enlightened Robe)
Requires Level 68, 157 Int
(40–50)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate (Implicit)+
|(30–50) to Spirit|+
|(20–30) to Intelligence|+
|(10–20)% to all Elemental Resistances|+
|(30–50)% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate|
Current Energy Shield also grants Elemental Damage reduction
This robe is all about hybrid defense and sustainability. It provides solid ES and recharge enhancements, but its standout is the Elemental Damage reduction tied to ES values. Combine with high Spirit scaling or ES stacking builds to maximize damage mitigation. One of the strongest robes for defensive casters or Spirit tanks.
Conclusion: Which Body Armour Will Shape Your Build?
The Unique Body Armours introduced in Dawn of the Hunt expand the possibilities for both early and endgame builds, offering powerful new layers of interaction with core mechanics like Spirit, Valour, Companion synergy, and Energy Shield Recharge. Some, like Gloamgown and Sacrosanctum, introduce niche but potent defensive layering, while others like Yriel’s Fostering and Soul Mantle open up archetypes previously underexplored in POE2.
As you theorycraft your next build, don’t forget to explore the rest of our Path of Exile 2 Uniques Compilation below:
- All Unique Bucklers in Path of Exile 2 (Dawn of the Hunt)
- Path of Exile 2 Unique Jewelry Compilation Rings, Amulets & Belts in Dawn of The Hunt
- Dawn of the Hunt, Dawn of The Hunt Unique Items, Path of Exile 2
- April 24, 2025