The Dawn of the Hunt expansion introduces an exciting new offhand archetype in Path of Exile 2: the Buckler. These lightweight shields are strongly associated with the Huntress class and provide a balance of evasion, parrying mechanics, and defensive utility. This article highlights all newly added Unique Bucklers, their lore, effects, and potential Build Synergys in current meta builds.

All New Unique Bucklers – Dawn of the Hunt Expansion | Path of Exile 2

Buckler is a step forward from GGG toward the approach of a more action-oriented playstyle. While still a big debate at the moment for the community on whether it’s a good approach for Path of Exile 2 – It is definitely a bold move to experiement with a new playstyle

The Dawn of the Hunt expansion introduces an exciting new offhand archetype in Path of Exile 2: the Buckler. These lightweight shields are strongly associated with the Huntress class and provide a balance of evasion, parrying mechanics, and defensive utility. This article highlights all newly added Unique Bucklers, their lore, effects, and potential Build Synergys in current meta builds.

Unique Bucklers Overview (Dawn of the Hunt)

Each of these Bucklers grants the Parry skill by default and caters to unique defensive or offensive setups. Whether you’re building a high-evasion critical attacker, a tanky hybrid parry build, or a spell-based parry trickster, there’s a Buckler here to fit your style.

Buckler is one of the step forward GGG’s vision for a more engaging combat. By Default, when holding Parry button, your character will automatically perform the parry animation, This will apply the Parried Debuff. Follow this with other skill can gain certain effect.

Disengage – one of the skill that utilize the Parry Debuff to gain Frenzy Charge – also allowing you to escape certain death.

Bloodbarrier (Iron Buckler)

Grants Skill: Parry
(20–30)% increased Block chance
+(13–17)% to Chaos Resistance

(5–10) Life Regeneration per second
Inflict Corrupted Blood on Block for 5 seconds, dealing 50% of your max Life as Physical DoT

“A window onto a realm of red, where countless voices scream…”

Build Synergy: Great for tanky parry builds that want to punish enemies on block while sustaining via regen. Especially effective in fights with high hit frequency. Could be a downer for any playstyle that doesn’t like the Buckler mechanic.

Dunkelhalt (Leather Buckler)

Grants Skill: Parry
(30–50)% increased Block chance
+(20–30) to Evasion Rating

You take 50% of damage from Blocked Hits
50% increased Parried Debuff Magnitude

“A thief in the night, Draven did creep… Nay, villain, a man never bleeds alone.”

Build Synergy: A high-risk, high-reward parry tool—ideal for players who rely on damage reflection, retaliation effects, or need parry debuff scaling. Generally fun to try, but not many usable mods for builds

Silverthorne (Spiked Buckler)

Grants Skill: Parry
(60–100)% increased Evasion Rating
+(10–15)% to all Elemental Resistances

Parrying applies 10 stacks of Critical Weakness
100% increased Parry Damage

“As a boy, in the arena, Daresso learned to feign weakness…”

Build Synergy

Look like this is planned for accompany Critical Chance Stack (With Accuracy Rating) from Huntress, but with the latest meta, this is not so popular.

Calgyra’s Arc (Ornate Buckler)

Grants Skill: Parry

(60–100)% increased Evasion Rating
+(60–100) to Mana, +10–20 Intelligence
Infinite Projectile Parry Range

50% increased Parried Debuff Duration

“There is nowhere my vengeance cannot find you.”

Build Synergy: Ideal for builds using parry in ranged or hybrid ranged/melee setups. The Mana and Intelligence bonus also favor Spell builds using Parry for debuff utility.

Sunsplinter (Array Buckler)

Grants Skill: Parry

(100–300)% increased Evasion Rating
+1–3% to Max Resistances (Fire, Cold, Lightning)
+1 to +3 Levels to Fire, Cold, Lightning Skills

“With a single stroke, she ended the Winter of the World.”

Build Synergy: One of the most flexible Bucklers in the game—grants powerful elemental resistance capping and skill level scaling, perfect for elemental-slinging Huntress builds or Monk?

Rondel de Ezo (Plated Buckler)

Grants Skill: Parry
(50–150)% increased Evasion Rating

+(10–20) Dexterity
5 Life Regeneration per second
100% increased Block chance vs Projectiles

Curses enemies with Enfeeble on Block

“Resist long enough, and your oppressor will lose his will.”

Build Synergy: Solid defensive utility early-game or in projectile-heavy zones.

Nocturne (Wooden Buckler)

Grants Skill: Parry

+(60–80) to maximum Mana
+(10–15)% to all Elemental Resistances
20% increased Accuracy Rating

Parried enemies take more Spell Damage instead of Attack Damage
100% increased Parried Debuff Duration

“Light and shadow chase eternal, but neither knows the other exists…”

Build Synergy: A rare spell-parry synergy Buckler—converts parry effect to enhance spell-based DPS, making it a perfect fit for hybrid evasion + spellcasters.

Conclusion

The Buckler Uniques introduced in Dawn of the Hunt reflect GGG’s emphasis on build diversity, particularly for Huntress, parry mechanics, and hybrid defenses. Despite the efforts, Buckler at the moment is still mostly used for it’s stat and not the parry mechanic. Hopefully this can be improved in upcoming patch from GGG for Path of Exile 2

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