Essence of Steel

Essence of Steel is an uncommon potion that grants 4 Plated Armor when used. Plated Armor is a buff that, at the end of each turn, adds that many Block to your character, but one stack is lost whenever you take unblocked damage. It provides a recurring, passive source of Block that persists across turns. It is obtained through enemy drops, shop purchases, or events.

Essence of Steel is most effective in fights where you expect to take many small to moderate hits over several turns, rather than one massive unmitigated strike. The 4 Plated Armor regenerates 4 Block each turn, which quickly adds up to substantial total Block across a long fight. It works exceptionally well for the Ironclad, who has cards and relics that synergize with end-of-turn Block generation. However, since Plated Armor depletes when you take unblocked damage, it is less useful if you're routinely taking chip damage. Pairing it with other Block sources to avoid losing stacks maximizes its value.