Barrier Diablo 4
Screenshot by Prima Games.

Diablo 4: Barrier Generation Explained

Make use of your diamonds.

Diablo 4 is full of confusing stats that seem simple on the surface, but their true effect on your character is tough to find. Stats such as Barrier Generation are one of those confusing additions that don’t have a great explanation, and I’m here to give you an outline so your builds make a bit more sense.

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What is Barrier Generation in Diablo 4? – Answered

Barrier Generation is a stat that increases how much of your total Barrier shield is generated when it appears in Diablo 4. In other words, it increases the size of your shields through passive stats on your equipment. Barriers on their own are based on factors such as Skill use or Lucky Hits from aspects on a Legendary piece of gear. Reading the numbers on your standard shields is easy enough, but at first, I was definitely confused by the generation factor.

Barrier Generation Gem Diablo 4
Screenshot by Prima Games.

Items such as diamond gems can increase your Barrier Generation in Diablo 4 by up to 5% when they are socketed into some armor. Again, the diamond doesn’t explain exactly what that means. After all, I’m not generating a barrier every time I hit an enemy with a diamond equipped. Instead, having a high-level diamond socketed will increase the strength of your Barrier by 5% when it appears.

Even without having generation stats involved, Barriers are a great line of defense for squishy characters in Diablo 4. As someone who mains the Rogue class, I rely on shields for difficult content to compensate for low health and defense. Without them, and maybe some extra generation on the side, I would be torn apart. This applies to most characters in end-game content.

Related: How to Get the Fists of Fate Unique in Diablo 4

Not everyone has to rely on squishy classes within Diablo 4 though. Other classes like the Barbarian and the Druid offer up a great mix between defense and damage across the board. If you want to make a change, check out our guide on the best class within Diablo 4 before jumping back into Sanctuary.

Best Aspect for Barrier Generation in Diablo 4

If you’re looking for some decent items to help bolster your generation now, there is one Aspect that works perfectly with the skill. You want to get the Aspect of the Protector and have that applied to any armor where you have space.

The Aspect of the Protector grants you a substantial Barrier when you damage elites, and it simply has a cooldown. Your regeneration will work to enhance the Barrier itself, and your survivability will be better than ever in Diablo 4.


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About the Author

Daniel Wenerowicz

Dan has been writing gaming guides, news, and features for three years after graduating with a BA in writing . You can find him covering Call of Duty for eternity, action-adventure games, and nearly any other major release.