Reduced Damage from Elites

Reduced Damage from Elites (RDFE) is a bonus affix that reduces the damage your character takes from Elites and their magical effects. This damage reduction is tabulated last, after all other damage mitigation and can substantially increase survivability against the most dangerous things in the game.

• See also Increased Damage to Elites.

The game terminology is "+X% Reduces Damage from Elites" which is sort of backwards in wording. It would be simpler to say "-X% Damage from Elites" but clearly the developers wanted to keep all beneficial stats listed as a positive feature.

There are no items that specifically *increase* the damage taken from Elites, though any reduction in defensive stats creates this effect by default.

Oculus Ring with 16% RDFE.

All Types of Reduced Damage

There are also items and skills that provide other types of reduced damage. These modifiers all stack up when appropriate. A character with +10% reduced damage from melee and +10% reduced damage from Elites would get 10% reduction from normal melee attacks, 20% from melee attacks via Elite enemies, and 10% from non-melee attacks by Elites.

• Reduced damage from all attacks.
• Reduced damage from melee attacks.
• Reduced damage from ranged attacks.
• See also Increased Damage to Elites.

Elites

The game designates Elites as:

• All Bosses (Act Bosses, Quest Bosses, Event Bosses, Rift Guardians, etc.)
• Uniques (purple)
• Rares (yellow) plus their Minions
• Champions (Blue)
• Treasure Goblins

Since well-geared characters generally take almost no damage from non-elites (trash mobs) it's the Elites and especially their Elite Affixes like Arcane Enchanted, Molten, Plagued, Frozen, etc, that are the real danger in the game. Thus this modifier is a powerful defensive bonus, and can be of much more use than just a bit more Armor or Resistance. Players who are well-geared should obtain this modifier when possible, if the affix trade off is reasonable.

Reduces Damage from Elites via Items

Reduced Damage from Elites is not a common affix and only occurs on a few item slots, plus some Set Item bonuses. It can not be found at all on weapons, off-hand (except for shields and one mojo), helms, shoulders, bracers, gloves, pants, or boots. (Aside from indirectly via Item Set bonuses.) No gem socketing adds RDFE, and it can not be added via Paragon Points.

Several items are themed to reduce damage from Elites while also increasing Damage to Elites. See that article for full details.

• All figures below are for level 70 items. Lower level items provide smaller numbers for RDFE and most other affixes.

Amulets

• Halycon Amulet: +10-15% Reduced Damage from Elites

Rings

• Oculus Ring: +12-16% RDFE
• Litany of the Undaunted: +10-11% Reduced Damage from Elites

Off-Hand

Homunculus with RDFE.

All Shields and Crusader Shields can randomly roll 10-11% Reduced Damage from Elites as a primary affix. Some legendary shields have this as an inherent property.

• Storm Shield: 10-11% Reduced Damage from Elites
• Homunculus: 10-11% RDFE (Witch Doctor only).

Chest Armor

All Chest Armor (but not DH Cloaks) can roll with +10-11% RDFE as a primary affix. There are no legendary chest armors that have RDFE inherently, though.

Belts

• Dread Iron: +6-7% RDFE

Item Set Bonuses

Several item sets offer Reduced Damage from Elites bonuses when wearing multiple items from the set.

Aughild's Authority (Shoulders, Chest, Bracers, Helm)

• (3) Set:
  • +15% Reduced Damage from Elites
  • +15% Damage to Elites

Blackthorne's Battlegear (Amulet, Chest, Belt, Pants, Boots)

• (2) Set:
  • +250 Vitality
  • +10% Damage to Elites
• (3) Set:
  • +10% Reduced Damage from Elites
  • +25% Extra Gold from Monsters

Chantodo's Resolve (Wand and Orb: Wizard only.)

• (2) Set:
  • +250 Intelligence
  • +10% Reduced Damage from Elites
  • Your shields heal for 25% of their remaining amount when they expire.