"Ward"

Is "ward" a third layer for hit points? If so, what is its advantage before the other layers? why should i get ward points over more life points or energy shield?

Ward > Energy Shield > Life Points ?

Ward is a new Defence introduced with Expedition, and can be found on specific new Base items tied with Expedition and on Iron Flasks.

Ward works similiar to Energy Shield, and it's graphically similiar to it (being a yellowish sliver around your Life globe, and a yellowish sliver on your health bar similiar to the white one for ES). The main differences are:

1 - ES can be made to protect Mana instead of Life via Eldritch Battery, while Ward can only protect Life (and ES if that protects life)
2 - ES is bypassed by Chaos Damage, Ward absorb all damage
3 - ES will keep be depleted by damage from hits and ailments until it reaches zero, while Ward will only absorb damage from one single Hit taken. Regardless if the damage from the hit is lower than your total Ward, your Ward will be depleted on hit
4 - ES start recharging after 2 seconds at a base value of 20% maxES per second. Ward returns to full Ward after 2 seconds

on point 3, if the hit is higher than Ward, then the remaining amount of damage will fall down in this order:

Ward > eventual Guard skill (Arcane Cloak, Steelskin) > ES (for damage that does not bypass it, assuming ES protects life) > Life

Example:

You have 1000 HP, 100 ES, 100 Ward and Lv14 Steelskin on (70% damage absorbed by Steelskin before Life and ES, 1005 maximum damage taken). You have no Armour nor Physical damage reduction

A Bone Rhoa playfully nibbles you for 2000 physical damage.

Damage goes like this:


> WARD: Incoming damage reduced to 2000-100 = 1900. Ward gets depleted from the hit
> STEELSKIN: buff should absorb damage for 1900*0.7 = 1330 damage but can only absorb until 1005. Incoming damage reduced to 1900-1005 = 895, Steelskin buff is removed
> ES: Incoming Damage reduced to 895-100 = 795. ES gets depleted
> LIFE: You take 795 physical damage, you have 205 HP left