Moratorium

Moratorium is a Legendary Gem in Diablo III. It can only be socketed into Amulets and Rings, and drops from Greater Rift Guardians.

This gem causes 35% of any unsaved damage taken to be applied over time instead of being deducted from the Life pool (or absorption shield) immediately. This includes periodic damage, making it apply more slowly. Upgrading only increases the duration, causing damage to be applied over a longer period with lower damage per second.

At rank 25, it also gives a certain chance on killing blows and assists to clear the damage over time effect applied by the gem, discarding all remaining staggered damage.

This is one of the five gems (the others being Mutilation Guard, Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard, Invigorating Gemstone and Esoteric Alteration) that offer defensive, rather than offensive, bonuses.

Stats


''Precious stones can sometimes be found among the peaks of Ivgorod. The harmonics of these gems, while in combat, are said to forestall death itself.''

Trivia

 * Moratorium is a real-world term for stopping something that was previously ongoing; in fiction, this usually relates to death sentences.


 * The "stagger damage" effect likely comes from World of Warcraft, where it is a class feature of Tank-specialized Monks. The description adds to this.