Resistances and affinities are integral to survival as they decrease the damage you take from certain types of attacks.
Information from The Chronicles of Spellborn, [1]
Resistance[]
There are three types of resistance: melee, ranged, and magic. Attributes do not have any affect on the character's resistances. The only ways to increase the character's resistances is through the use of combat skills, consumables, body slots, and tokens.
Melee resistance reduces the amount of damage the character takes from non-magical melee attacks.
Ranged resistance reduces the amount of damage the character takes from non-magical ranged attacks.
Magic resistance reduces the amount of damage the character takes from any magical (rune, soul, spirit) attacks.
Affinity[]
There are three types of affinity: rune, soul, and spirit. Unlike resistances, affinities are affected by attributes. Like resistances, affinities can be further improved through the use of combat skills, consumables, body slots, and tokens. Every ability is either Rune, Spirit or Soul, including Melee and Ranged abilities.
Rune affinity reduces the amount of damage the character takes from rune attacks, and is modified by the character's body attribute.
Soul affinity reduces the amount of damage the character takes from soul attacks, and is modified by the character's focus attribute.
Spirit affinity reduces the amount of damage the character takes from spirit attacks, and is modified by the character's mind attribute.