[1.10]blocking and holy shield

[ravensmite]

[1.10]blocking and holy shield

hello everyone

i am wondering about some things in blocking

as a backgrounder, i have been a 1.07 player most of my life. have only played 1.10 the past two months

blocking, of course, has been improved in 1.10.

question:

1. i have a lvl 85 paladin, lvl 20 vengeance, lvl 20 conviction, lvl 10 ea for resist fire cold and lightning. i wanna make those lvl 20 as well BUT i have yet to put anything into dexterity and holy shield. i have like 17 skill points and 100+ stat points left

1a. i currently have like a 19% chance to block mephisto. if i put a point in holy shield, what would be my new chance to block? (am currently using a 60% chance to block shield)
1b. what lvl does holy shield need to be at to make it feel like it have an impact on my blocking?
1c. is it a one point wonder (with maybe +skill items doing the rest?)
1d. does it have a poitn where after that slvl its not really worth putting points into?

2. does blocking stop my attacks?

2a. will having a fast hit recovery help?
2b. will having fast attack speed help?

 

[Swordslash]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

I can give you this equation at least:

(Character Block %) = (Shield Block %) * (Dex - 15) / (Level * 2)

The Holy Shield boost would add to the (Shield Block %) in that equation. For instance, a L10 Holy Shield would add +30%, and turn a 60% block shield into a 90% block shield (regardless of the fact that it will only say 75% when you highlight it.) With extremely low dex, Holy Shield won't help enormously. In that situation it may increase your character block from 20% to 30%. If you want a decent block you will need a good amount of dex. You could probably squeak by with L1 holy shield + skills and high dex. Or, you can choose to pump holy shield a bit more, and save yourself dex points. So it's up to you whether you want to spend stats or skills to achieve the block level you want. Another factor is that really low Holy Shield has to be recast really often, to great annoyance. IMO, Holy Shield should be at least L5 base, plus skills on top of that. Higher if you have extra skill points to spare.

Blocking speed is determined by the character, and any Faster Block Rate mods you may have, which are usually found on shields or sometimes armor. You usually want at least 30% FBR if you plan to block a lot. FHR and attack speed may help you overall, but doesn't specifically affect your blocking. The number of blocking frames won't be changed by them. You should also research "breakpoints" for the Paladin - specific levels of FHR, FBR and attack speed you need to reach, to actually reduce the number of frames for each.

 

[Jcakes1]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

Small addition, if you have holyshield activated the frames per bock breakpoints are 0 for a 2 frame block and 86 for a 1 frame block. It is probably not worth trying for the 86 breakpoint (not even sure if it is possible)

 

[ravensmite]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

I can give you this equation at least:

(Character Block %) = (Shield Block %) * (Dex - 15) / (Level * 2)

The Holy Shield boost would add to the (Shield Block %) in that equation. For instance, a L10 Holy Shield would add +30%, and turn a 60% block shield into a 90% block shield (regardless of the fact that it will only say 75% when you highlight it.)

this helps me a lot

thanks

my char block = (60%)* (60-15=45)=27

27/(85*2=170)=15%

there it is...

at lvl 6 holy shield, that's 22.5% chance to block...

that's definitely NOT worth my 5 skill points (for the pre req and 1 pt in HS)

thanks much for that...

now onto counting the dex that makes it worth it

 

[AeroGear]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

Holy shield is great for block, but its mostly great for the HUGE armor increase it grants you.

 

[Swordslash]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

If you're fighting melee, how can you have that low of a dex? Or is vengeance auto-hit? Never made an avenger. I'd seriously consider the Holy Shield though, unless those 5 points are desperately needed elsewhere...

** Nevermind, didn't realize why you were raising the resist skills...

 

[ravensmite]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

Holy shield is great for block, but its mostly great for the HUGE armor increase it grants you.

yeah, that too

i am still finding it hard to put 5 points into this skill and its pre reqs instead of just plain and simply getting 50% more elemental damage in the resist lightning, cold and fire thru vengeance synergy

 

[ravensmite]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

If you're fighting melee, how can you have that low of a dex? Or is vengeance auto-hit? Never made an avenger. I'd seriously consider the Holy Shield though, unless those 5 points are desperately needed elsewhere...

Have you considered Guardian Angel if you want to raise your max resists?

lvl 20 skills conviction plus my shako plus a skills ammy makes for -90 PERCENT defense vs mosnters...

 

[NagisaFurukawa]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

It seems you've already invested heavily into Vengeance, so how much more damage are you really getting by investing further into the synergies instead of into Holy Shield? An extra 50% damage doesn't help that much if it's taking you from [for example] 500% to 550%. Holy Shield adds a very nice amount of blocking and defense, increasing your survivability greatly. On a side note, Smite and Charge (two of the Holy Shield prerequisites) are very good utility skills.

P.S. 164 dexterity for 75% block at level 6 Holy Shield. It'll be much less if you ever find a better blocking shield (such as HoZ). You'll want enough points into Holy Shield so that you're comfortable with the duration. The blocking diminishes pretty quickly, so unless you're crazy about defense, don't invest more than a few points into it (should you choose that route).

 

[ravensmite]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

It seems you've already invested heavily into Vengeance, so how much more damage are you really getting by investing further into the synergies instead of into Holy Shield? An extra 50% damage doesn't help that much if it's taking you from [for example] 500% to 550%. Holy Shield adds a very nice amount of blocking and defense, increasing your survivability greatly. On a side note, Smite and Charge (two of the Holy Shield prerequisites) are very good utility skills.

P.S. 164 dexterity for 75% block at level 6 Holy Shield. It'll be much less if you ever find a better blocking shield (such as HoZ). You'll want enough points into Holy Shield so that you're comfortable with the duration. The blocking diminishes pretty quickly, so unless you're crazy about defense, don't invest more than a few points into it (should you choose that route).

although meph has been wonderful and has already dropped a HoZ on me, the shield i use is for resists actually (4d crown shield with a 98 all res)

you do bring up a good point, i actually am at lvl 10 to all resist skills and 20 in vengeance for something like 800 ed elemental for all three elements

i might try this shield thing though

 

[Arek]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

1.-1d. answered above

2. yes, block does stop your attacks but zeal. zeal is uninterrupted. you can't block while zealing.

2a. yes. you can start attacking/blocking/casting/running etc sooner after recovering.

2b. yes. you give eventual blocking/hit recovery less time to trigger/interupting your attack, making you more effective. very important.

 

[ioupain]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

I think you would notice a marked improvement if you switched out to HOZ + Perf diamond and then got Holy Shield. The HOZ will give you +4 to all combat skills so that would already help Holy Shield. Plus HOZ has much better blocking (82%) compared to crown shields (55%) The only major downside is you will lose about 29 to resist all which can be made up with charms and other gear. Whereas you just can't make up that amount of blocking with other gear.

 

[Cius]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

My goodness, I can't believe that this is even a discussion. Holy shield is already one of the most overpowered one point wonders in the game and not a bad skill to drop some more points in anyways. I tend to play with plenty + skill items anyways so one point is normally enough for me but as has been stated all the points used to get that one are points well spent. Charge and Smite are good utility skills and HoZ + holy shield is an overpowered combo in my opinion so its definitely worth it. Drop a diamond in the HoZ and it gets really decent resists and has excellent blocking for smallish dex investments.

 

[ravensmite]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

I think you would notice a marked improvement if you switched out to HOZ + Perf diamond and then got Holy Shield. The HOZ will give you +4 to all combat skills so that would already help Holy Shield. Plus HOZ has much better blocking (82%) compared to crown shields (55%) The only major downside is you will lose about 29 to resist all which can be made up with charms and other gear. Whereas you just can't make up that amount of blocking with other gear.

i've actually been dying some from the lightning bolts so i think for now i'll stick with the 4d setup hehe

but that was really a good point of view... 4 to skills just from that shield...

never thought of it that way

 

[NagisaFurukawa]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

If you're dying only to Lightning, socket your HoZ with a Perfect Topaz for a fat boost to LR. It's the most important resistance by far anyway.

 

[ravensmite]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

If you're dying only to Lightning, socket your HoZ with a Perfect Topaz for a fat boost to LR. It's the most important resistance by far anyway.

for now since i do meph runs but i think starting this weekend, hopefully, i can do baal already. which means i need more cold immunity and fire right?

i think i've seen my share of stuff from the big m. three shaftstops, two or three rockstoppers, three stormshields, four wizardspikes, three arioc's needle (all last night for the needle), an oculus, maybe 10 goldstrike arches, 2 rainbowfacets and 2 gheeds and a host of others... i think i've done ok. stupid azurewrath is hiding from me though. so is ormus' robes and bonehew, which sucks. considering i've already cracked biggin's bonnet, peleta luna, warshrike and doom bringer, all of which are rarer than azurewrath.

the big b will have to drop the other items i'm looking for.

 

[maxicek]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

Hidden option c: Use a two handed weapon :badteeth:

 

[ravensmite]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

Hidden option c: Use a two handed weapon :badteeth:

i already thought of that and am still considering it but this +90+ all res shield plus barnar's star is giving me excellent elem damage and resists

am tempted

will see how it goes

 

[sirpoopsalot]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

for now since i do meph runs but i think starting this weekend, hopefully, i can do baal already. which means i need more cold immunity and fire right?

Not for Baal.

Lightning is still probably the most important, followed by fire, in my opinion. Because of the 2nd wave, I'd even put poison ahead of cold. Get ~50 cold resists & a Ravenfrost ring and you're set for that element. Sometimes I skimp on poison too, but I definitely try to get Lightning & Fire as high as possible.

 

[purplelocust]

Re: [1.10]blocking and holy shield

Lightning is still probably the most important, followed by fire, in my opinion.

Lightning and fire are the most important, and not just because you can boost cold and poison (and +max cold and +max poison) temporarily by chugging potions. There is no potion option for lightning or fire and an occasional binge chugging spree at Malah's is much easier than getting higher resists from gear.