Max block or not on a sorc?

[yuriy]

Max block or not on a sorc?

So I have a light sorc. She is decently geared. Simple question: should I get max block? ATM I have 1k life with all my gear, and no points in dex(40 ish total), 355 total vit, 125 total energy, and 156 ish in str. I have 3.3k def. Would max block be beneficial ? Here is my gear:

Shako
Occy
Upped Vmagi
Spirit Mon
Arachs
2x SOJ
Treks
Frostburns

 

[Kijya]

Re: Max block or not on a sorc?

Spirit Mon

Max block with a spirit monarch requires above 300 dex. Unless you can consider changing your shield it's to big on an investment I'm afraid.


If I where you I'd probably focus on getting a CTA if you don't already have one ... though with two sojs I get the feeling you do.

 

[yuriy]

Re: Max block or not on a sorc?

Max block with a spirit monarch requires above 300 dex. Unless you can consider changing your shield it's to big on an investment I'm afraid.


If I where you I'd probably focus on getting a CTA if you don't already have one ... though with two sojs I get the feeling you do.

I have no CTA however just found an Ohm off of hell mephy, so i am considering making one now.
What shield would you suggest I switch to if I wanted max block, and would it be worth it?

 

[Knarlfist]

Re: Max block or not on a sorc?

Max Block with Whitstan's+Eld/Moser's Up'd+Eld/Up'd Visceratuant+Eld/etc = YES
Max Block with Spirit/Lidless Wall/etc = NO

There is one huge reason why I really advocate max block on Sorcs: look at your example... you've invested 355 Vitality points, and barely have 1k Life to show for it. Sorc's have such a horrible return on points in Vit, and with the proper shield you could be negating 75% of all incoming physical dmg.

In most cases I would deem those points in Dex easily beat out the crappy returns on Vit, but as someone else already pointed out if you get a CtA you can get your Life to a level where it's unlikely you could be quickly killed w/o plenty of time to defensively teleport away or just down the mob with spells. With CtA on switch, max block is suddenly not so important and you could use a shield with more oomph like Spirit.

 

[Millard]

Re: Max block or not on a sorc?

knarlfist is basically right, except never socket a shield with eld. It's not worth it. For example, an eld'd whitstan's guard only saves you 12 dext for max block at level 90. Much better things to socket with.

 

[Knarlfist]

Re: Max block or not on a sorc?

True... I guess in many cases it would be nicer to have a Sol rune =p

As for much of anything else, I've never found a Rainbow Facet in my entire D2 playtime, and I've only found one high rune ever (last ladder). So I might be a little biased in that regard: I ain't wasting anything too worthy in a simple shield socket, so other than a Sol rune, Eld ends up being a cheap/easy choice. And 12 Dex is 12 Dex >.> It will still be a better return on stat points than 12 into Vit.

 

[baldanders]

Re: Max block or not on a sorc?

In SC the Spirit is a no-brainer. The only reason I would go block with a sorc in SC is if I were untwinked, and didn't expect to have the 4os shield. Once you learn to be properly evasive with a sorc you should die very rarely- tele is the best skill in the game. So, much better to trade block for faster killing.

In HC block is definitely worth considering. Very rarely is too often in HC. Depends quite a bit on what you plan to do with the sorceress in that case, I think. Block is not useful for running Meph (assuming 105 FCR and good tele skills,) and not that great in AT, for instance. But in the Pit, or running Countess it is nice- the only things that can kill me there are the archers (actually the only things I really fear as a geared sorc are missile boss groups and hasted Frenzytaurs, I think- well, the ancients too, and maybe a couple of other things.)

Depends on your other gear too. Block is less necessary if you can cast BO, for instance. I can't do anything near that in HC though, so I do tend to go block there. Really, the question is, "Will I get killed so much that I care enough to give up Spirit, if I don't go block?" If you have any gear at all, and you can play sorc well the answer should always be no in SC. And since you can always get a bit of gear running Meph in NM... block is for HC, IMHO.

EDIT: of course if you play in an environment that lacks Spirit block is a no-brainer. But since you already have Spirit, I know that is not the case for you.