couple holy shield questions

[Nuuk]

couple holy shield questions

Howdy all,

I just have a couple of quick questions about Holy Shield. I'm playing my first pally ever. He's a level 86 Hammerdin on ladder.

1. I've maxed all the synergies and taken a few other helpful aura's like redemption. Should I just put all remaining skills in to Holy Shield? I figure the only aura i'll use full time is concentration (duh) so a combat skill is the only way to go.

2. I have a level 10 Holy Shield atm. With my dex around 211 (i think) and a good rare shield with some plus block percentage (i don't recall exactly) this should put my block at 75% (max). I'm pretty sure when I use holy shied the shield shows block rate 75% but when I look at the character screen that lists my defense, it shows 45%. What gives?

thanks in advance

 

[Nuuk]

Anyone? Bueller?

Help a Bruthah out :howdy:

 

[xts3]

You've answered your own question pretty much. You're a hammerdin so its not like its worth it to start to diversifying at level 86 you can sink them anywhere IMHO.

IMHO +% enhanced to block on a shield is way better then having dex if you dont mind the lack of resists- there are some good shields with huge enhanced blocking that nullify any negative dex req, on one of the set items there is I believe 40-50% increase change of blocking and one (or maybe more) of the lower level unique armors increases your chance to block %20 or more and their maybe runeword armors that have %enhanced block (not sure?). Block % IMHO is over-rated without +enhanced blocking and/or sapping all your points into dex where they could be better spent in vitality/str (or gasp, energy if you dont care). I rarely ever hear or see the block animation when using holy shield and mine is only something around level 5 and I'm in hell. You can really spend them how you please, I'd probably sink the rest in more useful skills like redemption holyshield (since holy shields +% chance to block only goes up by one percent after level 5 so it takes you 10 skill points for an extra 10% chance to block, not worth it IMHO you can get a set shield or unique armor that gives you way more then that and the "so called" extra 200 or 250% enhanced defense bonus only reduces the nonsters chance to hit you (compared to lv10 holy shield) by like ~10%. The % enhanced descriptions make you think the skill is better then it really is.

But really its up to you if you want more def HS is not a bad place to put them at all. Also holyshields defense rating in hell doesn't add a lot, I've tested it using maxed defiance/holyshield while having defiance on, max defiance AFTER holy shield only reduces mosnters ability to hit you by like "5-7%" for that "whopping" 260% enhanced defense it only reduces the monsters chance to hit you by a negligible amount.

 

[Nuuk]

The question still stands though, when I know my chance to block is at 75% while using holy shield, the character screen that shows "chance to block XX%" only shows around 45%.

IIRC on my windy druid using SS the character screen shows 75% chance to block. Is this becuase of holy shield? Or is my chance to block really at 45% which wouldn't make sense since I have 211 dex and level 10 holy shield.

 

[xts3]

I believe the % to block is enemy dependent (this is why no matter how high your dex is your block always 'sucks'). This is why I suggested getting armor or a shield with 20% or greater to block modifiers so you don't need dex. Try getting yourself a whitstands shield round shield (part of the orphans call set) I have one and it has a whopping 55% bonus to block on it. I'm not sure if what we're seeing is bugged or something to do with casting HS but I've noticed the "lower" % chance to block in the character screen against enemy X. But I'm pretty sure putting on +block equipment made it 75 easy, not sure why this is exactly (maybe somethings changed in 1.10?) since you say you have 211 dex.

 

[JihadJesus]

You have to have a certain amount of Dex per clvl to get the block listed on your shield. Even if you shield has a 75% chance to block, the one listed on the character screen (for you, the 45%) is the real value of how often you will actualy block. HS gives you added % chance to block in the equation and will save you some dex in getting to max block. As low as your chance to block is, Holy Shield would be a GREAT skill to use.

Edit: How do you have a 45% chance to block with 210 dex and a 75% chance to block shield? Something doesn't seem to add up here...

 

[MasaM]

I think this low block % is because your shield, what you using at the moment, its block is so low. Like 20% or something. I suggest you to try get herald of zakarum shield. It gives itself 82% block and other good mods. And with holy shield its block is even higher. And that means you dont need so much dex to get max block. 211 dex is too much even when you are lvl 99.

Use this formula to calculate how much dex you need to get 75%.

75% x own lvl x 2
----------------------------------------- + 15 = dex
shield block% + holy shield block% bonus