PVM wind druid - block or no block?

[PraetorianX]

PVM wind druid - block or no block?

Should i get max block with my stormshield for extra safety, or gain 2 skill levels with a spirit shield and not have max block? Is max block competely necessary for strictly pvm play?

 

[det]

This decision only you can make...

Do you play Hardcore? Do you mind dying? If safety is not your concern, why do you use a SS? Because everybody has it or because it has 35% DR?

On the other hand: The only shield for SPIRIT is a Monarch, just like SS..and it will need 156 str. So you can try it out for yourself

But: Stormshield has 67% block
Spirit has 42% block.

So for +2 skills, you sacrifice a LOT. 2 Elemental skillers can easily make that up.

 

[The_Duffman]

Personally I would recommend max Block. I have a level 89 Pvp wind .
He has around 3400ish life with lvl 31 Oak and lvl 16 Bo.

In PVP your % of block is worth its weight in gold. I have max block as well as lvl 45 Cyclone armor. The block helps me own any melee and the cyclone armor owns any ele dmg.

If you would like more info in terms of the amount of dex I have or gear just Pm me or leave another post. I would add more but my realm is down

My vote is for block.

Duff

____________________________________________

Edit: I didn't see that you are strictly pvm. In terms of the extra skill points, any well built Wind owns Pvm (one of the few chars that can baal alone). I still vote for SS. Better block, better res (umd) and dr. You should do enough damage wuithout the skills and you really don't need the cast for pvm.

 

[PraetorianX]

Ok, i think i will go for the ss with max block. I choose the stormshield because of the damage reduction/high block combination. i play softcore, but dying can be an irritation, thats all. I'll see how i do with the stormshield ,and i can always switch it with a spirit if i feel the need thx guys for the replies

 

[Gore_Nutling]

Duffman, the thread creator was talking about PVM only. PVP references are useless.

For PVM, a Wind Druid should have max block. You have to stay very close to the nasty monsters in order to hit them, and you'll get hit a lot in return. When I use my own druid to do Hell CS runs for my friends, I always use SS over Spirit. So rest assured, I'm talking from my own experience.

 

[cheesebandit]

But after putting all those points into str and dex are you left with enough points for viality? I made a windy druid today and hes level 59 or so without any stat points used becuase of this very question: To block or not to block? I'm gonna use him mainly for PvMing with a bit of dueling on the side

 

[det]

I can't say anything about "duelling on the side".

For me playing LOD these days is this:

Hardcore
..and either PvP OR PvM. Builds are just so different, there is no "on the side". If someone wants to PK or duel you in HC..they mean it..and they are geared for it. (including unfortunately cheating quiet often).

My lv 91 Windy has (after items) 100 str, 245 dex and 2400 HP with Oak. This won't save him from bugged Vipers or a close up FE/LE explosion of..say Lister....or a TPPK BS Necro I guess. But 5% block and 4000 HP wouldn't save him either.

But 75% block deflect 2/3rds of all physical attacks. No block means your HPs have to take care of that..and some Critters hit hard...

So..in Hardcore you only live once..and that means for me DR/Res/block/absorb as much as I can squeeze into the build. PvM with friends and in pw protected games.

In Softcore I couldn't care less about dying...because there you only live..what? A million times?

 

[Strid]

But 75% block deflect 2/3rds of all physical attacks.

75% is closer to 3/4 than it is to 2/3, but ok...

Anyway, if you choose NOT to have max block, what Sheild will you get? Probably Lidless Wall or Spirit, am I right?

You get some FCR and a skill or two - nothing particular and you probably get like 500 life. You lose 35% DR and massive resistance from Stormshiel, though.
I always use Stormshield on my mage characters and I would never switch to another shield for playing PvM.

Often I keep a Suicide Branch and a Lidless Wall on my switch for faster spell casting, if I should want to take my character into earlier parts of the game, say, for helping friends or so.

But for PvM, I love my Stormshields, and they save my butt all the time.

 

[det]

75% is closer to 3/4 than it is to 2/3, but ok...

Hahahaha...good thing I don't work as a Financial advisor or anywhere where you need math

 

[Andy2702]

block > any other stuff.

Get SS as your main, and spirit as switch. Max block first with SS, and when you need faster cast, use maybe wizzy + the Spirit...


wait, how about everytime you cast, switch to wizzy + spirit, and everytime youre getting hit, press w again and use SS ..... jk (could work though)

 

[FrozenSolid]

What about sanctuary hyperion?
Decent block, massive resist, fhr(!), 20 dex, defense against missiles etc.
Im thinking of using one for my windy but I dont know whether storms 35% dr is that vital, I will only have 13 from verdungos since im using jalals (for fhr, res, str, 5 to mana after each kill) instead of shako

 

[TheGreatDivorce]

PvM, Block. PvP, Vitality.

In my opinion.

 

[Tor]

ill duel you

no block is too easy

 

[Strid]

ill duel you

no block is too easy

Yeah, unless you exclusively duel casters, a low block percentage is generally a really suicidal idea.
However, a pure 'mage slayer' elementalist would naturally work better with no block.

 

[Andy2702]

PvM, Block. PvP, Vitality.

In my opinion.

really? I hope you meant the other way around....


pvp, one hit kill with anything if you go max life...