Block Strength vs Block Rate

Hey tanky people!

New and aspiring tank here with a basic question. Is there a common opinion on strength vs rate for shields? I see that a lot of the shields favor one or the other fairly heavily.

I've been using the more "rate" favored shields as consistent block seems better than more random larger blocks, this however is based completely on my own logic and may have no real truth in the game. Also having just hit level 30 the more I block the more I can use that shield skill who's name I, embarrassingly, can't remember now.

Generally block rate is going to be better. Spike damage is never good. The more you do to make the damage you take more predictable the easier it will be to heal you. And while shields favor one or the other early on at end game the shields you'll use have equal ratings

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

Hey tanky people!

New and aspiring tank here with a basic question. Is there a common opinion on strength vs rate for shields? I see that a lot of the shields favor one or the other fairly heavily.

I've been using the more "rate" favored shields as consistent block seems better than more random larger blocks, this however is based completely on my own logic and may have no real truth in the game. Also having just hit level 30 the more I block the more I can use that shield skill who's name I, embarrassingly, can't remember now.

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As a Paladin @LV46 you receive an ability known as Bulwark which raises the Block Rate 60% for 10s every 180s I personally am going to opt for Block potency > Block rate - PLD can't up it's block potency but it can up it's block rate (via abilities); VIT>STR>Parry>Crit>DEX seems to be the most acceptable way to prioritize your stat build. I would look here http://ventusinvictus.blogspot.com/2...din-guide.html

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Originally Posted by Dhex

As a Paladin @LV46 you receive an ability known as Bulwark which raises the Block Rate 60% for 10s every 180s I personally am going to opt for Block potency > Block rate - PLD can't up it's block potency but it can up it's block rate (via abilities); VIT>STR>Parry>Crit>DEX seems to be the most acceptable way to prioritize your stat build. I would look here http://ventusinvictus.blogspot.com/2...din-guide.html

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Would we not get more out a high block rate shield with that 60% rate buff? Having a higher base value on the shield will increase the value we get out of that 60% buff.

I'd like Block Rate a lot more if Shield Swipe was off GCD...Also from what I've experienced I like my tower shields with High Block Strength, because Bulwark becomes a decent and reliable talent for mitigating incoming damage. The arguement could be made that maybe blocking 10% damage frequently would be better than blocking 30% less frequently, but I like being able to throw up bulwark and essentially having another Rampart on physical mobs.

Not too deep into any real end game, but since I got Bulwark and messed with the various shields, I've prefered the higher block strength shields. I could be completely off my rocker and wrong, but I've noticed a difference in damage input when I throw up bulwark and use a tower shield vs a round shield/kite shield.

Okay.

DEX = Block Rate\Parry Rate

STR = Block Potency\Parry Potency\DPS\Enmity

If you're blocking all the time for very little that's great for auto-attacks. Those attacks however are very /easily/ managed by healers at high level with Regen and Medica paired with your abilities.

If you're about to eat a high damage attack - you /might/ block that single high damage attack and yes you'll certainly have a better chance of blocking it by raising your rate, but your block potency is low.
Block potency is going to scale with damage - I /know/ that I can boost my block rate by 60% in a pinch, and if I do block I will block /much/ more of that single high damage attack.

You have CDs that also further reduce this damage - and a static reduction to damage by using Shield Oath. By focusing on STR you're raising your DPS and reducing enmity strain which allows healers more freedom to use their high enmity generating cures when they /need/ to use them.

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Originally Posted by Dhex

If you're blocking all the time for very little that's great for auto-attacks. Those attacks however are very /easily/ managed by healers at high level with Regen and Medica paired with your abilities.

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Actually this makes a lot of sense. I suppose rate > block if you're being hit with a larger number of small attacks. However when tanking bosses who it hard, afterall these ARE the fights that matter, it may be better to have that high block value on demand when you use your cool downs.

See this is why I came here, to learn from you elder sage types.

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Originally Posted by Zoomie

Actually this makes a lot of sense. I suppose rate > block if you're being hit with a larger number of small attacks. However when tanking bosses who it hard, afterall these ARE the fights that matter, it may be better to have that high block value on demand when you use your cool downs.

See this is why I came here, to learn from you elder sage types.

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Honestly I'm not much higher level than you are with my GLA - being WAR/MNK/WHM @ 50 I just have the benefit of peaking at PLD setups at lv50 and watching how they utilize CDs and what portions of Primal (HM)s cause healer's the most trouble.

Low potency/high rate:

+ Lots of Shield Swipes, good for TP management and occasional Pacification effects (though this is rarely truly useful on anything not trash)
+ Consistent dependable reduction
- Weak
- Benefit the least from Bulwark
- Most tank deaths are from spike damage and not attrition; a low potency shield is less likely to save you
- Some Shield Swipes will be wasted

High potency/low rate:

+ Most likely to save you from spike damage
+ Combines with Bulwark productively for effective -18~32% damage reduction on blockable attacks for the duration
- Not many Shield Swipes, leading to rare TP starvation issues when threat is established

Middle is obviously between these two extremes. I personally feel that you should be using mid potency/mid rate or high potency/low rate. I am not a big fan of low potency/high rate for the reasons above.

Personally I have found a higher block strength has worked better for me so far in my leveling.
I keep one of each shield in my bags for any situation.
Though I assume this will change endgame, also depending on the fights as well.

To be honest with you it really doesn't matter. End game shields all have equal strength and rate.

As long as your shield is a GLA/PLD only and not under levelled you'll be fine.

"block strength because you'll block the big numbers for more" ... Well that's "if" you block it. With a low rate chances are you might not.

So just go with what drops in dungeons and you'll be safe.

Everyone is saying that the tower shields with high block potency work better with bulwark.

However, i was under the impression that Bulwark increased your block chance by 60% of what your block chance is, not adds 60%, meaning it scales equally well with both shield types. (eg, a 5% block chance with a tower shield would become 8% chance, not 65% chance). If that's the case, tower shields would still be pretty meh.

I'm not sure on this though, i've heard conflicting accounts. Either way, the balanced Kite Shield type is the best available right now purely due to the Holy Shield being of that type. Outside of that I prefer bucklers - i still like the option of shield swipe more frequently even if it isnt all that useful, and prefer the consistancy.

Use the shield that has a higher item level / stats. Honestly Shield Swipe needs to be taken off the GCD, it would make the Paladin a more active and interesting class.

Does this also mean STR>DEX? Or should it be STR+VIT> DEX?

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Originally Posted by Citizen_Thom

Does this also mean STR>DEX? Or should it be STR+VIT> DEX?

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STR + VIT > Parry > DEX

I like this factor in Gladiator/Paladin tanking, personally I prefer the high block potency rather than block rate, since I know if I hit Bulwark it'd make it all the more effective.