2.2 Best Shield

[Duuude007]

Both have advantages depending on the scenario.

Use block strength against hard-hitting single targets.
Use block rate against piles and piles of adds all hitting you at once.

[Kitfox]

Use block strength against hard-hitting single targets.
Use block rate against piles and piles of adds all hitting you at once.

I would personally put those the other way around. I would use high block rate on potential hard hitters, because it makes the incoming damage profile less volatile and easier to deal with. High strength shields block for more damage for sure, but I think it's more important whether you actually block or not that one specific attack. Personally I just use Tidal Wave for everything, but then again I don't play tank in coil.

If you're looking at Tidal Wave vs Animus, the block rate is around 36% vs 25% and mitigation -21% vs -28%. (Rate tested in i90 gear on 2000-4000 hit samples.)