Lidless Wall Shield

[lewkc]

Hi All,

Just wanna check with u guys for opinion and stats:

a) Lidless Wall is under the category of Grim Shield which is suppose to have 40% (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/exceptional/shields.shtml)Block for Sorceress. How come Lidless Wall stated the block for Sorc is 45% (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/exceptional/ushields.shtml)?

b) If I upgrade Lidless Wall from Grim Shield to Troll Nest, will the chance to block increase? According to the battle.net stat, it remains the same but referring to my 1st question, this is the second time I found some irregularities with the stats published by Blizzard. (my first being the base speed for Ogre Axe).

c) Which is the preferred shield, Lidless Wall for the 20% FCR and more mana but much lower Chance to Block (45% as being published) or Visceratuant with a much higher chance to block (65% as being puclished) and 30% Faster Block Rate but lower defense and no FCR.

I'm currently using a Tal set and the FCR is only 50%, to reach the next breakpoint level which is 63%, either a Magefist or the Lidless. I'm currently using Frostburn (needed mana cause I go for max block build) and Visceratuant (use it for the max block but I also got the Lidless). Therefore, I'm trying to get the best of both world, max block and maintain decent amount of mana as I don't mind popping mana pots along the way.

Thanks for all the inputs

[raiderjb]

Hey lewkc

Well Lidless is an unbelievable shield if you combine it with 1 pt in energy shield and no dexterity and max mana. If you go this route use Lidless. If you go max block use a block shield plain and simple.

But before you go spening all those points in dex check out Zrocs post below ref energy shield. Its not just me that puts 1 point in es


Thx

[Stiertje]

Upgrade the Viceratuant and get 72% listed block. This is because a Heater has higher block% compared to a Defender.

And as for the mana pot juggling, I have had to do that too when my char was in the lower levels, but the higher you get (and preferably find some sojs like I did) the more mana you get and the better your mana regen is.

A nice replacement for the sojs are Bahamuts rings of the Apprentice. These are magic rings (blue ones) with 100+ mana and 10% FCR. On the other hand my Meteorb build is happy with the +1 fire skills from Magefists

[lewkc]

Thanks raiderjb and stiertje for ur comments.

It still does not really answer my question directly

raider - I'm the max block build so I did not put any points in energy. My mana is very low, 600+ only with the use of Frostie and Silkweave to boost my mana.

stier - agree with u that heater has a higher block chance. However, if u compare the numbers, it does not tally. Visc, being a Defender base shield should have only 20% chance to block, therefore, +30% increase chance to block should only show up as a total of 50%, but the info published is 65%. As for the upgraded Visc to become a Heater, the stated stat of 72% chance to block is correct because Heater's base is 42% nad plus 30% increase chance to block, it will and should show 72%. So, is there something not right?

So, are the info published correct? :scratch:

I'm currently using Visc with full Tal set, but would like to use Lidless so that I can reach the next FCR breakpoint. Though I can use Magefist, this will cause me to suffer in terms of the chance of block.

Anybody can comment? Please refer to my original post, thank you

[Jek]

If you want max block an upgraded Vics is far better than a Lidless Wall, the points you'll save in dex can be used to boost energy if you feel like lacking mana. However I'd spend the points in vitality for even more suvivability.

FCR rings and amulets would help you reach the next BP too.

[melianor]

I see the differences you posted on blocking, that Visceratuant has staated 60% block chance as a defender but "logically" that could only be 50%. Sinec you upgrade Visc anyway that would not matter.


a) Lidless Wall is under the category of Grim Shield which is suppose to have 40% (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/it...l/shields.shtml)Block for Sorceress. How come Lidless Wall stated the block for Sorc is 45% (http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/it.../ushields.shtml)?

You are wrong here. When i call that page i see 40% block chance for Lidless wall for the Sorc, not 45%.

copy from arreat summit:
Lidless Wall
Grim Shield
Defense: 271-347 (varies)(Base Defense: 50-150)
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Chance to Block: Pal: 50%, Ama/Asn/Bar: 45%, Dru/Nec/Sor: 40%
Durability: 40
Paladin Smite Damage: 14 To 20
+80-130% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+1 To All Skills
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+3-5 To Mana After Each Kill (varies)
+10 To Energy
+1 To Light Radius
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

The thing is, Lidless is NOT a shield you would like to use when you go for max blocking, since you either invest less dex and so get a lower blocking rate or invet to much dex to get max blocking with Lidless.
The rule is, if you go for max-blocking you go it all the way and not just half the way, since the lower your chance to block is, the more you will get hit. So you will want to get 75%! Out of 4 possible hits this means: only hit once! with 45% this will already be 2 out of 4, which kind of makes it useless, since you will be hit half of the time :/

Lidless is a good shield for Teleporting to preferred locations or when you go the VITA route. Otherwise upg. Visceratuant is to be preferred over Lidless!
Using Magefist with Visc to still get your desired FCR in combination with Tal's Set is just fine.

[lewkc]

I see the differences you posted on blocking, that Visceratuant has staated 60% block chance as a defender but "logically" that could only be 50%. Sinec you upgrade Visc anyway that would not matter.


You are wrong here. When i call that page i see 40% block chance for Lidless wall for the Sorc, not 45%.

copy from arreat summit:
Lidless Wall
Grim Shield
Defense: 271-347 (varies)(Base Defense: 50-150)
Required Level: 41
Required Strength: 58
Chance to Block: Pal: 50%, Ama/Asn/Bar: 45%, Dru/Nec/Sor: 40%
Durability: 40
Paladin Smite Damage: 14 To 20
+80-130% Enhanced Defense (varies)
+1 To All Skills
Increase Maximum Mana 10%
20% Faster Cast Rate
+3-5 To Mana After Each Kill (varies)
+10 To Energy
+1 To Light Radius
(Only Spawns In Patch 1.09 or later)

The thing is, Lidless is NOT a shield you would like to use when you go for max blocking, since you either invest less dex and so get a lower blocking rate or invet to much dex to get max blocking with Lidless.
The rule is, if you go for max-blocking you go it all the way and not just half the way, since the lower your chance to block is, the more you will get hit. So you will want to get 75%! Out of 4 possible hits this means: only hit once! with 45% this will already be 2 out of 4, which kind of makes it useless, since you will be hit half of the time :/

Lidless is a good shield for Teleporting to preferred locations or when you go the VITA route. Otherwise upg. Visceratuant is to be preferred over Lidless!
Using Magefist with Visc to still get your desired FCR in combination with Tal's Set is just fine.

Hi melianor,

U r right there, it is 40% and not 45%. Looks like too many numbers make my eyes goes blur :cheesy:

from ur post, it seems like there is not chance of using a upgraded Lidless that will improve on the chance to block and at the same time achieve my FCR breakpoint.

BTW, I have not upgraded my Visc yet, I'm still using the normal one but I'm able to reach 75% block with about 220-230 dex points.

[melianor]

Hi melianor,

U r right there, it is 40% and not 45%. Looks like too many numbers make my eyes goes blur :cheesy:

from ur post, it seems like there is not chance of using a upgraded Lidless that will improve on the chance to block and at the same time achieve my FCR breakpoint.

BTW, I have not upgraded my Visc yet, I'm still using the normal one but I'm able to reach 75% block with about 220-230 dex points.

The upgrade only pushes the str req to 77. I would upgrade and so invest quite a bit less in Dexterity. The amount you save in str from not upgrading is lower than the dex pts you can save.

Well you can reach max-block with lidless, but it WILL cost you alot! Those points would be better invested into vitality. Also check your gear for +dex. If you have that you can subtract even more Dex and set it into Vit.

[Frisco]

Do Not Upgrade the Lidless Wall.

I saw an upgraded Lidless a couple of days ago for trade ... the blocking was unchanged and my standard Lidless had equivalent or better defense with lower CLvL and ST requirements.

[Jek]

BTW, I have not upgraded my Visc yet, I'm still using the normal one but I'm able to reach 75% block with about 220-230 dex points.

You already spend 220-230 on dex? Ouch.

[lewkc]

You already spend 220-230 on dex? Ouch.

Hi Jek,

I did not actually put 220-230 into dex, what I mean is that my dex is at that level as I'm using Tal Set+Visc+Frostie+Raven Frost+Nagel Ring+Silkweave. So, I suppose I spend close to 200 on dex because I was using Lidless Wall and due to the low chance to block, I was trying to boost it to 75% (which is a bit of a mistake, until I realise it later and change it to Visceratuant).

Still, I'm trying to achieve :
1) A balance of "acceptable" mana level,
2) Max block (if possible but ppl are saying that if want block go for max)
3) Reach the next breakpoint which is 63%.

Tal set FCR is only 50%, in order to reach the next FCR level (63%), I'm got Magefist (20%FCR) or Lidless (20% FCR). I do not consider using rings because ring can only have max of 10% FCR and I'll need both rings in order to achive the same effect for 1 item. I'm using a Raven Frost and trying to get a SOJ. If I can get a SOJ, then probably I'll use Magefist because SOJ got 25% max mana and compare to Frostie's 40%, I lost only 15% rather than 40% altogether. I don't think there is a boot that can have FCR as well as there is no rune to improve for FCR (so unfair as there is Shael to improve IAS).

Any comments or better suggestions?

Cheers

[simmk81]

u can try to dump the orb for a wizardspike which has decent fcr, mana regen and 75 resists. you will lose some stats but imo, wizspike's advantages outweighs the orb...

[BabehJesus]

Well, first of all, you can use both.

For my setup, I use Occy/SS main, and Wizspike/Lidless on switch. Since the main options you're considering are Visceratuant and Lidless, and you don't use SOJs, I'm assuming you don't have the budget to afford an SS, but that doesn't really matter, considering that many even with that kind of budget choose Lidless/Rhyme/Whistan's.

Now, don't get me wrong, Frosties are great, but you need SOJs. It has a better mana bonus, and gives a neat +2 to all skills. A necessity for any caster. Once you obtain SOJs, you can get rid of the Frosties and use Magefists (or Chancies, if you prefer going MF over FCR).

At this point, your setup would look like this:

-Tal's Mask
-Tal's Ammy
-Tal's Armor
-Tal's Orb
-Lidless/Visceratuant (?)
-SOJ
-SOJ
-Magefists/Chancies (?)
-Tal's Belt
-Silkweave

So, that's 20% FCR from the Orb, 20% from the Lidless, 20% from the Magefists, and 10% (I believe) from the set bonus. So you potentially have 70% FCR, and +5 to all skills (+6 if you use fire). However, you only have 40% blocking rate, so, there must be a way to improve it.

And there is.

-Tal's Mask
-Tal's Ammy
-Tal's Armor
-Tal's Orb/Wizspike
-Upped Visceratuant/Lidless
-SOJ
-SOJ
-Magefists
-Tal's Belt
-Silkweave

Now that looks better. You have the same +5 to all skills (+6 if fire), plus 72% (I believe) blocking rate, and you have 90% FCR on switch, with good resists. It's a goal, but at least it's realistic.

I hope I helped a little.