Does this shield suck for a Palla?

[Zionel]

Hi!

Gotta tell ya that im pretty fresh to the game and the paladin class.

However, i still have gotten my hands on some decent gear.

Stormlash, Leviathan, Stealskull, Ravenfrost, Angelic ring & amulet. Sigon boots, belt and gloves.

Yes, i know there are some gear here that has to be replaced by better ones, but as a pala, i feel that improvement on my shield is more important right now. And for the record, as the situation is atm i cant afford a HoZ or the Exile runeword.

Im currently using a sacret targe with the rune word rhyme. It had 25 to all res before i applied the runes, so now it has 50.

But, i found a Gerke's Sanctuary w/30 res and i was thinking about throwing in a Pdiamond to increase res to 49. It has some nice DR, wich will go nice with my levithian. And the block is 84% for a palla. However, it doesnt have a Faster Block Rate mod.. :/ I was wondering how important this is. I would really like more defense, more DR and higher block %, but that depends on how much FBR means to a palla.

So, what do you guys think?

Edit: One more question, What is the breakpoint of Zeal with Fana? How much IAS do i need on gear with stormlash, if i need any at all...?

[AnimeCraze]

Block rate is useless on a pally, since you block at 2 frames with HS anyways. You get to 1 frame with 86 faster block, I think.

[kingdryland]

You need 15% ias to get max zeal speed with stormlash. Put a 15% ias jewel in it if you have(sigon pieces give you the ias you need but don't keep them for endgame). As for shields, I wouldn't use gerke's for long. If you want damage reduction and some resists a stormshield is great ,If you want damage and attack rating bonus alma negra will do the job.

[Bladewind]

If you are dying for resist, the almight Herald Of Zakarum with an Um or a Sanctuary Elite shield can solve those problems.

[jagermeister]

I am a poor boy like you, I think you would get the most utility out of a spirit shield. Find a 4s or 0s pally shield with 40+ base resistance, then socket it with spirit runeword. I just got back into the game, and I have 3 of these. The runes add up to less than a shael. You get 2 skills and some nice resistance.

Though if you need the IAS, the geek's sanctuary with IAS jewel deserves consideration.

[dragongelf]

I am a poor boy like you, I think you would get the most utility out of a spirit shield. Find a 4s or 0s pally shield with 40+ base resistance, then socket it with spirit runeword. I just got back into the game, and I have 3 of these. The runes add up to less than a shael. You get 2 skills and some nice resistance.

Though if you need the IAS, the geek's sanctuary with IAS jewel deserves consideration.

a bad HoZ of say, 155 ed is practicly worthless and is usefull enough.

all 3 of my HoZs are lower then 170 ed and all work great for a low price...

thats the choice: you pay a soj ( i think?) for a perfect upped HoZ or you pay (less) then an ist rune (i payed a pul for my zaka 167) for a bad HoZ that also gets the job done...

ofcourse the elite players want the perfect upped one and lets face it... it does add that special extra flare to it... but they can afford it and not everyone can. true... since the keys anyone can become rich(er) then before with relative low efford, i know i cant afford 3 of those shields atm...

you'd probably do best starting with a not upped low ed zaka with a p diamond (if you can afford it maybe an um rune) and if your dying to find one i might be able to set you up with one... (i seem to be able to get my hands on most stuff via trades and stuff...) or you can always ask people to help you (if they're willing enough...)

[Zionel]

Thanks for all the replies. Not sure what ill end up doing just yet, but u gave me a lot of good ideas. :)

I got my self a pair of Draculs btw, wich really made my job a lot easier. If i am a little careful, i can actually beat the game on hell with not too much trouble. And ill be looking for a IAS jewel to put into my Stormlash now, since ill be needing 15 more.

Thanks everyone.

[AnimeCraze]

thats the choice: you pay a soj ( i think?) for a perfect upped HoZ or you pay (less) then an ist rune (i payed a pul for my zaka 167) for a bad HoZ that also gets the job done...A pul!? Is this ladder, and which realm? They go for at least an ist even for the low ED ones on West Ladder. If you do get an HoZ, do up it, no matter what unless you have grief. The increased damage is simply amazing when you smite. I find that a lot more worth it than the 3% resist gained by an Um rune (instead of a diamond).

As for actual choice of shields, spirit elite pally shield works. Greke is useless to a pally, because:
a) Doesn't give any pally bonus. You would do better with an HoZ or spirit instead.
b) Pitiful smite damage. Even if you are not smiting ubers, I find 1 point smite works wonders against hell Baal.
c) High str requirements.

For the stormlash, just shove a shael on it for now. If you come across a nice IAS/ED jewel, then hel it.

[Zionel]

A shael would give me 20% wich would be more than enough.

But, what would be better?

1. A Shael rune to get the 15% more speed that i need to cap?

or

2. An Amn rune that will give me 7% life leech?

Atm i have 23% life leech with draculs, sigon and stealskull. With an amn i would get 30%.

[rolling stoned]

shael. the faster you hit, the faster lifetap from the dracs casts. then there is no need for leech :thumbsup:

[AnimeCraze]

5 and 4 frame makes A LOT of difference. You are basically hitting 25% more often, which translates to 25% more damage. That brings up your leech close to what the amn can give you (per second), but you are killing 25% faster.