How important is max block on kicker

[Oniko]

Howdy folks -- well, it's time to remake my kicker. The build is pretty standard with the exception of a merc, and I'll briefly go into the build in the next paragraph, but those of you may wish to just skip it and, if you would, impart upon me your wisdom.

Your basic kicker -- Stormlash/Phoenix/Enigma/Maras/Bk/COA/Dancers/Verdungo's/Dracs. Skillwise, lvl 17 Master, Max Tiger, Tail, Talon, 14 into fade, 1 into fury/ds/df. Get into the thick of a group, talon until Static kicks in, Tiger/Tail. One thing I've noticed, courtesy of my partner Steady, is that Infinity works wonders in Hell on Tail. The charge-up hits MUCH harder than using other mercs, and I'd encourage those of you who have access to an Infinity to try it out.

And now for the advice -- what is a reasonable mount of block needed on a melee kicker? She'll have 50% DR, max resists, will hit the 86 FHR breakpoint. I'm really torn here. The build will be Enigma-dependent. I see that a max block will require upwards to 290 Dex at lvl 90 -- not acceptable.

So it's all about the vita/dex compromise. In my mind, there's two approaches to go about this:

1. Go for roughly a 50% block (around 210 dex, ugh) with a 75% block on my Sanctuary Hyperion (for U-Trist)

2. (What I'm leaning towards), go with just enough dex for a Phase Blade, and end up with 400+ vita.

Can a meleer with 3500+ life do reasonably well with around a 30% block in hell, or is it better to play it safe with a 50% block, and lose 800+ life?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[ilkori]

Well, I look at it this way: Against any melee character, you effectively have 4x the life with maxed block. So, unless that 150(ish) vit will quadrouple your life, max the block.

If you can't survive Hell on about 1k life... you've got a lot to learn. More is better for Uber Tristram, but it can be done on less.

[Oniko]

Well, I look at it this way: Against any melee character, you effectively have 4x the life with maxed block. So, unless that 150(ish) vit will quadrouple your life, max the block.

If you can't survive Hell on about 1k life... you've got a lot to learn. More is better for Uber Tristram, but it can be done on less.

Thanks for your input, just wanted to comment on your last remark... "survive" is a fairly subjective term. My lvl 95 trapsin has a hair short of 4k life, and she's been taken down to about 200 life from one hit in Travincial, and has actually died in the throne from one hit. She has max resists, 50% DR, 56% claw block, and 7K defense.

All it takes is the correct combination of auras and attributes on a monster spawn to take out a very resilient build indeed, and all the experience in the world isn't going to change that. In part, that's what keeps me coming back to this game.

Granted, I do play my sins very aggressively, and this kicker remake will be no exception -- in fact I'd say it's an integral part of the build, because of the relatively low radius of Static (either on Crescent Moon or Stormlash).

[Speedwrath]

Well my 726 life Dragon Tail assa did alright without a shield... ALMOST 50% on Weapon Block too.

But then I guess wearing Natalya set, with the super leech and DR it gives... :p