A few PvP question.

[SmittySixTen]

Ok, so I haven't done any real PvP in about 3 years, and when I stopped all I took part in was llding. I need some refreshers, and some questions answered about 1.10 stuff. Also, some of the questions are Pally specific, so if this would have been better in the Pally forum I'm sorry.

Is the DR cap 50% or 75%?

I know damage is usually king, and I've noticed a lot of the new rune words either have "Ignores Target's Defense" or "-to Target's Defense". Is it not as good of an idea to base a character (in this case a pally) around high defense because of this, or does a high defense still stand a decent chance at winning out over a high damage output if it is done correctly?

I checked, and enhanced damage from Fortitude armors increase Smite damage. I'm assuming the same holds true for weapon ed as well. Is this increase significant, or is it capped/reduced due to attacking with your shield?

I do plan on using an Exile (Zakarum), even though most guides seem to think it is a bad choice. I'm still trying to figure out if I want to use Smite or Zeal. I've never used a pally in pvp before, what are the ups and down to either skill? Is Exile better suited for either skill?


Thanks for any input.

[eA-Zaku]

The DR cap is now 50%.

I don't recall Fortitude enhancing Smite, but if it does, Enigma is still a better choice for skills, life, damage reduce, and TELEPORT.

If you want extra damage use Grief. It adds a large hidden bonus to Smite.

Smite is by far better than Zeal. More powerful, more diverse, and considered one of the top duelers.

Ups and Downs

Smite:
- Good damage
- Unblockable
- Stuns IIRC
- High defense
- Enough leftover skills to go BM

- Expensive
- Lower than average mobility

Zeal:
- Old school factor?
- Cheap
- High defense
- High attack rating

- Horrible matchups
- Zeal vs. Zeal/Fury is boring
- More about statistics and numbers than skill when doing mirror match
- Horrible maneuverability, especially if using Fortitude

Pretty much any successful Zealer will be using Charge or defensive tactics more than the actual skill itself or may even be a hybrid.

[SmittySixTen]

Ok, thanks for that info. So no clue about how -targets defense and ignores defense are affected by a higher defense?

Also, Grief would be superior to a high CB Last Wish?

[eA-Zaku]

A good to high damage Grief with enough %IAS to reach your character's breakpoints is one of the godliest weapons in the game.

Last Wish is decent, I suppose, but I think the speed issues will get you down (unless you go Zeal :)) Take note I play BvC barbs, so I only know from 1.09 Zealer and a poor-man's 1.10 Smiter experience. All other paladin dueling experience has been with casting types.

On the minus/ignore enemy defense: it's very unworth it. Only if it's inherent along with other great bonuses, like on Fury, it's just gravy or icing on the cake. In other words, you should not prioritize it too highly. The only time it was ever good was in 1.09 when Eth had a bug which isntead of doing -25% defense or w/e the rune said, it actually put the enemy's defense in the negative, or effectively zero. I also believe I read that there is a penalty on the Ignore Target Defense mod in PvP.

[mainaman]

Ok, thanks for that info. So no clue about how -targets defense and ignores defense are affected by a higher defense?

Also, Grief would be superior to a high CB Last Wish?about smite (i wouldn't go zeal for pvp)
The following things work with Smite:

Bonus damage from STR (each point of STR adds 1% ED) (new for 1.10)
+Skills (increase damage a LOT)
Crushing Blow (including CB on the weapon; e.g. Black runeword)
Weapon range (see below)
Weapon speed (see below)
Life Tap (charges can be found on wands and daggers, save this for tough spots)
Freezes Target (including from the weapon; e.g. Sureshrill Frost)
Hit Blinds Target (From all gear, including the weapon and the shield)
Slow (including from the weapon; e.g. Pompeiis Wrath)
% Chance to cast (including from the weapon)
Prevent Monster Heal
Open Wounds (new for 1.10)


The following things work with Smite but do *not* display on the Character screen:

Enhanced Damage which is off-weapon (thanks to Grimble for bringing this to my attention; thanks to Mikeandroe for helping test) (new for 1.10)

The following items increase the shield damage: Redeemer, Astreons Iron Ward, Stone Crusher, Grief runeword (Redeemer confirmed by Stopherson) (new for 1.10)

Damage +X, which is the attribute that the above items have, is added directly to the shield damage just like the Holy Shield bonus. This means that any %ED bonuses which work with Smite will apply (e.g. Fanaticism). (Thanks to Mikeandroe for helping test).


The following things do not work with Smite:
Leech (life/mana)
Deadly Strike/Critical Strike (confirmed by both Oramin and Vash-dm independently in 1.11)
Knockback (apart from the standard Knockback on the skill)
Elemental damage from equipment or charms
Elemental damage from auras (e.g. Holy Shock) (the area effect will still work, just not the applied damage)
Magic damage from Sanctuary (note that I havent verified this for 1.10+ but I dont see any reason it should have changed; the area effect will still work, just not the applied damage) (added on behalf of gibbousmoon)
Gear and charms that add a set amount of damage (verified by SSJPunk) except for those items which have the Damage +X attribute (e.g. WarTravs will *not* add damage to Smite; neither will 3/20/20 scs)
Enhanced Damage on the weapon
Enhanced Damage to Demons (e.g. Laying of Hands) (Thanks to Bonkshasa and Posterboy for testing)
Enhanced Damage to Undead has *not* been tested, but it should behave the same way as Enhanced Damage to Demons


Smite speed is dependent on:

Base weapon speed (odd but true)
% EIAS from Fanaticism
IAS in gear
6 frame Smite is the fastest possible

How is Smite Damage Calculated? Version 1.11

It behaves like a standard weapon (except the %ED on the shield isn't equivalent to %ED on a weapon).

Take the shield's base damage.
Add anything that increases the shield damage.
Multiply by non-weapon sources of %ED.

For example:

(Shield Base + Holy Shield bonus + Grief bonus) * (1 + Smite %ED bonus + STR %ED bonus + Fanaticism %ED bonus + off-weapon %ED bonus) = Total damage

The reason for this section is that the LCS (Lying Character Screen) isnt necessarily accurate. If you want to know the damage that you are actually doing you should run the numbers yourself.

best sheld for smiter in my opinion upped bered hoz/sacred targe exile

[elope with me]

ITD does not work in pvp or against bosses...

-def does work... but in a very peculiar way. I don't remember how though...


Smiters are better than zealots, now. Telesmiter makes it incredibly powerful.


(First post is helping out a newbie. =P).

[Dennis_KoreanGuy]

Ok, so I haven't done any real PvP in about 3 years, and when I stopped all I took part in was llding. I need some refreshers, and some questions answered about 1.10 stuff. Also, some of the questions are Pally specific, so if this would have been better in the Pally forum I'm sorry.

Is the DR cap 50% or 75%?

I know damage is usually king, and I've noticed a lot of the new rune words either have "Ignores Target's Defense" or "-to Target's Defense". Is it not as good of an idea to base a character (in this case a pally) around high defense because of this, or does a high defense still stand a decent chance at winning out over a high damage output if it is done correctly?

I checked, and enhanced damage from Fortitude armors increase Smite damage. I'm assuming the same holds true for weapon ed as well. Is this increase significant, or is it capped/reduced due to attacking with your shield?

I do plan on using an Exile (Zakarum), even though most guides seem to think it is a bad choice. I'm still trying to figure out if I want to use Smite or Zeal. I've never used a pally in pvp before, what are the ups and down to either skill? Is Exile better suited for either skill?


Thanks for any input.

Welcome back to PvP.

DR cap is 50%, but any higher WILL be used as stack like resists, so when you're amp'ed, your stacked DR will count.

Enigma is a mucho better choice on a Smiter. Uppd HoZ is the best for a Smiter. and Smiter > Zealer for pubs.

ITD is ignored completely in PvP, and all -% enemy defense suffers a -50% penalty. So -200% Enemy Defense will lower their defense by -100%.

[SmittySixTen]

Wow, thanks for all the responses.

Just one clarification question. The %ed bonus from strength for Smite, is that like synergies where it only includes hard points invested into the stat, or does it include +stats from items as well? If it includes all strength sources, then yes, I can see why Enigma is a complete no brainer for sure.

Also, the reason I'm going exile over HoZ is because I managed to eth glitch a pretty nice shield. That's also why I seriously considered basing the build completely around defense, but I know all too well the problems of an ultra high defense build that simply can't dish out damage.