Stormshield - a must for meteorb?

[Kimi]

Hi there.

So, I've just got myself a stormshield while running hell meph, and boy was I happy! Though, I ran in to a problem - I have way too low str for it. (109 base to be precise)

My simple question is, is it a *must* to have stormshield or can I manage to play the game without it, i.e. with another shield? : ) (got visceratuant in stash, using moser's blessed circle with 2x pdiamonds)

Problem is that it's kinda hard to get up to the 156 str that the shield requires because I'm at level 82 at the moment, though I've got a whole stash full of str charms and stuff, but that would take up alot of bag space.

All advice is good advice!

Regards
Kimi

[Kyrandia]

My simple question is, is it a *must* to have stormshield or can I manage to play the game without it, i.e. with another shield? : )

I never used a Stormshield on any of my sorcs, so I guess the answer is "No". :)

As far as I know, Stormshield is only popular for max-block builds. Non-blocking (max vita) builds generally prefer to use the Spirit runeword shield (which btw requires a monarch shield and thus has the same strength requirement of 156).

[Kimi]

I never used a Stormshield on any of my sorcs, so I guess the answer is "No". :)

As far as I know, Stormshield is only popular for max-block builds. Non-blocking (max vita) builds generally prefer to use the Spirit runeword shield (which btw requires a monarch shield and thus has the same strength requirement of 156).

I'm going with a max-block build, but I think it's quite expensive to spend that much points into str to get stormshield. Can't I just go with another shield with less str reqruiment but with less block%? Instead of pumping str so late in to the game, why not try to keep up with the block% of my current shield (moser's) and ignore stormshield and put points into vita (and dex to keep up with the block%) instead?

[sirpoopsalot]

You don't need any particular shield... heck, you could go without a shield altogether, if you really wanted to. If you're content with the Moser's, then stick with it - Stormshield won't add that much to your build that it's worth tweaking half your equipment just to put it on.


One suggestion to help you out if you do want to try the stormshield though: socket it with a jewel with -15% requirements. Hel runes also work, though they don't come with a 2nd mod like a good jewel. That'll bring the required strength down to a more manageable 133, instead of 156. You can also get some other good mods on the jewel (personally, I like adding fire resists to help keep pace with the cold & lightning resist auto-mods). Another desirable mod is +dexterity (to help with your blocking %).

This is a rare jewel I stuck in my amazon's stormshield, once upon a time:

Havoc Eye
Jewel
Required Level: 13
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 82
Fingerprint: 0xbd1871bf
+5% Enhanced Damage
Fire Resist +26%
Adds 1-15 lightning damage
Requirements -15%

[SeCKSEgai]

You definitely don't need an SS. Then again, ever since I used my first spirit monarch, I've been hooked ever since. I ended up putting too much str on my pure lite sorc to insure meeting the steep req.

I've never been fond of max blocking sorcs, they're not adept at blocking to begin with, and you shouldn't be getting hit enough to make use of it. The real dangers are primarily attacks that can't be blocked, like lightning from a gloam.

[Kimi]

Well, I descided to go with max block when I first started my sorc but I later on found out that the primary source of damage I take is from magic attacks (fire, lightning etc), not physical. But, I've already put so much points into dex and been trying to catch up with my block chance that it feels kinda stupid not to continue with it :p

I'll stick with my moser's and let any of my other characters to have some fun with stormshield instead.

Thanks for all the advice!

[omgwtfbbqpwned]

As you play the game, you'll realize that many PvM guides list Stormshield as top-end gear uncessarily. I'm not going to bash Stormshield; it is pretty godly, and it is pretty much necessary for PvP. But PvM? You'll find that there are a multitude of choices that work just as well.

[evev]

My question would be: will you end up spending more stat points meeting the Spirit's str requirement or will you spend more points making sure you have ~75% block rate at level 99?

Personally I think you will spend more points trying a max block build than just using Spirit. And hey, if you are 1337 and can get perfect equipment (torch, ani, war travs, etc) then you "only" need 95 strength to use Spirit.

[sirpoopsalot]

IIRC, by around level90 my max-block sorcs spent anywhere from ~150-220 dex with a good/decent blocking shield. This was without boost-blocking equipment like Guardian Angel, Twitchthroe, or crafted amulets.


So the overall strength investment is typically a small amount lower.

[evev]

Thanks for the info sirpoopsalot. With that in mind it seems a max block Sorc is either for the wealthy or for the eccentric since it seems that you are looking to spend ~140 points on strength and an additional ~140 points on dex. On top of that I imagine that you need FHR to make that high block rate effective, and with so much of a Sorc's equipment "a must", I'm unable to see where FHR can be squeezed in.

Are max block Sorcs really a viable main-stream build?

[MYK]

After building a dozen max block Sorks in an untwinked and hardcore environment, I'll never go without my block. If I happen to find a SS to use, bonus!
Shako + SS = 45% DR. Find a Thundergod's Vigor and you've got most of an indestructible baal runner.

The last meteorb sorceress I built used a Whitstan's Guard. She later got a torch and I made her wear Stormshield. There wasn't really a difference unless I was teleporting Baal runs and I wasn't doing those because I don't like the Tal's set for Baal runs...

Thanks for the info sirpoopsalot. With that in mind it seems a max block Sorc is either for the wealthy or for the eccentric since it seems that you are looking to spend ~140 points on strength and an additional ~140 points on dex. On top of that I imagine that you need FHR to make that high block rate effective, and with so much of a Sorc's equipment "a must", I'm unable to see where FHR can be squeezed in.

Are max block Sorcs really a viable main-stream build?

What do you mean by, "you need FHR to make that high block rate effective?"

[Antonio]

I have a max block light/fo sorceress that runs Pits, and I would never go to that place without max block. She uses full Tal's with Whitstan's and is running with about 1.1k HP before BO, after BO she reaches 1.8k. So yes, max block has it's uses on a PvM sorceress, but I wouldn't use SS for that purpose.

[sirpoopsalot]

What do you mean by, "you need FHR to make that high block rate effective?"

I can think of two things:

1) He meant FBR (Faster Block Rate). Sorcs do block quite slowly, afterall.

2) With Stormshield + max-block, he'd have so many points tied into strength and dexterity (~300 stat points!!!) that his life will be quite low. Since 1/12th removed from your tiny little life pool will force hit recovery, a lot of monsters could definitely force hit recovery quite often (even with the damage reduction on SS). So having some FHR seems like a very wise investment for a SS+max-block sorc.


As for max-block vs. pure-vit, that's an eternal debate up there with the chicken and the egg. They each have advantages and disadvantages, with no clear-cut "winner".

[MYK]

Gah! The squid almost got my post...

I can think of two things:

1) He meant FBR (Faster Block Rate). Sorcs do block quite slowly, afterall.

2) With Stormshield + max-block, he'd have so many points tied into strength and dexterity (~300 stat points!!!) that his life will be quite low. Since 1/12th removed from your tiny little life pool will force hit recovery, a lot of monsters could definitely force hit recovery quite often (even with the damage reduction on SS). So having some FHR seems like a very wise investment for a SS+max-block sorc.


As for max-block vs. pure-vit, that's an eternal debate up there with the chicken and the egg. They each have advantages and disadvantages, with no clear-cut "winner".

6 Frame Block Rate with a Stormshield and most others (Moser's, Whitstan's) types has never seemed terribly slow to me.

At least 30% FHR isn't tough to achieve with Sandstorm Treks, Shael runes in the armor or FHR charms and is a good starting point; I've teleported every non-uber area with 10 frame FHR and lived.

Now, FHR can be hard to come by if you're building a Baal machine, in which case shoot for at least 60%FHR.
More would be great, but at that time you start to destabalize your Holy Baal running Trinity: resists, life and damage reduction.

:scratchchin:

[Stryfe]

I was thinking of building a max-block sorc aswell when I started my meteorb but as I progressed I realized that I quite seldom got hit by blockable stuff and if I did it was usually by making stupid mistakes.

For me it's quite an easy choice. Do I want to have the chance of avoiding 75% of all incoming physical attacks but kill slower or do I want to kill them before they do any damage to me? It's not quite that easy but that's the basic thought around it.