Is a Monarch Spirit worth the Strength?

**nolanZ** · 09-01-2009, 04:57

I'm making a PvM Sorc (have full Tal set and am working on lvling). I have a lidless for now and I have the runes for spirit. Just wondering if it is worth it from going to 71 (required for Tal) all the way to 156 just for the Spirit Monarch or if I should make it in a different shield. I'm not going for max block. Thanks.

**Crying Freeman** · 09-01-2009, 05:23

Definitely! Spirit is wonderful, and I can´t imagine a caster type without it. Don´t worry about the life loss in vit if you spend 156 to str, you can always make that up with life charms, besides, you will probably end up with 900+ life as a vita build which is usually quite enough after gear, and without any life charms.
+2 skills, huge FHR, FCR, +mana, resists, magic absorb, what´s not to love? I spend 156 str in my sorcs as soon as I can, so I can use spirit right at level 54.

**maareek** · 09-01-2009, 06:09

Monarch is the lowest requirement shield that can spawn with 4 sockets, so yes a Monarch Spirit is definitely worth it compared to the other shields (Aegis and Ward) you could make it in for your sorc (spirit can also be made in paladin only shields, but they're, you know, paladin only).

Spirit adds Vitality as well, which helps alleviate the points it requires in strength and it gives huge amounts of FHR, which is often more important than the (relatively small) difference in life you'd have by going with a different shield.

**Kyrandia** · 09-01-2009, 11:34

Is a Monarch Spirit worth the Strength?

short answer: yes
long answer: most definitely
Sarah Palin answer: you betcha!

(Besides there is no lighter shield you can make it in, as maareek explained.)

**nolanZ** · 09-01-2009, 18:10

haha aright thanks guys

**raveharu** · 10-01-2009, 20:07

Are you an ES sorc, if yes go for Spirit.

If no, I recommend Stormshield, socketed with a P Diamond.

**Kyrandia** · 10-01-2009, 21:58

I don't see what ES has to do with it?

He said he's not going for max block, so then it's the 35% damage reduction + better resists of Stormshield vs. the +2 skills, 35% FCR, 55% FHR and +mana of Spirit. Unless you're trying to make some kind of damage reduction build, I'd say the mods on the Spirit are clearly superior.

**raveharu** · 10-01-2009, 22:13

SS- Higher rate of surviving, 35% DR is alot and more useful in Hell. Not to mention the high + resists.

Spirit - Boost in damage and a little FCR, some resists.

Whats the point of getting higher damage and FCr when your sorc gets killed easily, since they are pretty weak and known for getting 1-2 hit KO in Hell.

ES plays a part because you don't need the DR as much as a non ES-sorc as part of the damage has been diverted to your mana. The + mana and skills is more appropriate in that perspective.

**sirpoopsalot** · 10-01-2009, 23:22

Re: Stormshield vs. Spirit
I think it depends on your playstyle - if you want to try tanking some, then a Stormshield can be superior. However, since most sorcs are quite fragile, ANY tanking is often a bad idea - and to me that makes Spirit superior most of the time.

My Stormshield-wielding/max-block sorc was A LOT more fragile than any Spirit/no-block sorc I've ever made, whether I was using ES or not.

**eRick** · 11-01-2009, 11:45

And also you won't need to invest 156 point in strength.
If you have the Tal set like you mentioned, the armor and belt will give you a -80% in requirements. So basically you don't need to invest any more points in strength than you already have.