Theory behind max block %

[Enkai]

Got my first ladder char started after coming back to the game from 3-4 years away >< fishymancer at lvl 55 - going the classically suggested max skellies, mastery, CE and as for stat point allocation I initially read that Enough str to use the armour you need and then the rest into Vit for health to surive the hits or into dex to achieve max block (with homonculus).

So stat point allocation is essentially there just to make sure you dont take damage when you get hit at end game? anyone able to provide the dex required (i believe i read somewhere it was in the 205 region?) also what strength is required for a enigma chest (what armour should be used?)

Thanks in advance!

[Mad Mantis]

anyone able to provide the dex required (i believe i read somewhere it was in the 205 region?)

Welcome Newcomer to The Darkness. Grab a brew and feel free to raise some corpses.

That depends on the item used. With a homunculus you need 203 Dex at Clvl 90.

also what strength is required for a enigma chest (what armour should be used?)

That depends on the armor you use. A Breast Plate Enigma is pretty popular, but there are other options. you can check the strength reqs on the items [here.

[Enkai]

Hey Mad Mantis, thanks for the reply and its good to be back.

Yeah I was refering to the homonculus with the block - nearly at 200 now ... although a good 30 levels till 90 :P I will get the base 205 dex for that.

Little hurt over the strength - from some very basic skim reading of strength required for enigma armours It was suggested that 100ish would be good an allow you to wear some decent armour (I have already achieved 110 strength).
So based on this I assume that all stats points from here on out go into Vit ? (after achieving the 205 dex).

Also on a side track from stat allocation what the hell is with Gloams!?
I was just soloing worldstone keep lvl 2 last night and I was just horribly thrown about and killed hundreds of time from gloam "insta-gibs" Is this just a "get more resisitance and HP" or is there other techniques to use. I found by hiding around a corner and letting my army gradually go around and attack worked well (if i was in line of sight of them it meant I was dead).

Either way just about to head into hell and loving the necro.

EDIT: Ah after more research it seems that 103 strength to enable the use of an archon plate for use with Engima runeword results in the best bang for buck with defence Viva la Archon plate! (do you just wait for a 3 socket archon plate to come along - or do you use horodric cube reciepies to add sockets manually and hope for 3 sockets?)

[Kesshi]

Enkai,

Max Block is a formulia.

DEX = ((150 * clvl) / blocking) + 15, rounded up.

"DEX" is the dex needed for max block.
"blocking" is the sum of all items with +block from all of your gear and your skills.*

*You can get a lot of +block from a lot of sources other than your shield.

Lets see what a few +block can do for you. Warning! Math ahead:

Homunculus has 72% block. I'm going to assume level 85, since that is not too high and not too low. Lets plug in the numbers:

DEX = (( 150 * 85) / 72 ) + 15
DEX = ((12,750 / 72 ) + 15
DEX = (177.083) + 15
DEX = 192.083
Round up to 193 DEX.


One of the most under-valued item in the game is the oh-so common Eld rune socketed into a shield. Yes, you heard me right, Eld. An Eld rune adds 7% blocking when socketed in a shield.

Now lets add and Eld rune.

DEX = (( 150 * 85 ) / (72 + 7)) + 15
DEX = (( 12,750) / (79)) +15
DEX = (161.392) + 15
DEX = 176.39
Rounded up to 177 DEX.

That's a 16 Dex savings from the 2nd most common rune in the game! Lets expand on this idea. Where else can you get +block? Another often under-valued item is the Safety Amulet, which can spawn with up to +10% blocking as well as 10% fast cast and +2 skills (when crafted properly.) Lets plug both an Eld and a 10% Safety Amulet into our formulia:

DEX = (( 150 * 85 ) / (72 + 7 + 10)) + 15
DEX = (( 12,750 ) / (89)) + 15
DEX = (143.258) + 15
DEX = 158.258
Rounded up to 156 Dex.

That's a a 37 stat point savings from our original setup. The savings get even higher and higher as your levels increase.

There are other places to get +block, (Guardian Angel and Holy Shield, for example) but I doubt any other +block will have a chance to come into play on your current character. Personally, I never underestimate the value of +block items combined when trying to achieve 75% block on a high level character, especially on characters with higher vit-to-life conversions, such as a Paladin or Barbarian.

*Side note* Since a Fishymancer probably won't be making or breaking the build based on 10%-20% Fast Cast, it can be worth it to craft yourself a +10% Block Safety Amulet as opposed to a +10% FC Caster Amulet. If you get really lucky you can land +10% Block AND +10% FC with Necro skills. Regardless, +10% Block with +life and +resists, even without skills, is a very nice amulet to have.

[Enkai]

Hey Kesshi,

Thanks for that info - makes it very clear

[Mad Mantis]

Also on a side track from stat allocation what the hell is with Gloams!?

Bugged monster type. T-Gods or any form of absorb is highly recommended. Or spamming DV in front of you.