I have one passive choice for defense; which one should I pick?der=

[Such Violent Storms]

My first two passives are for my build, adding crit chance, so the third needs to be something defensive.

Tough as Nails, Nerves of Steel, and Relentless come to mind. I know how to determine the highest armor bonus from the first 2 options, i.e. whether the additional armor from vitality or a 25% increase of current armor is greater, but I don't know how the armor bonus compares to relentless. I'm using Frenzy, so Life on Hit will be high, at least 700, and I'll be using a shield. Impunity as well.

Not sure the best route to go. I don't want to hover around 20% life all the time, but I don't want to die to lag or not have enough mitigation from armor...

[Yog]

Tough as Nails or Superstition

[Such Violent Storms]

I'm currently thinking Superstition and focusing on Physical resist in addition to all-res.

[zakaluka]

That's a pretty normal conclusion to come to. Beware, gear with +phys and +AR is pretty overpriced, since many barbs have this peculiar taste in gear.

[Lucas S]

Elemental damage seems to have become more of a threat since 1.03. Superstition deserves a closer look.

[Spankalot]

Whichever gives you the most benefit - if tough as nails/nerves of steel raises your DR from, say, 50% to 65% or even 60%, I would say it is superior to superstition. Non-elemental melee is also some of the hardest hitting in the game - in just A3, swift skull cleavers, demonic tremors, golgors, packs of enraged blood-clan and even fallen overseers are likely the hardest mobs you will face, so elemental resist is irrelevant there.

[blinkyvv]

why is tough as nails good, only 25% bonus to armor? and what does the 50% reflect dmg do really when monster HP is so high?

is superstition worth i to farm A1 elites, seem to get lot of plague, arcane, molten and that magma pool thing effect.

[Spankalot]

Because armour mitigates all damage, and depending on your armour level, can give you a nice bonus to general survivability. The thorns boost is irrelevant.

[blinkyvv]

ya nerves of steel brings me from 53 to 59 % or so with warcry on. is superstition worth it, im at around 4.3k armor base w dual wield farming a1

[Spankalot]

And what kills you most? What are your resistances?