% to block

dreadnor · 01/13/06, 3:12 AM

Items like the might breastplate and might shoulders have alot of %Block and it seems to me that this stat is only useful in the crappy 5 man instances. The way blizzard does their itemization suggests that 2% block is better than 1% dodge. Although this may be true for when you are being hit for 150-250, in raid situations I think it is the most useless stat.

Example: lets say you are being hit for 1000 from a raid mob.

2% block chance gives you a 2% chance to mitigate 80(crappy gear) or 150 (good gear) damage. So if you are hit 100 times for 1000 damage (every hit) you will block twice and at the very most mitigate 300 damage.

Now 1% dodge using the same example as before will allow you to dodge 1 more hit out of every 100 so you will effectively mitigate 1000 damage.

I'm aware that shield block (warrior skill) factors into this somehow since while its active % block is worth more (increasing returns) to you. However I still dont get how this stat is worth so much in the itemization formulas.

What am I missing?

P.S. In pve what is the difference between a block and parry?

• Hamlet · 01/13/06, 3:46 AM

Originally Posted by dreadnor,January 13th, 2006 @ 3:12AM

P.S. In pve what is the difference between a block and parry?

This question is completely incongruous, given the understanding implied by the rest of your post. I don't quite understand what's going on.

dreadnor · 01/13/06, 4:18 AM

That is a typo, should read:

P.S. In pve what is the difference between a dodge and parry?

It is not specifically related to the post just catered for the same audience. Probably should remove it but I can't seem to find the "edit post" link.

Windsor · 01/13/06, 4:40 AM

Originally Posted by dreadnor,January 13th, 2006 @ 2:12AM

Items like the might breastplate and might shoulders have alot of %Block and it seems to me that this stat is only useful in the crappy 5 man instances. The way blizzard does their itemization suggests that 2% block is better than 1% dodge. Although this may be true for when you are being hit for 150-250, in raid situations I think it is the most useless stat.

Example: lets say you are being hit for 1000 from a raid mob.

2% block chance gives you a 2% chance to mitigate 80(crappy gear) or 150 (good gear) damage. So if you are hit 100 times for 1000 damage (every hit) you will block twice and at the very most mitigate 300 damage.

Now 1% dodge using the same example as before will allow you to dodge 1 more hit out of every 100 so you will effectively mitigate 1000 damage.

I'm aware that shield block (warrior skill) factors into this somehow since while its active % block is worth more (increasing returns) to you. However I still dont get how this stat is worth so much in the itemization formulas.

What am I missing?

P.S. In pve what is the difference between a block and parry?

+%blocking with shields can reach a point where (using shield block) a warrior can have over 100% chance to block successive incoming attacks when he is attacked. [i believe one of our MTs is currently up to 106% in full wrath + bulwark/scarab/nef neck/ony trink]

this allows for a _TON_ of damage to be mitigated by shields.

Dodging once does not improve your chances to dodge the next time something attacks you.

Drauk · 01/13/06, 5:10 AM

Originally Posted by Windsor,January 13th, 2006 @ 4:40AM

[i believe one of our MTs is currently up to 106% in full wrath + bulwark/scarab/nef neck/ony trink]

Whats his actual block% on raid mobs ?

Ultramax · 01/13/06, 5:20 AM

Originally Posted by dreadnor,January 13th, 2006 @ 2:12AM

What am I missing?

For long term mental sanity I suggest you only learn the How of WoW mechanics and just stop worrying about the Why.

Imoan · 01/13/06, 12:12 PM

Blocks allow warriors to use revenge! How does that suck? (Yes I know you can use shield block for the same effect, but not having to spend rage on it seems good to me?) :unsure:

Anglakel · 01/14/06, 5:35 AM

It's so I can tank duel Tehax in a full AB. Lookatdat combat log, disgusting. (56k beware)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6348/tehaxxor0rx.jpg

• Bad Luck · 01/14/06, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Anglakel,January 14th, 2006 @ 5:35AM

It's so I can tank duel Tehax in a full AB. Lookatdat combat log, disgusting. (56k beware)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6348/tehaxxor0rx.jpg

What a boring fight! :(

decimus · 01/14/06, 5:23 PM

Originally Posted by Anglakel,January 14th, 2006 @ 5:35AM

It's so I can tank duel Tehax in a full AB. Lookatdat combat log, disgusting. (56k beware)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6348/tehaxxor0rx.jpg

hah, they probably couldn't do more damage to each other every minute than a bandage could heal.

Fjord · 01/15/06, 1:11 PM

Well the screenshot certainly shows why they think 2% block is valued at 1% dodge.

Anglakel · 01/15/06, 7:44 PM

Originally Posted by Fjord,January 15th, 2006 @ 1:11PM

Well the screenshot certainly shows why they think 2% block is valued at 1% dodge.

I'm completely negating an attack from a weapon off nefarian whenever i choose to, block is not to be overlooked. I had Rodne hitting me for 6 dmg with a herald of woe before they unsucked judgement. Yes dodge is cool, but i don't see many choices where a warrior has to go with 2% block or 1% dodge, most of our stuff just has a little bit of everything and is taken on a case by case basis. ^_^

Thommy · 01/17/06, 8:20 AM

Right now I'm at about 220 block with str totem and some + str pots in full tanking gear. Around 215 unbuffed. I find this the most useful way to tank, being that I can always get a block. Blocking over 100% of the time reduces my dmg taken, lights up revenge (one of the best, if not the best aggro holding ability) and increases my rage.

Reducing this physical damage 100% of the time really helps my mitigation and extends the life of the tank.

♦ Praetorian · 01/17/06, 11:19 AM

Yeah, Blizzard has to be very careful with how the block mechanic develops, because of the way it works as a flat subtraction.

Shield block already makes most tanks entirely invulnerable to almost all 5-man mobs. I suspect a big reason why shield discipline was nerfed (replacing it with shield slam is still basically a PvE nerf). Imagine what kind of block #s a tank with wrath shoulders/boots, Styleen's, and a Chromaggus shield would have, if Discipline still existed in its old form?

Roane · 01/17/06, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by Praetorian,January 17th, 2006 @ 11:19AM

Imagine what kind of block #s a tank with wrath shoulders/boots, Styleen's, and a Chromaggus shield would have, if Discipline still existed in its old form?

About 200, plus strength, so maybe 225. 450 with Shield Discipline. Even without Discipline, you could probably get loads of full blocks today with that type of gear, though generating rage while taking no damage and wearing a shield has always been an interesting situation.

(3 Piece Might, Wrath Shoulder/Boots, Styleen's, Hakkar Shield, 2x Presence of Might)