Block useless? : V

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:22 am

is it useless or am i just svcky? (ie can not get skill up and still takeing a lot of damage)

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:59 am

Block is not useless. The power bash and arrow block perks are sick.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:40 am

I recently hit 50 in Block and I find it amazing. I can REALLY see the difference between blocking and not blocking (as far as damage taken). I also love it for inturrupting an enemy's power attack or spell cast-- the deflect arrows perk is sick and now that I have "elemental protection" it's insane. I play on Expert, and block is a literal lifesaver for me. I can only imagine how much damage it mitigates at 100, if I'm already feeling it at 50.

I also hear that shield charge is beyond powerful.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:03 am

I personally do not use block, don't know why.

I find it effective at times, but otherwise I just don't like using it.

The reason being is because I use a Warhammer.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:55 am

I have a block level of 18 (went on a deathlord with big freeze and yragrammor's shield)

I usually use firebolt, ice spike and fireball to kill stuff. no harm to me, eva

and I'm lvl 23, done with civil war questline (best way to level IMO)

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:32 am

Block is one of the most amazing skills in the game. The perks are phenomenal.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:06 am

Far from useless, as you get better with it you'll more seamlessly move in and out of blocking and attacking.

Running the risk of becoming 'that' guy here, but...

SHIELD CHARGE IS OMGWTF AWESOME.

Totally worth the investment.

The trick to properly blocking is timing, shouts and conserving stamina for bashes and power attacks. Ideally, you should never even get hit if you can bash enough... even moreso with Shield Charge.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:58 am

Block is an excellent group of perks one of the best put together skills, it just depends on what character build you are going for really

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:26 am

I would love to do a mage with a shield. How long would I get by without dual casting? :3

» Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:18 pm

I personally don't like dealing with it but the Elemental Protection perk seems like it'd be cool for someone who doesn't have maxed Magic Resist.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:06 am

I personally do not use block, don't know why.

I find it effective at times, but otherwise I just don't like using it.

The reason being is because I use a Warhammer.

You wouldn't "Block" much per se (not much point in it) but Bash? Surely you bash to stagger opponents at times....

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:02 am

What everyone else said.^

I block everything I can, unless I know the enemy won't do much damage and I could use a skill up or two for heavy armor.

The elemental shield blocks 50% of magic damage, which is certainly useful, and I'm constantly shield bashing enemies who try to block my attacks. Quick reflexes is also useful when countering enemy power attacks. I also shield bash enemy mages to keep them from using their spells on me.

Blocking may seem ineffective at first, but get the perks and upgrade your shields and you'll see the difference.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:21 am

I hate how ineffective blocking is with a 2-handed weapon - It's already much slower than a shield, and can't get as many goodies... Is there a reason they decided it should absorb significantly less damage on top of those drawbacks?

What's stupid is that a dagger blocks more damage than a Greatsword, for some unfathomable reason.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:43 am

ok so i svck at it as at around lv 20 my block skill is still lv 10

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:20 am

I hate how ineffective blocking is with a 2-handed weapon - It's already much slower than a shield, and can't get as many goodies... Is there a reason they decided it should absorb significantly less damage on top of those drawbacks?

What's stupid is that a dagger blocks more damage than a Greatsword, for some unfathomable reason.

I agree with this, it is a bit far fetched if you ask me.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:22 am

personally I find block dumb. I thought it would be cool to make char at first but I guess it's just not for me. I guess I prefer hack and slash guys up.

I find it levels way to slow. I either have to hunt down a giant to get skill ups or just get attacked by mudcraps for hours. doingo quests and random dungeons doesn't seem to level it fast enough. I think I am on 70 something now and the charge perk is 100?

the only cool think I like (which I don't have) is a 2 handed char with the shield bash perk. Smash someone in the face then cut em down the middle lol!

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 5:42 am

It's not useless. I use block all of the time. I especially like to try to time my blocks right when I'm about to be hit as opposed to just holding my shield up waiting for something to hit me.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 7:01 am

Block is the most bugged skill in the game. Deflect Arrows is bugged to where it brings you up to 85% effectiveness against all attacks, making Shield Wall useless. As long as you take Deflect Arrows youre the best there can be immediately.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 1:38 am

Block levels a little slow for me but it's pretty darn awesome when it came.
The slow time block perk is awesome,add to that the shield elemental perk and you can be almost unstoppable.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 8:11 am

I hate how ineffective blocking is with a 2-handed weapon - It's already much slower than a shield, and can't get as many goodies... Is there a reason they decided it should absorb significantly less damage on top of those drawbacks?

What's stupid is that a dagger blocks more damage than a Greatsword, for some unfathomable reason.

Not unfathomable. A dagger is light and easily moved to parry incoming attacks, while a greatsword is cumbersome to parry with at best.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 10:04 am

If I have enemies swinging weapons at me, my first instinct is to put up my shield, and then use a shield bash to stun them. If I go all out, swinging my weapon as my enemy is doing the same, then I'm usually going through potions like crazy as well. Even while playing Oblivion, I always liked using the block and counter approach to combat.

If you want to skillup your shield skill, you have to use it. Block enemy attacks, rather than just soaking up the hits. Skillups don't seem to be too hard to come by for me. My Nord is lv 30 atm and has a shield rating around 50. It will max out eventually.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:01 am

You wouldn't "Block" much per se (not much point in it) but Bash? Surely you bash to stagger opponents at times....

I've only bashed about four times.

I just don't find it much helpful to me.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:18 am

Not unfathomable. A dagger is light and easily moved to parry incoming attacks, while a greatsword is cumbersome to parry with at best.

What are you on?

A greatsword is ideal for parrying - It's securely held in both hands so it can be maneuvered faster than a Dagger. It has greater mass, meaning that when it takes a blow, less of the impact is transferred to the user (You'd break your arm trying to block with a dagger), It has much greater leverage for re-directing the momentum of an incoming attack, and it has a much larger surface area to absorb the blow. The difference between trying to block with a Greatsword vs. Block with a Dagger is like the difference between trying to hit a Tennis Ball with a Racket vs. a Chopstick.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 3:37 am

I am of different opinion here. Block is fun but pretty meh. When you consider you could have spells in that hand instead. Ultimately it does the same thing as the main weapon. Doing bad things to enemy and requiring melee range. Weapon power attack stuns people too. Until perked (and if) blocking also basically roots you in place, which is a huge drawback since everyone will be hitting you, and shields do not block damage completely. Shield or not, unless in top gear, being rooted on master is suicide against enemies who you would like to block. Shield is good for more enchant slots though.

» Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:28 am

Block is one of the most amazing skills in the game. The perks are phenomenal.

^ This

My sword & board characters barely get touched health wise. The game becomes a breeze once you've perked up the block tree.