Hello, I was wondering what the max block % is that I can have and how it exactly works.
5/5 skill points in block give me 40%. Then there's enchants that can raise it further as well.

1) Physical and magic damage mitigation is capped at 85% I've read, does this also apply to block? Meaning I need (85-40=) 45% block with enchants to reach the cap?

2) How exactly does the block mitigation work anyway? Does it block a fixed percentage of incoming damage or is there a base value (if so; which one?) that is increased by the block effectiveness %?

3) What is the maximum block I can reach and how to reach it?
(ie: are there any other ways to increase block besides perks and enchants?)

Some more information on the subject would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

Alchemy potions, that's about it besides enchants and perks.

does positioning factor in?

Such as, if you're holding the shield in your left arm, and the enemy hits your left flank, does it reduce the same damage if the enemy hit your right flank?

I can't answer all of your questions. I was recently told that the first tier block perks are broken and not working, and that every shield blocks max damage (80-85%), then that 20-15% is further mitigated by armor, so in the end you're only taking around 4% damage or so from attacks. This is something I read in another post, it might be incorrect but the easy way to go about it would be to be naked, have something smack you, check the damage, put on armor, let it smack you again to find out what percentage your armor is mitigating, and then repeat with shield/shield + armor.

Oh and a 4th question: Does the lvl 100% Heavy Armor perk: Reflect Blows ("10% chance to reflect melee damage back to the enemy") work its magic pre- or post- block mitigation?

In other words: Can a low level enemy attack itself to death on your shield while you get no damage?

Again, i'm not sure but I heard the damage that the creature takes is what was done after mititgation, so that perk is worthless =( I could be wrong though, you might want to wait for another sources confirmation.

Thanks for your quick replies ConfusedAltmer.
Does anyone else know more about block?

Shameless bump

Oh and btw;
I'm not sure it's worthless, though now I also wonder if the damage that is reflected (let's say post-mitigation) is *also* mitigated by the attackers armor...

If not then I consider both perks fairly equal. In a 1 on 1 situation/duel if both people have the same amount of health then boh perks result in pretty much the same amount of benefit. Let's say 500 health. Light armor effectively gives 50 extra health, heavy armor does ~50 damage.

So it would be 550 vs 500 or 500 vs 450. Percentage wise the difference of the latter is more in your favor.
And the less the HP of your enemy compared to yours the more the heavy armor perk shifts in your favor. Not sure how much HP bosses have in Skyrim though.

So no one knows how blocking exactly works (what values and such)??
I for one can't seem to find a post anywhere where it's explained in detail. Last bump hoping for some new insight:)

Incoming physical damage is first mitigated by your Armor Value, and on block is further mitigated by the same % again. Thus, if you're armor capped at 85% mitigation, on a hit that would normally deal 100 damage to you, 85 is mitigated by your Armor Value, and your block mitigates another ~13. Another example: if you've got 50% mitigation from Armor, on the same hit, your Armor Value mitigates 50, and your block mitigates another 25.

The quality of your shield, perks like Shield Wall, and + Blocking % enchants appear to have little or no effect. So blocking with a shield is inherently a powerful mitigation mechanic, but the perks and enchants that are supposed to enhance it are worthless.

First tier block perks work fine.

Tested on a giant wearing just an elven shield.

Health
550 = Base
253 = After an Attack
418 = Blocked
435 = 1/5 Shield Wall
451 = 2/5 Shield Wall
467 = 3/5 Shield Wall
484 = 4/5 Shield Wall
500 = 5/5 Shield Wall

Reduced a 300 damage attack down to 50.

Thanks for testing. Wonder if this was patched. That's a very different result from the last round of testing about a week ago.

Tested with Daedric shield:

263 = attack
444 = block
462 = 1/5
480 = 2/5
398 = 3/5
507 = 4/5
507 = 5/5

Seems to be a cap on reduction. Possibly goes along with armor? Will try wearing various armor levels.

Edit: Quick math says I took 287 damage, 15% of 287 is 43.5. My damage mitigation capped at 43. So looks like block can't pass 85% but something else seems to effect the damage. Possibly shield quality.

Tested with full daedric armor putting me over 567

All below percentages are rounded off.

550
230 = 0 armor (320)
486 = max armor (64) (80% reduction)

526 = blocked (24) (60% reduction)
530 = 1/5 (20) (70% reduction)
534 = 2/5 (16) (75% reduction)
538 = 3/5 (12) (80% reduction)
540 = 4/5 (10) (85% reduction)
540 = 5/5 (10) (85% reduction)

Full Daedric using a hide shield

550
230 = 0 armor (320)
486 = max armor (64) (80% reduction)

519 = blocked (31) (50% reduction)
523 = 1/5 (27) (60% reduction)
526 = 2/5 (24) (65% reduction)
530 = 3/5 (20) (70% reduction)
533 = 4/5 (17) (75% reduction)
536 = 5/5 (14) (80% reduction)

conclusion:

Perks effect the mitigation, shield quality effect the mitigation. Mitigation is capped at 85%.

Will try with lower levels of armor for more accurate numbers.

Do protection spells (reduce xx% of damage with a successful block) added on top or do they still contribute towards the maximum (85%) blocking ability?

I've a shield with 30% damage reduction, a ring with 20% and amulet which gives further 10%. I really don't seem to get any damage when I block or it's too small to be noticed.

I'll have a look into them.

Edit: They are all addative with the perks and still cap at 85%.

Using the below test:

Shield with 40% enchant: 43 damage.
Shield with 40% from Shield wall perk: 43 damage:
Shield with enchant and perks: 43 damage.

Final numbers, Hide shield and Daedric shield, both showing as 60 armor. Nothing else worn.

550
230 = 0 armor (320)
263 = 60 armor (287)

413 = hide shield block (137) (52% reduction)
428 = 1/5 (122) (57% reduction)
444 = 2/5 (106) (63% reduction)
458 = 3/5 (92) (67% reduction)
474 = 4/5 (76) (73% reduction)
489 = 5/5 (61) (78% reduction)

444 = daedric shield block (106) (63% reduction)
462 = 1/5 (88) (69% reduction)
480 = 2/5 (70) (75% reduction)
498 = 3/5 (52) (81% reduction)
507 = 4/5 (43) (85% reduction)
507 = 5/5 (43) (85% reduction)

I dont get it, daedric protects better although it has the same armor rating?

When blocking, yes. Going to test glass to see if it's shield quality, or just light vs heavy.

Edit: Adding all the numbers into one post.



Tested with full daedric armor putting me over 567. Taking one hit from a giant. Percentages were rounded off to nearest 5 because I'm lazy.

Health = (damage) (reduction)

550 base
230 = 0 armor (320)
486 = max armor (64) (80% reduction)

Deadric Shield

526 = blocked (24) (60% reduction)
530 = 1/5 (20) (70% reduction)
534 = 2/5 (16) (75% reduction)
538 = 3/5 (12) (80% reduction)
540 = 4/5 (10) (85% reduction)
540 = 5/5 (10) (85% reduction)

Hide shield

519 = blocked (31) (50% reduction)
523 = 1/5 (27) (60% reduction)
526 = 2/5 (24) (65% reduction)
530 = 3/5 (20) (70% reduction)
533 = 4/5 (17) (75% reduction)
536 = 5/5 (14) (80% reduction)




Tested with no armor and shield showing as 60 armor. Percentages were wounded down to nearest whole number.

550
230 = 0 armor (320)
263 = 60 armor (287)

Hide Shield

413 = blocked (137) (52% reduction)
428 = 1/5 (122) (57% reduction)
444 = 2/5 (106) (63% reduction)
458 = 3/5 (92) (67% reduction)
474 = 4/5 (76) (73% reduction)
489 = 5/5 (61) (78% reduction)

Glass Shield

431 = blocked
448 = 1/5
465 = 2/5
481 = 3/5
498 = 4/5
507 = 5/5

Deadric Shield

444 = blocked (106) (63% reduction)
462 = 1/5 (88) (69% reduction)
480 = 2/5 (70) (75% reduction)
498 = 3/5 (52) (81% reduction)
507 = 4/5 (43) (85% reduction)
507 = 5/5 (43) (85% reduction)

Awesome, thanks for the testing Domilasa!
Seems the last point in shield perks is a waste with heavy armors late game and block enchants are definitely not needed in order to reach the cap already. Bit of a flawed game mechanic design if you ask me but that's a whole different issue (and I'm used to it in TES )

By any chance; have you done any numbers on shield bash damage and what it's based on/can be modified with?

Health of an NPC (the blacksmith in Whiterun)
95.00
94.10 - 0 block skill
92.75 - 100 block skill
88.25 - Power Bash
61.25 - Deadly Bash

93.31 - Glass 100 skill, no perks

94.06 - Hide 100 skill, no perks

Looks like it's based of block skill, perks and shield quality. One handed does not effect it nor does Shield Wall.

I don't suppose somebody on a pc could find out about how blocking with a weapon works? Especially if the shield wall perks affect it or not. I've been curious about that since I started playing, and I can't seem to find research on it anywhere.

Yeah I was surprised how little information on blocking there was as well. Luckily Domilasa helped me out a lot with his tests. You could try a PM.

Just in case you check the thread again, Shield Wall effects two handed blocking. Blocking with a weapon is less effective than using a shield, all two handed weapons block for a base of 40%

As opposed to 50-60% base for Shield blocking (depending on the material quality?)