These numbers are based on a level 90 Necromancer who gets +20dex from gear.

Important note: If I choose 51% or 75% block, I will be Shaeling the Trang's shield. Vampires have extremely slow block rate and I gain 4 full frames of block speed by using Shael. So keep in mind while choosing that any of the block option ties up my shield socket (probably wouldn't need an Um anyways since Trang's has huge resistances, but a Ber would have been cool)

Basically, after a level 12 BO (dreaming of perfect cta, sig shield, sojs, maras) I'd be looking at losing about 500 life to keep block at 51%, or about 740 life to keep block maxed.

I plan to stat 1 base to Revive for meat shields (as well as a Golem and merc ofc), but still I feel like going no block is pretty risky. Either way I will probably run 51% block when I first enter Hell for a bit of extra safety, this question is for once/if I complete the Trang Set.

The general consensus is no block.
I prefer 75% but I don't play hc and I'm quite reckless in my play style.

no block
use storm for dr

But he’s using Full Trangs set.

51% block

This post was edited by Revenants on Apr 17 2018 09:19am

69% for maximum swaG

mostly depends how you want to play. are you going to be in melee range constantly getting hit, where block would be necessary, or will minions be soaking up the hits where you are free to do whatever you please? (max block v. no block)

never been a fan of ~50% block. necros get shit for hp per vita, so what's ~250 hp for the price of ~25% block? either max or go home. i typically go full vita, too since i've mostly only played casters and dodging/kiting has always been my play style. but if you worry about getting hit, 75% block is the way to go since necros are squishy (and how will your fhr be on a full trang?)

Good point about the FHR. And yeah now that I think about it, I tend to be pretty rammy with my characters. When I re-phrased it in my mind to "1% block = 10 life", I felt like the block was worth it. I still don't really know though, because it might be more fun to play as vita.

Calc about how much more vit you'd get and what amount of HP that would translate to.
Then go get hit a few times on various end game mobs/hunting grounds and see if that amount of hit points results in an additional hit of survival.
If it does not, go max block.
If it does, decide between how many hits a block proc might save you with a "guaranteed" hit in terms of hit points.

That's at least one way to do it.

For HC players, I tend to lean to max block whenever possible.
When you die, it's typically instantaneous, at least in my opinion
I'd tend to bet that a block or two would give you more reaction time or even sense of danger to tell your brain to escape rather than gambling to stick around "maybe" one more "blood tank" worth of hits to your hit points.

Hope that gives you some things to consider.

General rule of thumb for me is to max out all of my potential life savers like DR, FHR, MB, resistances, and then focus on hit points.
Charms, jewels, rubies, and BO can likely make up ground on hit points

Also, due to your tendency to get in the thick of it, and pnova's radius attack, I'd say block would be safer since you'll be close to mobs generally.
Vit may get you one more solid hit.
Block may block more than one hit, but generally at least one in an encounter.

This post was edited by Stealth on Apr 17 2018 10:16am

Block is not that good on a necro, wouldn't go for any block, full vita.

Normally I’d say no block for most builds because having the extra HP to soak a big hit and give you time to react/not get 1 shot is more valuable but for Trang’s in particular where you sacrifice no mobility for full block it’s probably worth it, or at least more worth consideration compared to builds that will eventually aim for Enigma/Teleport and/or don’t want to walk to keep block.

In between options really only make sense (and even then, I’d never use it) for PvP, 75% or base dex for sure.

E: also pretty sure there’s no block animation for Vampire and FBR is completely useless/only FHR works. Socket your shield freely.
E2: for clarification on no mobility loss, Vampire walk speed is the same as run speed.

This post was edited by LucAA on Apr 17 2018 04:00pm