Skyrim: Blocking and you, or This is why you keep dying.

[Montezuma's Lawyer]

In my discussion with friends and fellow players, I have discovered a disturbing trend.

Nobody is training Block.

Now, I can understand the appeal of dual wielding, or the fearsome power of a two handed weapon. But Blocking (to me) is without a doubt, the most useful combat skill for a warrior type character.

TLDR Version; Block = Awesomesauce

Training Block provides the following amazing benefits:

Quick Reflexes: Slows time when enemies attempt power attacks; this allows you to either interrupt them, attack before they land the hit, or move out of the way quickly, combined with increased movement speed from higher level skills in blocking, this becomes a way to easily overtake nearly ANY melee combat target, and even helps you avoid those nasty dragon bites.

It also allows you to interrupt those NASTY Giants when they attempt to send you to Cyrodil.

Elemental Protection: Notice how Quick Reflexes pretty much nullifies any melee enemy? Well this is for EVERYONE ELSE. Mages will have nothing to throw at you with this skill, even those previously disastrous fireballs and chain lightnings will wither on your shield. Having Trouble with Liches? Not anymore...

Elemental Protection also provides AMAZING protection from Dragon breath attacks, making you look like a total boss, taking a breath attack directly. (WARNING: Only the AWESOME should attempt this.)
Combine this talent with Shield of Ysgrammor, and you are nearly invulnerable to magic.


Shield Charge: Knocks fuckers down with easy, nuff said.


Please dont be a fool and ignore block, it will save your ass many times over.

 

[Shirastro]

I can't block with my bow.....and usually don't need to

 

[Imper1um]

It really depends, but I'm a magic user and I'm able to render any melee useless with my spells.

Also, any magic users, I tend to just get out of LoS or stand on a corner and they seem to phone it in on the AI.

 

[Montezuma's Lawyer]

Oh no! People are playing in their own way, IN AN ELDER SCROLLS GAME! They must be losing!

Ein Svei, Ein Svei

It was more a of a rant really, but it needs discussion value.

So... How does everyone consider defense for their characters?

 

[Scrustle]

I found blocking very important in Oblivion. Was one of my highest leveled skills. When I first started Skyrim I wanted to use 2 swords but kept dying because I couldn't block so I went back to a sword and shield for a while. Now I've leveled up a bit more I've switched back to 2 swords and haven't really had a problem. You just have to try to not make yourself an easy target.

 

[tendaji]

Yeah I've gotten to the point where I have 441 armor rating, prevent 76% of physical damage with my blocking enchants/perks, and prevent 70% of magical damage.

 

[SidingWithTheEnemy]

Thank for the info, my next ugly, butt-licking obnoxious Kajit Warrior will be hiding behind her shield.

My Orc-Archmage of (M)ass-Destruction would look rather silly, shield wielding and casting spells with the other hand.

 

[Zhukov]

Who needs block when you have a time-pausing inventory and health potions?

The only excuses anyone has for dying in Skyrim are, "I didn't hit the inventory button fast enough" and, "I ran out of health potions."

Or you can just grab a bow and take advantage of the fact that you're the only being on the planet who can jump. One tall rock and you're all set.

Or use the "stealth" mechanic to effectively become invisible and get one-hit kills on almost anything.

Given the alternatives, I conclude that blocking is for boring people.

 

[Montezuma's Lawyer]

Oh no! People are playing in their own way, IN AN ELDER SCROLLS GAME! They must be losing!

Ein Svei, Ein Svei

It was more a of a rant really, but it needs discussion value.

So... How does everyone consider defense for their characters?

Haha, I appreciated the rant, it just seemed a bit weird considering.

I play with Dual-Wield Swords and 2-Handed Warhammer, and it's great for taking out most enemies. My main problem is really taking out groups, but I don't think blocking could fix that...

Dragons are easy though, if you use the right shouts. My tip is to use the double-sword and Elemental Fury shout combo, takes out everyone so quickly they can't even start to attack

True, that works, but it doesnt make you look like a total badass as you take dragon breath in the face and shrug it off.

 

[Rusman]

Oh no! People are playing in their own way, IN AN ELDER SCROLLS GAME! They must be losing!

Ein Svei, Ein Svei

It was more a of a rant really, but it needs discussion value.

So... How does everyone consider defense for their characters?

Defense? What's that? As one of the many that rolled a sneaky bastard (and literally 20 minutes ago got Sneak to 100 with all perks) if I ever need to defend against anything something has gone seriously wrong.

Especially with the shadow assassin perk and whirlwind sprint. Just leg it, go into sneak and everyone forgets you were ever there. Back to picking them off one by one with a bow. Plus it works on dragons.

 

[chaos order]

u see i want to block because i love to play defensively, but i love magic soo much more. i either dual wield conjured swords or have some other spell in my left hand. especially if i need some range.

 

[Swyftstar]

I think they figured people would see dual wielding spells, weapons and 2hs and would totally ignore using shields so they went out of their way to make shields really useful. When I realized you can stop most attacks, even power attacks with a shield bash to the face I pumped most of my points in stamina. If I play smart, I can beat a boss and not get hit. The offensive perks are even really nice.

 

[DEAD34345]

Why would I need to consider defense?

All my enemies are dead before they even realise I'm there. When you're practically invisible, literally silent, and you can kill any enemy in a single hit (X60 damage on daggers) defence ceases to even be a concern.

I had planned to level up blocking (I even have a shield equipped) but so far I've barely even had a chance to try it.

 

[targren]

Forgive my squirrely ignorance, but can't you block with a 2-handed weapon? You don't get the +def, but I know I've done it.

 

[Kungfu_Teddybear]

I've been using a two-handed battleaxe since the start of the game and not really had any problems. Sometimes I struggle to take out large groups, but that's more due to being swarmed than not blocking.

In a game like this there is no wrong way to play, you won't be punished for not wanting to block.

 

[Tips_of_Fingers]

I was a blocking master in Oblivion. I had a shield that reflected a shit load of damage. Combined with armour that also reflected damage all I really needed to do was stand in a corner blocking until my opponents died. I wouldn't even bother attacking weaker enemies (like rats) because it would take them two hits against me (without me losing any discernible damage) until they died.

For Skyrim, I wanted to try something different. I never really went down the magic route in Oblivion so I decided upon that. But at the same time I love melee combat. As such, I decided to have a spellsword type character. I can reduce damage quite significantly with various alteration magics, and conjuring shit to fight for me always helps in taking the enemy's attention away.

Most of the time I allow my companion to just run in and whale on the enemy while I rain deadly fire down upon them. Occasionally I use my bow. When the enemy's health is sufficiently depleted I'll happily run into the fray with my trusty sword and mace combo!

I love the one-handed and shield set-up but I used it to death in Oblivion. I'm really enjoying the style I've chosen...although that slowing-down-time skill sounds pretty rad.

 

[castlewise]

I'm playing a ranger. Block sounds awesome, but rangers don't use shields. They use bows and dual wield. (At least the dnd versions do).

 

[DarkRyter]

What am I gonna block with, my hand that's holding a sword or my hand that's shooting lightning?

 

[Bluefire0909]

I don't need a shield to absorb the damage, I got followers for that.

Nah, I do use a shield and sword whenever I run out of magicka and I'm to lazy to kite and wait for it to refill suprisingly quickly.

I do tend to charge directly at any dragon I see though, so it's probably worth getting points in blocking.

 

[DirgeNovak]

I use spells and dual wielding most of the time, but when I fight a particularly tough enemy, I take the shield out to protect myself. And I use the Whirlwind shout when things get particularly dicey.

Oh, and as for dragons: Dunmer. Fuck yo' fire breath.