unique items *no longer updated*

15% additional chance to block (worded in a really confusing way for some ungodly reason) is HUGE. That's basically almost 2 whole block clusters on the passive tree. Not being able to wear a chest isnt a huge deal because it has over 200 health on it, and the it has 3 useful supports built in.

The chance to generate an endurance charge is mostly just a matter of convenience, since it's never been difficult to maintain max endurance charges. Just tedious.

The only real issue is that it means you get no resists on either your helm or your chest piece, but that's workable.




My first thought was to use this with a dual wield build as a means of getting 75% block chance, but essentia sanguis is out of the question because you cant be having ghost reaver if you cant equip a chest piece. Another option is ungil's gauche, but at that point you may as well use a shield instead of a sub par dagger.

So now we can block with a bow ?

ermaghed, that helmet is FUCKING AWESOME

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BRavich wrote:

15% additional chance to block (worded in a really confusing way for some ungodly reason) is HUGE. That's basically almost 2 whole block clusters on the passive tree. Not being able to wear a chest isnt a huge deal because it has over 200 health on it, and the it has 3 useful supports built in.

The chance to generate an endurance charge is mostly just a matter of convenience, since it's never been difficult to maintain max endurance charges. Just tedious.

The only real issue is that it means you get no resists on either your helm or your chest piece, but that's workable.




My first thought was to use this with a dual wield build as a means of getting 75% block chance, but essentia sanguis is out of the question because you cant be having ghost reaver if you cant equip a chest piece. Another option is ungil's gauche, but at that point you may as well use a shield instead of a sub par dagger.

Actually Ungil's Gauche is much better than what you might think. If you play an asymmetrical build (only hitting with the main hand) Ungil effectively gives you 30% block and a huge crit bonus to the main hand weapon. However, that's not really the point: DW nodes are in fact quite insane. There are nodes for huge block quantities and quite a bit of damage, which just can't be found if you are going to use shield. Also, IAS bonus.

Another (admittedly crazy) possibility is a dual wielding physical damage wand build, with big block chance which is then converted to spell block chance through Stone of Lazhwar...

A really unique Unique that actually seems good.

Yeah its ment to be used with dual swords^^

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Incompetent wrote:

I'd like to see that helm on a build designed around melee, high blocking (either shield or dual wield), and Iron Reflexes without Unwavering Stance. The loss of chest armour definitely hurts, but if you can make good use of all those bonuses...

Actually with Iron Reflexes you'll still have the increased mana cost from blind, but i don't think you'll get any benefit from it if you can't evade...

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Falcord wrote:

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BRavich wrote:

15% additional chance to block (worded in a really confusing way for some ungodly reason) is HUGE. That's basically almost 2 whole block clusters on the passive tree. Not being able to wear a chest isnt a huge deal because it has over 200 health on it, and the it has 3 useful supports built in.

The chance to generate an endurance charge is mostly just a matter of convenience, since it's never been difficult to maintain max endurance charges. Just tedious.

The only real issue is that it means you get no resists on either your helm or your chest piece, but that's workable.




My first thought was to use this with a dual wield build as a means of getting 75% block chance, but essentia sanguis is out of the question because you cant be having ghost reaver if you cant equip a chest piece. Another option is ungil's gauche, but at that point you may as well use a shield instead of a sub par dagger.

Actually Ungil's Gauche is much better than what you might think. If you play an asymmetrical build (only hitting with the main hand) Ungil effectively gives you 30% block and a huge crit bonus to the main hand weapon. However, that's not really the point: DW nodes are in fact quite insane. There are nodes for huge block quantities and quite a bit of damage, which just can't be found if you are going to use shield. Also, IAS bonus.

Another (admittedly crazy) possibility is a dual wielding physical damage wand build, with big block chance which is then converted to spell block chance through Stone of Lazhwar...

The only really significant dual wield block passives is the dervish cluster, which give you 14% for 3 points. Shield block passives tend to be more efficient in all other instances. So you can get 15+12+14 = 41% with ungil's gauche, but the thing is that there are plenty of shields that come close to that value, and you get loads of defensive stats to go with it. If PoE were a game that didnt center completely around being able to survive so that you can deal damage, I might see it differently.

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kog1115 wrote:

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Prpnnightmare wrote:

it's seperate and additive. If you had no block, you now have 15%. If you had block, you now have +15%

Excellent. That's exactly how it should work. :)

This makes it really interesting :) Maybe i'll get lucky and i could try it out on my 2-handed sword duelist, loosing the chest piece will hurt, but the great stats of the helmet + the block chance might actually increases my survivability (getting life and block chance and loosing some armor...).
For my char the only real problem would become ele resistances...

Not too sure about the helm it looks awesome at 1st glance but that no chest is quite hefty.

From the top:

564 armor
812 evasion rating

Without a doubt an endgame armour + helm combo will trump these values.

Blind, Melee physical and Faster attacks. Sort of turning this into a 7 link. However they are not level 20, they also do not include quality you could get from these gems. For endgame purposes a 6.5 link, but an easy to obtain 6.5 link. This is worth something, especially since it is a solid combo. Issue you get a 6.5 to 7 link and trade it for a 4 + 6 link.

Adds 20-30 physical. Will be great once the passive tree gives proper increase to non-weapon phys rolls. Still kind of low in my opinion, compared to elemental rolls (I know balance, because of armour, hence lower, but you got no crit on phys effect. Whole phys vs ele debate).

220 maximum life. This compensates for the life you miss on the chest. A lot easier to get than the perfect end game rares, makes this helmet more valuable.

The endurance charge on block is quite mute, convenience at most. I would have done something like 10% of block chance counts as flat reduction. 75% block = 7.5% reduced phys dmg. 40% spell block = 4% reduced elemental damage.

15% Block chance. Maybe the biggest thing on the chest. I assume that whether you got a shield or dual wield, 15% block chance is added to one of them (can't have both anyways). I do not think bow users get 15% block (READING UP i AM WRONG ABOUT THIS ONE, YOU DO GET 15%)

The helmet lacks ele resists, in fact also no chest ele resist. This can be overcome by compensating on rings and amulets, gloves and boots. However this would mean less MS, less damage or mana regen in other forms. The added phys is the compensation here.

Conclude:
If you can build around a 4 link, with the added features and have use for the 15% block this helm is quite awesome. Might in the end not be the best you can get, depending on the rares or other helm/ chest combos. I think it is harder to craft the right amount of rares than it will be to obtain this helmet.

This helmet shall be BiS for quite some melee builds, but not all and unfortunately not for my flavor melee build atm (duel wield duelist, with some twists).

What I would change:
I think a bit of ele resist would not hurt or the change to that endurance charge.
I would change the custom art to include alongside the helmet a fitting gladiator/ armour skirt:







I think this will make for an awesome more rounded look with the helm eventually. I hope Diamond supporter agrees with me on this, with the taste and starts demanding an added art feature (if possible) ;)

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