2 hand (2H)builds = where's the defense?

From what I've gathered from various sources, 2-handers can do quite well with a Life Leech + Multistrike + Melee Splash skill linked to DS or IB. They just need to spec into a lot of defensive nodes to do it.

What about staffs? Find a good one and I believe you can achieve 45% block maybe with the right nodes and 18% base. The problem is trying to plan a build around finding a good one with reasonable AS and good physical buff. Very rare to find a 1- hand drop with more than the average 2-hand but all people ever see is the uber stuff. Sure you can cough up the many exalts for a good one if you have that.
I'm trying to find a 1-hand better than the one I had in normal so I have to stick with a 2h for now for the dps.

stun mara. defense is stuns and life leech. can still take hp and armor nodes. don't even need to push damage boosts as you'll get 200% inc without trying/meaning to. only downside is ground slam and leap slam are only "range".

many ppl think melee = facetank everything and that just doesnt work in poe
combinate melee (2h,dual or 1h+shield doesnt really matter) with blind + decoy/skeleton totem and you are fine most of the fights (ofc you have to doge stuff like vaal smash etc and have enough resi + armor/eva)

2 hand build defense =


1.) 1-3 shotting almost everything in game non boss.
2.) Insane Life/Mana leech scales better because of larger flat damage.
3.) Looking like a bawse deters players and foe's carrying little butterknives from attacking you.
4.) 2 Hand weapons weigh more so you "Lift"

The best builds I've seen so far while researching for myself include stun boost for me and stun reduction for enemies. There's a video kicking around where someone effectively stun locks Dominus and wipes him out easily. I'm not sure if that was pre or post release though.

That would also mean that you'd need an attack that will get you close to enemies, like Leap Slam, Whirling Blades or Flicker Strike.

Try the heavy metal infernal blow build on marauder forum. With my modified build (runing bm) im tanky as a mofo. Over 200 hp/sec regen + life leech and 90% dmg reduction with 7 charges. Playing with one hand only like a boss.

after life got buffed and with (soon to be nerfed imo) cast on dmg taken melee survivability is not a ptoblem

get 25k armor buffed (get the jade flask if you are using IR! evasion bonus plus another +armor% bonus) get 5+ charges up and be quick with flasks. enfeeble is a must.

elemental aluments seldom even happen when you have 6k life so these are much less of an issue now than pre patch

and stun. even minor buff works wonders. while it dips into dps the leveled end charge on melee stun is fanrastic to sustain stun on enemies. but then multistrike is out (smaller hits will not stun 71-72rares)

im trying staff build right now but staves in general have nonspecific affix pool and staff nodes are bad and scarce. if you are planning for that you are forced to take 18% block staff that limits you even more

if alse fails do what most do. logout like a boss

With 2H weapons offense is your defense.

Yeah, yeah, Dual strike builds have just as much offense and decent defense with DW block. However, they don't have such a good skill selection as 2H users nor as good semi-ranged tricks like ground slam and spectral throw (much better with 2H).