Max block or raising max. resists?

I'm currently using Lightning Coil chest armour in a marauder build and have been sitting on level 8o for a while as I've been farming and slowly picking up some gear upgrades. My main aim for the next 12 - 14 levels or so was to start getting as close to maxing out my blocking as much as possible (currently at about 40%). I run two auras in my setup (Grace and Anger) and was looking to switch my helmet over to a Alpha's Howl so I could fit in Tempest Shield and it's 4% block. All well and good.

Today I was lucky enough to finally get a Vaal orb to do something decent for me (a first!) when I used it on a spare Stone of Lazhwar and got it to roll 4% block. I was planning on putting a Lazhwar in my setup anyway - once I solve some Int. issues - so it works out to be a nice bonus. Between TS and the amulet, I get 8% bonus to my blocking without even touching the passives - not bad.

Well here's the thing. It's been suggested to me that I should skip using TS and use Alpha Howl to squeeze in Purity of Lightning, not so much because I need the resistance, but because of the manner in which it raises the max. on the resist (2% - 4% depending on how much you want to spend on the gem). Taking Elemental Adaptation for the +2 bonus on resistances, plus the help from Purity of Lightning, gets my max. Lightning resistance into the low 80's, which of course ties in nicely with Lightning Coil's defenses.

So here's the thing - which one gives me the most benefit - chasing the blocking, or raising the ceiling on the Light. resistance?

1) Go for Tempest Shield and the amulet to gain the full 8% on blocking - tempting because it saves a lot of work on leveling up to spend passive points that can be used elsewhere?

2) Take the 4% block from the amulet and go with Purity of Lightning for the increased max. on Lightning resistance? I may have to chase some passives, such as Sovereignty, to make this work. Is the 2% - 4% bonus on the resistance worth that effort?


Thanks

I'd go for block, especially since with the new tree, you can't really get a lot of max res anymore.

shouldn't be too hard to do both. Max block with skill tree + shield. Max resist mostly with rings, amulet other gear. For my Lightning Coil I sub in a purity of lightning to help raise ti beyond 75 if my class cannot reach the soon-to-be gone nodes.

I wouldn't use Tempest Shield just for the +4% block. If you're planning on using Tempest Shield for other reasons as well (like you have the setup to deal good damage with lightning spell damage or plan to use it as a debuff), then go for it.

Runnig purity of lighting is almost mandatory when getting a ligthning coil. With some aura effectiveness nodes you can get it to 5% max lres which is insanely good with the chest. Block only becomes powerful when you are near the blockcap. So unless you have around 60-70% TS isn't worth it anyway.

Thanks guys, I'm as undecided as ever! Why don't you slug it out and get back to me!

Seriously, thanks for the feedback. Some interesting points. I guess if TS isn't that useful unless I get near max block (which will take me reaching at least the low 90's level-wise) I can toss in POL for the short term and see how it goes. Only concern of course is how the new tree will pan out. The update's only five days away, so I guess the obvious play is to just sit back and wait to see how it works out.

The only thing I'm querying though is that I'm either doing the math wrong, or I can't see why raising the max. on lightning resist is of such benefit. Here's how I see it. If you get attacked with 10000 in damage and 40% of that amount gets converted to LD, that leaves 4000 damage to be countered by your LR, right? At the base max of 75%, that means 3000 of that damage is wiped off the slate. But raise that figure to 80% (just for theory) basically means removing only another 200 in damage. In sum, that basically means dealing with 6800 damage, versus 7000. I mean, is that 200 less damage really going to make that much of a difference, or worth all the effort? Or as I said, have I gone about it the wrong way?