Morrowind:Block

Skill: Block
Governing Attribute: Agility
Specialization: Combat
Increase: Successful Block: +2.5

The Block skill allows one to use shields to block any melee attack. Shields will not protect you from ranged attacks (either magical or otherwise). A successful block removes all damage from the attack.

Blocking in Morrowind is automatic. If you have a shield equipped, you will have a chance to block attacks without having to do anything. Blocking occurs only within an arc in front of the character (nominally from 90 degrees left of center to 30 degrees right of center, but the implementation of these angles is bugged). Block chance is capped between 10% and 50%. You cannot block without a shield. Using a 2-handed weapon or fighting hand-to-hand disables blocking unless your weapon/fists are sheathed.

Character Creation

The following races receive bonuses to their Block skill:

• +10 bonus: Orc

The following classes have Block as a Major skill:

• Archer, Barbarian, Bard, Crusader, Knight, Scout, Spellsword, Warrior

The following classes have Block as a Minor skill:

• Agent, Assassin, Monk, Pilgrim, Rogue, Witchhunter

Factions

The following factions include Block as one of their favored skills:

• Fighters Guild
• Hands of Almalexia^TR (not joinable)
• Imperial Knights (not joinable)
• Imperial Legion
• Skaal^BM (not joinable)
• Talos Cult (not joinable)

Trainers

The Master Trainer of Block is Shardie at Buckmoth Legion Fort. Other trainers of note are:

• Khargol gro-Boguk in the Vacant Tower in Dagon Fel (up to 82)
• Ulms Drathen at the Armigers Stronghold in Molag Mar, (up to 71)

See Block Trainers for the complete list.

Books

The following books will increase your Block skill:

• Death Blow of Abernanit
• The Mirror
• A Dance in Fire, Chapter 2
• 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 7
• 36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 32

Notes

• In addition to blocking attacks, shields have the highest potential for enchantment of any item type in the game.
  • For example, a Daedric Tower Shield can be enchanted with a 15-point constant effect levitate enchantment. This is a significant enough magnitude to provide decently fast aerial movement, and precludes the need for recasting spells or drinking levitation potions, without having to worry about the effect running out.
• Although you cannot block with a shield while using a 2-handed weapon or during unarmed combat, as stated above, it will still confer any constant effect enchantments upon you if equipped.
• Unlike most other skills, Block increases faster as your skill level grows; your chances of blocking become more frequent, which more than negates the additional practice required at higher levels. This is because your chances of blocking an attack are never 100%, no matter how far you boost the skill, whereas other combat skills give you a 100% chance to hit by level 50.
  • Having a higher block skill may cause your shield to break faster, though, since it will absorb the full damage when you block.

Shields

This is a list of all base Shields.

Light Shields

Name	ID					Enchant
Netch Leather Shield	netch_leather_shield	6.0	100	17	5	15
Nordic Leather Shield	nordic_leather_shield	4.5	100	25	5	15
Netch Leather Tower Shield	netch_leather_towershield	9.0	100	25	5	22.5
Chitin Shield	chitin_shield	4.0	200	22	10	25
Chitin Tower Shield	chitin_towershield	6.0	240	32	12	37.5
Glass Shield	glass_shield	9.0	1000	13600	50	30
Glass Tower Shield	glass_towershield	9.0	1100	20000	55	45

Medium Shields

Name	ID					Enchant
Bonemold Shield	bonemold_shield	10.0	300	170	15	40
Bonemold Tower Shield	bonemold_towershield	13.0	340	250	17	60
Hlaalu Guard Shield	bonemold_tshield_hlaaluguard
Redoran Banner Shield	bonemold_tshield_hrlb
Redoran Guard Shield	bonemold_tshield_redoranguard
Telvanni Guard Shield	bonemold_tshield_telvanniguard
Dragonscale Tower Shield	dragonscale_towershield	12.0	440	230	22	60
Orcish Tower Shield	orcish_towershield	13.4	640	2000	32	90
Dreugh Shield	dreugh_shield	13.5	800	2550	40	45
Indoril Shield	indoril shield	13.5	900	2000	45	45

Heavy Shields

Name	ID					Enchant
Iron Shield	iron_shield	15.0	200	34	10	50
Iron Tower Shield	iron_towershield	18.0	240	50	12	75
Steel Shield	steel_shield	15.0	300	68	15	50
Imperial Shield	imperial shield	14.0	320	78	16	50
Nordic Trollbone Shield	trollbone_shield	16.0	360	78	18	40
Steel Tower Shield	steel_towershield	20.0	360	100	18	75
Dwemer Shield	dwemer_shield	15.0	400	510	20	50
Ebony Shield	ebony_shield	30.0	1200	17000	60	100
Auriel's Shield	ebony_shield_auriel
Ebony Tower Shield	ebony_towershield	30.0	1200	25000	60	150
Daedric Shield	daedric_shield	45.0	1600	34000	80	150
Daedric Tower Shield	daedric_towershield	45.0	1600	50000	80	225