According to the video, Block will be a less effective primary defense early in the game in Path of Exile 2. It scales better with strength and is intended to be a more specialized defense.
Here’s a more detailed explanation from the video:
Block effectiveness: Block will be weaker in the early stages of the game compared to Path of Exile 1. This means that relying solely on block as a defense strategy might not be as effective as before.
Scales better with strength: Blocking will become more powerful as players invest points into the strength attribute. This encourages players who want to focus on block to also invest in strength.
Intended as a specialized defense: The developers seem to be aiming for block to be a more niche defensive option, suitable for characters specifically built around it.
Overall, while block is still a viable defense mechanism in Path of Exile 2, it requires more investment and planning to be truly effective. Players who want to utilize block will likely need to focus on building their character around it by allocating points to the strength attribute and potentially using items that enhance block chance and recovery.