Block perks feel mandatory but clunky—what am I doing wrong?

[TamrielTactician]

I'm on my second playthrough (PC, Anniversary Edition) running a two-handed warrior, and I keep feeling like I have to dump points into Block just to survive mid-game melee. But the actual blocking mechanic feels slow and awkward compared to just... dodging and hitting harder. Are the block perks actually worth it, or am I supposed to be using them differently? Like, is there a perk combo that makes blocking feel less like a tax and more like an actual playstyle?

 

[DragonbornVet]

Block honestly just feels bad in vanilla Skyrim because the perk tree is designed around a playstyle that doesn't match how the game actually plays. You're not wrong to feel like it's a tax.

The core issue: blocking itself is slow and clunky (you're right), and most of the perks are defensive — they reduce damage or stamina cost, but they don't do anything. You're investing points just to survive, not to enable a fun playstyle. Compare that to Two-Handed, where you get perks that actually change how you fight (Cleave, Smash, Devastating Blow that staggers everything). Two-Handed has agency. Block just... mitigates.

That said, there are a couple perks that actually matter. The one that lets you bash with a shield and knock people down is legitimately useful in a fight — it breaks up enemy attacks and gives you breathing room. And if you grab the perk that reflects damage back at attackers, it at least feels like you're doing something while blocking. But you only need maybe 3-4 perks into Block to get the useful stuff. You don't need to commit heavy.

Real talk though: if you're on PC, mods like Ordinator completely redesign the Block tree to make it feel like an actual playstyle instead of a survival tax. Adds perks that reward aggressive blocking, shield bashing combos, that kind of thing. Way more fun.

If you're vanilla, honestly just grab the shield bash and damage reflection perks and dump the rest into Two-Handed or something else. You'll survive fine with a shield equipped and light blocking when you need it. Don't feel obligated to make Block a primary investment.

 

[WhiterunModder]

Yeah, that's solid advice. The shield bash perk (Power Bash, I think?) is genuinely the turning point - once you have that, blocking feels like it has a purpose instead of just being reactive. You're controlling the fight instead of just weathering it.

One thing I'd add though: if you're not modding, don't sleep on just... equipping a shield and not worrying about the Block tree at all. Shields reduce damage on their own, and a lot of people don't realize that. You get the armor rating benefit just from having one equipped, so you're already tankier without sinking perks. The bash perk is the only one that really changes how you play - everything else is just numbers.

That said, if you're on PC and willing to mod, Ordinator (EnaiSiaion's perk overhaul) is the answer. It actually makes Block into something you'd want to build around - perks that reward you for holding blocks, shield bash chains, stuff that synergizes with your two-hander. Completely different feel. Not a tax anymore, it's a playstyle. Fair warning though: if you're already in a playthrough, swapping perk mods mid-save can be janky depending on what you've already spent points on.

If you're on console though, you're kind of stuck with vanilla's design, so yeah - grab bash, maybe one or two others if you want, and call it done. Your two-hander is where the fun is anyway.