Does anybody actually use blocking?

[RaustBlackDragon]

Just thought I'd check, because I can safely say I've pretty much never blocked in minecraft, ever. Am I alone in this?

[Gargantuan_Penguin]

I use it. It is actually pretty useful towards the beginning when you don't have any decent armor.

[Katalliaan]

I'm sure you're not alone, but I can't see why you wouldn't block when you know you've got damage coming your way. Considering how easy it is to tell when most mobs are going to attack, I'd say it's a good way to survive longer. Also, if you take on any kind of combat-oriented challenge, it's practically mandatory to do.

[Stormweaver]

I only tend to block when going around a corner and expecting to meet a skeleton - the rest of the time, sprint-jump-kill tactics work far better for preventing damage.

[MoRmEnGiL]

Use blocking? I abuse blocking. It's seriously borderline OP. Taking a creeper explosion in the face at point blank and losing a couple of hearts at worse is nothing to sneeze at.

Plus if you've ever played a Vechs map, you will soon realize that without blocking you ain't going far :P

Also blocking is even more useful if you play on hard.

[Sarudak]

I block regularly. I can't remember the last time I took a creeper explosion in the face although I've taken many in the back. :/

Typically I use blocking when dealing with skeletons as you can time their shots... Also i use it to halve fall damage which can be a life saver when spelunking.

[FaceFoiled]

I block quite a lot as well. Be it for avoiding creeper damage or for online shenanigans; " YOU SHALL NOT PASS "! - teabagging when people are sleeping comes to mind, or showing off my buttcrack.

[Katalliaan]

Sarudak, they fixed blocking working on fall damage. You're not saving yourself any damage by blocking falls.

[Sarudak]

Really? The wiki still says it helps... :(

[Katalliaan]

Well, in one of Etho's videos (don't remember which), he tested whether armor and blocking affect various things, and fall damage was only changed when wearing boots with feather falling.

[MoRmEnGiL]

Or protection iirc.

[FlowerChild]

Yeah, I generally use it when closing with skeletons.

[TheAnarchitect]

I gave up on it, having not noticed it helping much. Can you just hold it, or do you have to time it perfectly?

[Sealhunter]

I gave up on it, having not noticed it helping much. Can you just hold it, or do you have to time it perfectly?

You just hold down the button and incoming damage with be cut. Timing would be too difficult to pull off I think.

[MoRmEnGiL]

I gave up on it, having not noticed it helping much. Can you just hold it, or do you have to time it perfectly?

Go hug a creeper without armour, let him blowup point blank while you block. ;]

Blocking cuts damage in half, so if you are uberarmoured, it will be very hard to take enough damage all at once for blocking to make a big difference, but otherwise cutting damage in half is very good. As I said, in vechs maps blocking is a godsend.