Thread:Matsczon/@comment-26818056-20150725035958/@comment-4511886-20150726192251

120 Poise is probably enough to withstand the small Area of Effect stagger from Havel just barely missing his heavy attack. (It deals no HP damage, but can break Poise. It's pretty much there to make it harder to counter attack for light-armored players.) I tend to prefer light armor, so I don't know much about what Poise can and can't do past 80 or so.

I don't think it's possible to have enough Poise to not get staggered from any Great Hammer attacks. Perhaps you'll only be stumbled, instead of being smashed into the ground. Still, it's very unlikely you'll be able to trade hits with him, even if you can survive the damage he can dish out.