Overall usefulness of our Defense Buff (x Avoidance)?

[Straygats]

I've been sort of questioning this spell even though I've used it religiously in all its form ever since I got the first one.  That said, assuming Balletic Avoidance (+25 defense), does it really make that much of a difference in a group as opposed to using something like Aria (which always seems to get the shaft in lieu of defense).  I'm just not that sure, even after using it to solo and group for a very long time.I've had tanks who demand it and tanks who claim it's simply not needed.  Both have been right in various situations.  I'm just not a big number cruncher, so I'm curious if any of you who are have a real solid take on this in terms of using it in a group situation.  I'm slowly thinking, as I group with folks who are better and better T7 geared (vs. non epic content) that I can probably let this albeit great spell sit in favor of a dps increase or even something else.<div></div>

[ShiroiOokami]

I was duoing with a guildie Guardian the other week to get our claymore quest updates in SoS. He was already fully capped on defense skill by himself, so the buff was useless to him. Most tanks I've run into, the defense skill hasn't really changed their avoidance so much, so I've stopped using it in most well balanced groups recently. Best bet is to wait until he's fully buffed, and cancel/apply the buff and see how much his avoidance changes.Defense becomes more useful against mobs that are yellow to the MT, but that simply hasn't been a big issue since we capped at 70. I'd say the stamina buff would be more beneficial to a MT than the defense if he's already near cap.<div></div>

[Antipalad]

Gave my guardian mate a whopping 2.5% added avoidance. Worthless.Edit: this was just me and him checking out how crap it was.<p>Message Edited by Antipaladin on <span class=date_text>04-23-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:28 AM</span>

[Pik'ee]

I tend to run it if I'm soloing, otherwise it's fairly useless, helps <i>slightly</i> more when we have a brawler tank, but that may just be perception anyway heh. One thing, I'd never ever drop Aria for any reason, ever. There's always a less useful buff to drop....<div></div>

[Straygats]

Thanks for the input, folks.  I think I've been overestimating the use of Defense Buff and maybe underestimating some others.  I'm addicted to mana/personal buff/raxxyl's and I'm so used to popping de-aggro as a default that I never give aria's as much chance as I should, except when in almost full caster groups.  I'll play around with some other combinations.<div></div>