Parry vs. Defense

[Laereneth]

<p>Point for point, which is a better investment, + parry or + defense?  I'm very familiar with how mitigation and saves work, but parry and defense are a little more of a grey area.</p><p>Thanks for your feedback!</p><p>Laer</p>

[Rexorn]

<p>Hello there,</p><p>Unless things have drastically changed, PARRY = AVOIDANCE and DEFENSE = MITIGATION.</p><p>Parry is much, much harder (in general) to raise.  I love boosting parry whenever I can on my guardian... better to avoid being hit and not take damage at all rather than get hit and absorb more of that damage.</p><p>Just my 2cp worth but then again I spec'd my guardian on AGI + INT lines just for the avoidance and (GASP!) don't use a buckler.  </p><p>Stay safe,</p>

[salle]

Nope it's: Parry = Parry avoidanceDefence = base avoidance

[Snorm]

<p>As a guard, given the choice to either take more hits for less damage or fewer hits for more damage, you should always take the more hits for less damage option. This is for two reasons. </p><p>1. It's less streaky so you are less likely to just suddenly go from solid health to dead. This is true for all tanks, not just guards.</p><p>2. The more you get hit, the more inflaming defense procs and the more hate you get. Obviously, more hate is a good thing as a rule. If not, turn off inflaming and see point 1 <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" />.</p><p> That said, as of EoF, if you are gearing for survivability, you should go for avoidance rather than mit as a rule. I generally feel like an overarmered scout or a brawler in plate these days.</p><p>Snorm -- 70 Guard</p>

[Snorm]

<p>And to answer your actual question, it depends on where you are in the def and parry curves. Parry tends to be harder to get, but is easier to buff in a raid setting. Usually my raid buffed parry is appreciably higher than my def. </p><p>Really, you rarely have the option to pick between the two without their being some other difference that outweigh any minor difference in the avoidance you would get by swapping one for the other.</p><p>Snorm -- 70 Guard</p>