Why is STA better than AGI?

[Lavenderboi]

<span style="font-size: large;color: #9933ff;font-family: comic sans ms,sand;"><b>I am making an Illusionist to play on the PvP server because I enjoy getting killed often. <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/385970365b8ed7503b4294502a458efa.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />  That being said, I was wondering if anyone could explain why STA is generally chosen over AGI?  (I'm not referring to AA lines).  Mage gear, as a rule, typically comes with AGI stats rather than STA stats.  STA will give me more HP so I can take hits better, but AGI should make me harder to hit in the first place.  If there is a "stat guru" out there who could clear this up for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.  Thanks in advance!</b></span>

[Luca]

Agility will increase your Avoidance, but only to a small extent. The only reliable way to increase your Avoidance is improving avoidance skills(Defense, Parry, and Deflection) and increasing your Block chance by using shields; only Defense is an option for Illusionists, and you won't easily be able to increase it. If you want to improve your Avoidance, you could go down the Strength line to take the 1%/rank Riposte/Parry AA, but it still only gives an extra 8% Avoidance at most. The hits you'll really need to avoid to survive- Scout, Fighter, and melee spec Priest Combat Arts- have a large bonus to their hit chance which will likely nullify a Mage's Avoidance even if you do focus on it. The additional Hit Points you'll gain from increased Stamina will outweigh any Hit Points you save through misses from an equal investment in Agility. While it's not always easy to find, combination INT/STA gear is usually the best choice.

[Roald]

<p>Well, in brief terms, having a lot of AGI won't make spells any less effective. With STA you get added protection (in the form of simply more health) from both spells and melee damage.</p><p>Plus, agi doesn't really increase avoid all that much.</p>

[Grimfort]

<p>Don't forget the dropoff rule. The higher you get in one stat, the more you have to put into it to make a difference.For example, if you have 100 sta, and add 20, you will get a higher health bonus (say 3%) compared to a 400 sta + 20 which will give you much less (say 1% avoidance).   The stats are completly made up but it should give you the idea.</p>

[Lavenderboi]

<p><span style="font-size: large;color: #9933cc;font-family: comic sans ms,sand;"><b>Okay, guess I'll focus on INT/STA/WIS...in that order then.  Thank you guys for explaining it to me, makes sense now.</b></span></p>

[Amphibia]

Go for stamina over agility. They will hit you no matter what. And yes, you will die a lot. Good luck!

[Pelda]

Not to mention if you raid then HP are important as AGI won't help you avoid an AoE from the mob where STA will give you more HP that may help you survive long enough for the healers to recover.

[Kneemin]

Actually, Although you say go INT/STA/WIS In that order I do believe you should spec STA/INT/WIS in that order, due to the fact that your nukes are so pathetic that the xtra INT won't do much,   Naturally if you can get a few xtra int at teh expense of only a few STA then take it but if your choosing an item with say 6 agi and 4 INT over an item with ONLY 10 sta you should take the STA.Your also a power management class so you shouldn't need the xtra power in pvp to survive, but the xtra HP will save you.Also the xtra 8% riposted from str line is UNCONTESTED so unlike the guys above say the + skill to hit does NOT affect your 8% riposte from that buff, its 8% of all melee atks will be riposted regardless of hit % unless they have a "can't be riposted" effect.

[Zaci]

Massive purple ftl. That blinded me.