Ok two items with similar stats, other than one has + 4 Defense and other has + 4 Parry. Doesnt matter what item it is, but the question is:
Is one better than the other, and if so...why?
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Depends on your current Defense and Parry skill. If your Defense is higher than your Parry without either item, then equip the Parry item. If the opposite is true, then equip the Defense item.
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So a + Defense item does not give more overall avoidance than + Parry, or vice versa?
My Defense (solo) is about 60 points higher than my Parry.
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Once again, it completely depends. Your defense being that much higher than your parry is more than likely the result of you being in defensive stance. That being said, in this case +parry will more than likely yield a greater return on actual avoidance because of the dimishing returns curve that every stat is based on.
The second thing to consider is which classes are buffing you in a group or raid setting. For example, troubs buff defense while dirges buff parry. Guardians also have a raid wide defense buff.
In practice, I've found that a decent mix of both is adequate. Try to find gear with +defense and other pieces with +parry. If you only have one or the other, experimentation is the only way to get a feel for which will provide you the most benefit.
On a side note, the +defense and +parry skill bonuses are all but negligible if you're fighting bigger, tougher mobs (i.e. raid mobs). You'll find that if you really want to jack your avoidance up, you need gear that grants additional percentages to your avoidance. Something like +2% parry or +5% shield block chance will always net you the larger avoidance gain as these are uncontested avoidance, meaning that those bonuses aren't directly affected by the mobs skill vs. your own. They're just a flat out extra % chance to avoid an attack from any mob.
Thanks for the info, Yes i was in Def stance, and I do have all the uncontested parry/ripost stuff form adornments and such. Currently in defensive stance, with tanking gear on, sitting at 471 defense and 422 Parry. No buffs other than my own, meaing no Devious Evasion wich would increase parry by 14.4, if I had someone to put it on.
So with the diminished returns being what they are, I should be looking for items with +parry over + Defense, since I am much closer to the cap of 520 (I think) in defense than parry.
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Is the cap 520 skill or a % of it all? I know in t7 the rule was 70% on even con mobs.