MDef + Elemental resist

[Shuemue]

So I don't understand it's relationship to each other properly, because I've never needed to...

So far, I believe that elemental resist gear simply increases your resist rate, while mdef bonus both reduces dmg and increases resist rate. If this is correct, is there a known amount of mdef that matches the ele resist gear to increase resist rate?

Like, 1 mdef = 3 elemental resist or whatever?

[Seditedi]

I think they are totally unrelated whereas MDB simply reduces damage taken, while resist increases resist rates.

[Hakamaru]

I think they are totally unrelated whereas MDB simply reduces damage taken, while resist increases resist rates.

Yup. MDB = Shell. Elemental Resist = Barspell.

Shell reduces damage taken on every kind of magical damage. Barspells increase the chance you will take a less significant amount of damage. With barspells it's still possible to take full damage. They just make it less probable.

[Seditedi]

I guess you are looking for best magic defense for your PLD aye? Ele. resist not worth it unless you are gonna be going all out with it. If you aren't wanting/able to carry 8 or so pieces of equipment for resist fire/ice/earth setups might as well just go with MDb and magic dmg. taken -%. For max effectiveness with resist build you'll want to try to be able to pull close to 300 resistance with carol and barspells.

[Shuemue]

Yeah, my PLD is still comically low, I'm just trying to plan ahead. I'd been browsing through the ??? items from assaults and saw a piece with mdef+4 and it sparked the curiousity.

[Seditedi]

Those feet Artartica or w/e, no clue how to spell but yea those look hella nice.

[Furionstormrage]

Afraid that I have no hard numbers to add to this topic, but on my PLD I currently have a "gimpy" Magic Defense swap, which includes:

Lamia Mantle +1
Lamia Kamam (saving for +1, also hard to find on AH)
Unfettered Ring
Resolute Belt
Merman's Ring
Merman's Earring

This gives me +9 MDB and -6% Magic Damage Taken, it is definetly a work in progress but I do take noticeably less damage on any magic AOE that gets thrown out.

I'll try to post some hard numbers the next time I can test it out, my memory is not great and the best I can recall right now is a Firaga (3-4?) that hit me for 400-ish and the other two tanks (1 PLD 1 NIN with no real MDB build) for 650-ish, but don't quote me on those numbers, just about what I recall the damage being.