Elemental defense builds and Iron Ram gear

[Sanjiyan]

So it turns out the "Set: Increased resistance against all elements" on the AN set is +5 for each piece after the first. Body is the only one not yet released so far but the whole set will give +20 to all elements once released.

First of all, that seems like a pretty high number to me, though I know nothing about elemental resistance builds aside that people build for fire resist (tiamat, bahamut), and maybe earth resist (ouryu). Not sure what other resists builds are common or popular. Can any PLDs post their builds, and what enemy/how often they get to use it? How much resist do you get from the 5 body slots? What is a reasonable amount to aim for with just gear to get to the range of seeing resists often once stacked with bar/carol? Is it possible to do it with the whole Iron Ram set?

I'd search it myself but I don't really want to go to somepage anymore...

Now, so far the 4 Iron Ram pieces give a combined +12 MDB, which is pretty nice. That number might go up to +17 MDB when body gets released. However, PLDs gets access to coral/merman set though, that's a straight -% magic damage (full merman is -12% magic damage, coral -8%). I know straight -% magic damage is better, but afaik you can easily reach 50% with just shell V and -25% in gear (double merman ring -8%, iron ram lance -10%, resentment cape -5% = 23%..... what else?). Seems like full Iron Ram set can be wore easily for additional magic damage reduction.

All in all I'm debating whether I should get the full set, and whether it's workable into current elemental resistance and defense builds. I'd hate to get the full set and end up not using 3 pieces of it.

Experienced PLD any inputs?

[Tan]

Alright heres my elemental build for ice, as Jormy is the only one I've actually used it against.

Main: Maichult +1 (I think that Hrotti would be better since it has Breath -%, but I don't have it)
Sub: Ice Shield - 20 Ice
Ranged: Lamia Kaman +1 (2MDB)
Head: Black Ribbon -12 Ice
Neck: Jeweled Collar - 10 Ice
Earring 1: Triumph Earring - 11 Ice
Earring 2: Triumph Earring - 11 Ice
Body: Assault Breastplate - 15 Ice
Hands: Tiger Gloves - 3 Ice
Ring 1: Diamond Ring - 9 Ice
Ring 2: Malfrost Ring - 10 Ice
Back: High Breath Mantle - 5 Ice
Waist - Fire Belt - 20 Ice
Legs - Feral Trousers - 6 Ice
Feet - Crimson Greaves - 20 Ice
Total Ice Resistance: 142 Ice From Gear Alone

In addition w/ resistance builds for Wyrms you also want the Carol Spell and the Barspell and also Shellra V, ideally you want somewhere near 300 resistance and I think that provides one of the highest tiers for the resist rate on the breaths. If I remember right my damage on Jormy went from 190-250+ w/ no resist to around 40-90 when I did resist. Thats a BIG drop in damage. So in reality the IR Sallet set does not provide an adequate boost to elemental resistances that is anything but minimal. However, the MDB is nice if you aren't tanking an elemental type mob, and don't want to lug around a resistance set in addition to your normal gear. The MDB is also nice for slots where theres only minimal boost to elemental resistance, I'd probably swap out the hands for IR Dastanas in the previous said build. I think that the only other practical approach to tanking Wyrms if you don't have a large Elemental resistance set is capping your magic damage reduction, i.e. Aegis + Shellra V which would give you the 50% reduction of magic damage. Theres a lot of tests out there but I think its shown that Magic -% is more effective than stacking Magic Defense bonus as you require a large amount to counter the Magic Attack Bonus of Mobs. But if you have Aegis and Shellra V you are already hitting the Magic -% cap so you would be better off stacking the elemental resistance or going for MDB+ gear, like the IR Sallet Set.

Thats just stuff I've really notice in my tanking career, hopefully that is helpful.

[BerenTebogo]

+20 Resist is shit really, Crimson legs or feet depending on what build you're going for are +20 alone, get this set for enmity JA macros sure, but not for resists.

[Robert]

or if you have aegis and shell 5 its top notch for macroing in to eat high damage spells/citadel buster, but not for wyrms.

[Valyana]

I think its shown that Magic -% is more effective than stacking Magic Defense bonus as you require a large amount to counter the Magic Attack Bonus of Mobs.

It has nothing to do with the MAB of mobs, it's just how the two are applied:

Final damage = (Damage from other factors) * (1 - damage taken%)/(1 + MDB%)

So, starting from 0, -25% Magic Damage Taken reduces magic damage by 25%, but +25 MDB only reduces it by 20%.

[Furionstormrage]

Resist from just the 5 body pieces, mine are:

Fire 58
Earth 53 (60 if Nussnacker didn't hate me)

[friedfunk]

With the increase of Group 2 merits, Shellra V caps at 27.3%, so the 23% mdr you listed will cap you (resentment, dual merman rings, and either Iron Ram Lance or Shining Ruby). The rest can be dumped into MDB.

Personally I use Askar feet and Coral legs +1 instead of Resentment cape, since Lamia's +4 MDB is also good.

[Tan]

I think its shown that Magic -% is more effective than stacking Magic Defense bonus as you require a large amount to counter the Magic Attack Bonus of Mobs.

It has nothing to do with the MAB of mobs, it's just how the two are applied:

Final damage = (Damage from other factors) * (1 - damage taken%)/(1 + MDB%)

So, starting from 0, -25% Magic Damage Taken reduces magic damage by 25%, but +25 MDB only reduces it by 20%.

Okay so I don't get why people have to point out why they think someone is wrong when the conclusion is the same. But since you didn't believe that MAB is involved in the damage calculation I've provided two links for you to do some reading.

First we have wiki, not always the best source but a good starting point.
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Ca...g_Magic_Damage
This shows that MAB is divided by MDB in the damage calculation process.

Another thread that pretty much says the same as above is a post from here.
http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/viewt...ge+calculation
Pretty much the same thing with the final formula, but for those of you who were interested coming out to:

Damage Received ~= (Real Damage) * (Magic Attack Bonus) / (Magic Defense Bonus) * (1 - Magic Damage Taken) * (Resist Rate).

Now you know, and the more you know....

So next time before you jump to point out that someone is "wrong", think about it before you do because they might just prove that they were on the right track. But getting back on topic, as Valyana said MDB is typically less damage reduction than % Magic Damage gear. So in summaryMagic Damage -% is pretty much the way to go till you hit the cap and then you want to stack MDB or Elemental gear depending on what slots you have left.

[Thorny]

Damage Received ~= (Real Damage) * (Magic Attack Bonus) / (Magic Defense Bonus) * (1 - Magic Damage Taken) * (Resist Rate).

Isn't it MAB - MDB... put in a naked person.

Damaged Received ~= (Real Damage) * (MAB)/0 * 1 * (Resist Rate)

[Tan]

Damage Received ~= (Real Damage) * (Magic Attack Bonus) / (Magic Defense Bonus) * (1 - Magic Damage Taken) * (Resist Rate).

Isn't it MAB - MDB... put in a naked person.

Damaged Received ~= (Real Damage) * (MAB)/0 * 1 * (Resist Rate)

Your MDB is considered 1.0 without any bonuses. So essentially there is no reduction from the MAB of the mob.

[Thorny]

ah, ok <__>