[Icemage]

Ok, I'm sure everyone has wondered from time to time just what Shell, Magic Defense traits, and the new MDEF+ items actually DO. While I'm still no closer to what the actual mechanic is for all attacks, I've finally found some evidence to link the 3 stats together today.

I recently acquired a Gramary Cape (MDEF+2) via the quest in Tavnazian Safehold, and today I got a chance to test it in action at Fafnir (wasn't fighting, just watching, sad to say, but it gave me enough time to compile this research and post it).

It's been long known among HNM LS members that Fafnir's Hurricane Wing attack is very peculiar. It's a Magic attack, but is extremely hard to resist, and also deals extremely consistent damage.

I had the opportunity today to see JUST how consistent it was.

Going on the assumption that the damage was constant, I tested the following conditions, along with the help of Lachesus, BRD75/WHM37, while I was WHM75/BLM37.

BRD75/WHM37 has Magic Defense II trait.
WHM75/BLM37 has Magic Defense IV trait.

Here are the results of the test:

Data points:

(a) No spells/items, Magic Defense II (Lachesus) : 328 damage
(b) No spells/items, Magic Defense IV (Icemage): 317 damage
(c) Magic Defense IV + MDEF+2 (Gramary Cape) : 312 damage
(d) Magic Defense IV + Shell I : 287 damage
(e) Magic Defense IV + Shell I + MDEF+2 : 282 damage
(f) Magic Defense IV + Shell II : 267 damage
(g) Magic Defense IV + Shell III : 257 damage
(h) Magic Defense IV + Shell III + MDEF+2 : 252 damage
(i) Magic Defense IV + Shell IV : 247 damage
(j) Magic Defense IV + Shell IV + MDEF+2 : 242 damage
(k) Magic Defense II + Shell IV : 256 damage

Given that the difference between (b) and (c) is 5 points of damage (supplied by Gramary Cape), we can use this as a meter stick to judge the other stats.

The point spread between no Shell vs. Shell I was 30 points, or 6 times the effect given by the Gramary Cape.

The point spread between no Shell vs. Shell II was 50 points, or 10 times the effect given by the Gramary Cape.

The point spread between no Shell vs. Shell III was 60 points, or 12 times the effect given by the Gramary Cape.

The point spread between no Shell vs. Shell IV was 70 points, or 14 times the effect given by the Gramary Cape.

The difference between Magic Defense II and Magic Defense IV traits was 11 points, or roughly 2 times the effect of the Gramary Cape (I'm guessing there's some rounding errors here).

So what does this mean?

Well if you do the substitutions:

Magic Defense II = roughly MDEF +4*
Magic Defense IV = roughly MDEF +8*

*NOTE: I forgot to get a control sample, as there wasn't anyone around I could talk to who didn't have a /WHM sub. These are best-guess estimates.

Shell I = MDEF +12
Shell II = MDEF +18
Shell III = MDEF +24
Shell IV = MDEF +28

Just some numbers to kick around, the next time you want to go Oooh and Aaah over the next piece of Magic Defense equipment you see.


Icemage

[Rones]

Very nice data Icemage.

[namfoodle]

I had been wondering if my current build was worth a damn. As a Taru, it's rather a bad idea to wear most Zenith stuff when mostly what you fight are dragons (Tiamat, Vrtra, et all) but with:

Dalmatica: Magic Defense Bonus +5
Grammary Cape: Magic Defense Bonus +2

and

Magic Defense IV = roughly MDEF +8*
Shell IV = MDEF +28

i've actually noticed things that would normally kill me rapidly (multiple wing attacks followed by a -gaIII), have their damage reduced to a point where I can actually recover. I guess we can only assume that these effects stack. I'll have to invest in some more Magic Defense gear!

Thanks for the info!

[Valerathon]

Ice, your research is always so well done! Thanks for your effort. It's good to know the apx bang-for-your-buck you get for stats like that. That's always been a particularly hard one to nail down.

[Brayden]

Thanks for bringing math into this game Icemage ><