So, defense vs PDT.
We have a lot of PDT available as mnk, but there's one bit that bugs me -- some the PDT gear we have has significantly lower defense than some of the newer gear coming out.
PDT is obviously vs physical attacks, which means that defense should also apply in any situation you're considering PDT. So how much defense does it take to provide the equivalent of a given amount of PDT?
When figuring this out, the results depend on your existing defense, not on the mob's attack. Going from 400 to 440 defense (10% increase) will have exactly the same percent reduction in damage taken if the mob has 500 attack as if the mob has 1000 attack. The only times it wouldn't would be if the mobs is reaching the attack cap (eg: you're using Counterstance).
So then it's a question of scaling across your possible defense values to see what sort of range of impact a given defense increase amounts to.
Code
1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9%
350 4 8 11 15 19 23 27 31 35
375 4 8 12 16 20 24 29 33 38
400 5 9 13 17 22 26 31 35 40
425 5 9 14 18 23 28 32 37 43
450 5 10 14 19 24 29 34 40 45
475 5 10 15 20 26 31 36 42 47
500 6 11 16 21 27 32 38 44 50
525 6 11 17 22 28 34 40 46 52
550 6 12 18 23 29 36 42 48 55
575 6 12 18 24 31 37 44 51 57
600 7 13 19 26 32 39 46 53 60
625 7 13 20 27 33 40 48 55 62
650 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 57 65
675 7 14 21 29 36 44 51 59 67
700 8 15 22 30 37 45 53 61 70
725 8 15 23 31 39 47 55 64 72
750 8 16 24 32 40 48 57 66 75
775 8 16 24 33 41 50 59 68 77
800 9 17 25 34 43 52 61 70 80
For the above table, for a given amount of starting defense on the left, you'd need to add the provided defense values (which are conservatively rounded) to match the PDT value at the top.
Probably looking at roughly 375 (no Protect) or 550 (Protect V) for most scenarios. However, for a bit of buffer on the expectation, I'll consider 400 and 600 as the starting values.
Gear:
Arhat's Jinpachi: 4% PDT, 19 defense.
Need 17 to 26 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 45 def or better is probably worth using instead.
Options:
Uk'uxkaj Cap: 60 defense, 22 vit (71 total defense, extra fStr reduction).
Whirlpool Mask: 72 defense.
Chocaliztli Mask: 50 defense.
Arhat's Jinpachi +1: 6% PDT, 20 defense.
Need 26 to 39 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 60 def or better is probably worth using instead.
Options:
Uk'uxkaj Cap: 60 defense, 22 vit (71 total defense, extra fStr reduction).
Whirlpool Mask: 72 defense.
Chocaliztli Mask: 50 defense. Adequate if no Protect.
Arhat's Gi: 6% PDT, 38 defense.
Need 26 to 39 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 77 def or better is probably worth using instead.
Options:
Matanca Harness: 77 defense, 15 vit (84-85 total defense).
Arhat's Gi +1: 9% PDT, 39 defense.
Need 40 to 60 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 100 def or better is probably worth using instead.
Options:
Matanca Harness: 77 defense, 15 vit (84-85 total defense).
-- 15 vit is ~4 fStr. It would need to compensate for 2% damage taken to be worth using over Arhat's, which would be for mobs with 200 base damage attacks or lower. Anything significant enough to want to use PDT gear on probably has a higher base damage than that, so this is probably not a good swap.
Denali Wristbands: 2% DT, 17 defense.
Need 9 to 13 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 30 def or better is probably worth using instead.
Options:
Manibozho Gloves: 40 defense.
Leoht Gloves: 38 defense.
Usukane Gote +1: 32 defense.
Omodaka Gote: 31 defense.
Tenryu Tekko +1: 30 defense.
Khepri Wristbands: 30 defense.
Melaco Mittens: 3% PDT, 19 defense.
Need 13 to 19 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 38 def or better is probably worth using instead.
Options:
Manibozho Gloves: 40 defense.
Aside: The two highest defense hand options (and legs, for that matter) are both designed for ranged attacks. Meh. Buremte Gloves would have trounced any other option, if mnk could wear them :(
Darksteel Subligar +1: 3% PDT, 29 defense.
Need 13 to 19 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 49 def or better is probably worth using instead.
Options:
Nahtirah Trousers: 80 defense.
Xux Trousers: 58 defense.
Manibozho Brais: 51 defense.
Abatteur Subligar: 50 defense.
Usukane Hizayoroi +1: 50 defense.
Thurandaut Boots: 3% PDT, 27 defense, 14 vit (34 effective defense).
Need 13 to 19 defense to supplant the PDT value. Anything with 54 def or better is probably worth using instead. (That doesn't count the reduced fStr from the Vit, which should give you roughly 0.5% to 1% more -PDT.)
Options:
Plumb Boots: 46 defense, 5% PDT. These are the highest def feet mnk can wear (which doesn't beat the Thurandaut threshold), and if you have them you'd use for the PDT anyway.
Other gear slots don't tend to have high def options available right now.
Not many changes at the moment, but some things to consider for the future as new gear is added. This is about as maxed out a set as I can come up with for pure defense:
ItemSet 308396
48% PDT (49% with Wiglen Gorget, or capped in Legion)
7 Vit
341 defense (344-345 with the Vit)
19% haste
The more accessible Thurandaut Boots would put it at 22% haste, and you could cap haste with one of the haste hands which are roughly equivalent to Denali.
Mollusca Mantle is nearly the same as Shadow Mantle for long-term averages of physical damage, and you may want to have it for the MDT option in one slot as well.
However, in doing this we've changed our baseline. With Protect V, we'd be at somewhere in the 680-700 defense range (depending on race and a couple gear choices and day of week), which bumps up the required defense differential to match a given PDT value. We can also consider the possibility of food such as Rabbit Pie, which adds another 100 defense to the picture.
In general, if listed options are borderline they probably start falling slightly behind. However most of the top gear is far enough ahead that it stays viable even at a higher base defense.
