How much Avoidance does Defense give?
The following is dated information from level 70 for an updated post read the level 80 version: How good is Defense?
It’s funny that Defense is probably the most understood and misunderstood skill at the exact same time. It’s fairly common knowledge that 490 Defense is what you need to not be crit by a boss. However, what’s not so commonly understood is Defense’s relationship with Avoidance.
- 2.36 Defense Rating = 1 Defense Skill
- 1 Defense Skill = 0.04% Miss + 0.04% Dodge + 0.04% Parry + 0.04% Block
- 1 Defense Skill does NOT = 0.16% Avoidance because Block % is not Avoidance.
- 1 Defense Skill = 0.12% Avoidance
Defense, Parry, Dodge
- 23.6 Parry Rating = 1% Avoidance
- 19.7 Defense Rating = 1% Avoidance
- 18.9 Dodge Rating = 1% Avoidance
When looking at items one has to realize that Defense is actually going to offer more Avoidance per point than Parry and very close to the same return as Dodge.
For instance, Scarab of Displacement at 42 Defense Rating (2.13%) is going to offer more avoidance than Moroes’ Lucky Pocket Watch at 38 Dodge Rating (2.01%) (the usage of the pocket watch will offer greater avoidance though) and yet I’ve often heard people not even consider the Scarab in the same league as the Pocket Watch.
So while, I’ve never been a huge advocate for stacking large amounts of avoidance just keep in mind that Defense Rating is a very good avoidance stat and when comparing items for the sake of avoidance that you are gaining a lot more than you may think. This is part of the reason why while you can stack Resilience to remove being crit you shouldn’t go overboard.
Avoidance does matter.
(although Armor and Stamina still matter more 
)
December 4th, 2007 at 5:48 am
I think the miss part is the part that most people forget about, because we don’t have a tooltip for our chance to be missed. Anyway very very simple but useful post. *bookmarked*
[Reply]
December 4th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
I generally rate Defense as more valueable than straight dodge due to the increased miss chance. Being that you can still be stunned, knocked down, etc., straight avoidances like Dodge and Parry are only good if you can react. Since every point of Defense increases your chance to be missed by 0.04%, that means less chance to be hit no matter what the scenario.
Also, while Defense isn’t worth 0.16% straight avoidance, it is worth 0.16% crush avoidance, which is better than Dodge. This info is a little more important to Paladin tanks than Warrior tanks due to the difference in additional Block chance that Holy Shield gives (30% instead of 75%)
[Reply]
December 6th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
Actually, there is a tooltip for chance to be missed. If you mousover the “Defense” category in the defense drop-down area, you’ll see the following two chunks of information:
“Defense rating x (+y defense)
Increases chance to Dodge, Block, and Parry by z%
Decreases chance to be hit and critically hit by z%”
The listed chance to be missed is lower than your actual chance to be missed by virtue of the 5% base miss rate. Adding that to the listed rate will give you your true “miss” value.
[Reply]
December 7th, 2007 at 1:11 am
On more reason for that armor & stamina is more valuable than avoidence after 490 is the healers.
Like if you have 50% dodge you might take less damage troughout the entire fight. But then suddenly you get a hard hit that makes you bleed more than taking less damage over time.
Just ask a healer, what’s more easy to heal trough? The sudden 8k hits or the steady flow of 3k hits.
[Reply]
December 8th, 2007 at 1:28 am
Very good post every one seemed to have good input. I personally prefer to stack defense because you will benefit more in the long run. Avoidance is nice, but you simple have to find a good combination and at the same time maintaining 490 defense.
[Reply]
December 8th, 2007 at 10:22 am
I’m so grateful for this post. It seems the most forgotten, even if the simplest, concept ever.
[Reply]
January 9th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
i’d have to say as a former healer, the “oh s***” heals are the ones where you see life dropping by ~50% in a tick or two. We throw heals and even overheal trying to keep a tank up. The less that happened the less mana I wasted.
[Reply]
January 21st, 2008 at 9:24 am
Healers and Warriors are best friends we know that, you raid alot together and “know” the deal.
Unbuffed i have
HP 14,7k , Def 551 , Combined parry dodge and block 78,02% and my last my armor is 16792. all unbuffed.
If i replace my gems to more stamina i gain about 2k perhaps ( buffed ) now i have buffed 19k HP. What does the 2 k extra HP give me more then the loss in avoidance is worth for ??
[Reply]
June 4th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I’m kinda new to tanking however from my limited experience anything after 490 defense is not worth it.
Also 78% block, when u have shield block up which should be always u are at 150%ish, wasted 50%. So an extra 2k health is all win in my opinion.
On the parry thing it take more to stack however is it not true that you get an immediate counter attack when you parry? I have only heard this but this would increase threat generation, which other avoidance does not.
[Reply]
June 27th, 2008 at 12:19 am
@Yablos
Also 78% block, when u have shield block up which should be always u are at 150%ish, wasted 50%. So an extra 2k health is all win in my
If he will get blocked 2 time he will be crushable and die, if he has a lot of parry and dodge = less chance of being blocked = less chance of being crushable.
I’m not really the win @ tanking but I have A gnome warrior for tanking and a Be pally for tanking. And I was uncrushable in half blue purple, but on the 3th boss of ZA I lost my shieldblock fast and became crushable and whiped the raid all the time.
[Reply]