Opinion about PLD hand gear

[Zephayra]

I've been using Eisenhentzes (For those who can't remember, stats are DEF: 9, VIT +1), since level 29 but I was wondering, from other people who have play/ed PLD, should I get another type of hand gear before getting the AF hand gear at level 54?

I noticed that many 50+ Pre-AF PLDs use the entire I.M. set. The I.M. gauntlets are nice for added defense (Def: 12, Ranged Accuracy +5), but sacrifice the +1 vitality. I don't think they're worth getting, but I thought I'd ask from other PLDs if they are. Thanks!

 

[Zerayla]

For myself, I went with the I.M hands because as an elvaan, I had a little more VIT than other races so the extra DEF seemed to work well for me. I don't really recall seeing any "fearful" damage back at those lvls, except for when tanking spiders in The Boyahda Tree. Unless you're finding the range of damage that you're getting to be quite large, I'd say upgrade to more DEF.

 

[Dragon Ryder]

use whatever boosts def dude!

the eisenhentzes looks ugly anyways. but you probably don't care. i would say that or anything with higher def would be ok.

 

[Celvantes]

I personally went:

Kampfhenztes > Rush Gloves > AF > Adaman > AF2/Ice

As a general rule of thumb, added VIT is better than more DEF. You can always get more DEF from food and job abilities (Defender, Rampart, etc). The same can't be said about VIT (at least not with JAs). Furthermore, 2 VIT = 1 additional Def and not the other way around.

Finally, DEF limits the max total damage you can take whereas VIT lowers the average. If you imagine a bell curve of damage, adding DEF only chops off the upper end of the curve whereas adding VIT shifts the whole curve to the left and takes a little bit off the end.

Until you get to the point where you are no longer tanking IT+ and IT mobs, VIT is your most important stat (along with enmity) as a PLD.

 

[Kagemusha]

I.M. Gauntlets are terrible, VIT > DEF, they are only 2 def more, and PLDs have no use for RAcc+

I highly suggest you use the kampfhenzes instead of eisen though, it's not like they are expensive, and it adds up. I used kampfhenzes until AF gloves, but rush gloves are definetly an option, the MND -3 is not a big deal. You should be able to get away with either of the two.

 

[Bajaratt]

I personally went:

Kampfhenztes > Rush Gloves > AF > Adaman > AF2/Ice

As a general rule of thumb, added VIT is better than more DEF. You can always get more DEF from food and job abilities (Defender, Rampart, etc). The same can't be said about VIT (at least not with JAs). Furthermore, 2 VIT = 1 additional Def and not the other way around.

Finally, DEF limits the max total damage you can take whereas VIT lowers the average. If you imagine a bell curve of damage, adding DEF only chops off the upper end of the curve whereas adding VIT shifts the whole curve to the left and takes a little bit off the end.

Until you get to the point where you are no longer tanking IT+ and IT mobs, VIT is your most important stat (along with enmity) as a PLD.

Are you sure it's not the opposite? STR/attack works the exact opposite way, and it would make sense for VIT and defense to work the same way. Since STR effects the maximum amount of damage you can do, and it's only measured against the mob's VIT, they'd both have to be related to the maximum damage dealt/taken; attack is the average within that range, so defense would also apply to that average.

 

[Ean]

I.M. Gauntlets are terrible, VIT > DEF, they are only 2 def more, and PLDs have no use for RAcc+

hmm it's been a while since i was down there, but just for reference (for those that 'forgot') Kampf and the Eisenhentzes gear wasn't around till after COP released... so, Centurion's Finger Gauntlets-> I.M. Gear was the way to go up at that level. Personally, I didn't focus on a lot of VIT gear till just at AF gear. I did pretty well, then again, like Zerayla, I'm also Elvaan ^^; But no matter what, Def or Vit is up to you. Then again >.> this was all before Tav. Taco's from level 10 - 75 ^^;

 

[Uzor]

Well, DEF can be more iportant than VIT in some cases. Mainly against stuff that have high base damage but low base attack. The only thing I can think of off-hand are the salvage bosses. Simply using DEF food against them can take the damage down from 400-500 a hit down to 200 or less.

But then again, VIT would probably also work against it. DEF is easier to get in salvage, though, as you can get a high ammount from defender and DEF food.

 

[Tim Wakefield]

Are you sure it's not the opposite? STR/attack works the exact opposite way, and it would make sense for VIT and defense to work the same way. Since STR effects the maximum amount of damage you can do, and it's only measured against the mob's VIT, they'd both have to be related to the maximum damage dealt/taken; attack is the average within that range, so defense would also apply to that average.

This is the impression I was always under.

IIRC, i used Rush Gloves. If youre up to 50 i'd go with those.

 

[Taurothar]

Pick up Rush Gloves at 50, they're cheap enough to get. Sure they look like ass leather gloves, but they're pretty good. Before that, Kampf is great.

And Celv made a misnomer about the VIT/DEF thing, it works exactly in parallel to STR/ATT.

 

[Zephayra]

Thanks all. This has been very helpful.

 

[FleistLoC]

Are you sure it's not the opposite? STR/attack works the exact opposite way, and it would make sense for VIT and defense to work the same way. Since STR effects the maximum amount of damage you can do, and it's only measured against the mob's VIT, they'd both have to be related to the maximum damage dealt/taken; attack is the average within that range, so defense would also apply to that average.

Baj is correct. VIT lowers the max damage taken, whereas DEF lowers the average damage within the range.

 

[Celvantes]

Disregard... this is what I get from posting in the middle of the night.

Same in what I said about VIT > DEF, reverse the effects. More VIT caps top damage, more def shifts curve.

Until you hit mobs that are less than IT, you will get more benefit from adding VIT over adding defense.

 

[Jeska]

I went with Royal Knight Mufflers at lv 50, they gave me a bit more def than IM gloves and +3 to accuracy which really helps with holding hate if you miss alot.