Shield damage reduction equationFollow

Somehow, while leveling shield on my WAR, I ended up figuring out the damage reduction % of a few shields, and I noticed they weren't the same even though the shields were of the same size. Before I started skilling up, I thought that all shields blocked the same amount of damage according to their type but this wasn't the case, so I ended up testing more shields, gathering more data...

                                        -Damage % 
Shield          Type    LV      DEF     Min     Max 
Hard Shield     3       48      10      54.7%   55.2% 
Koenig Shield   3       73      22      60.6%   61.2% 
Acheron Shield  3       75      27      63.2%   64.6%

Looking at the numbers, the damage reduction seems to follow the following equation:

Damage_Absorption = BASE + Shield_Defense / 2

In other words, each point of defense on the shield adds +0.5% to the shield absorption %.
The value of BASE depends on the type of the shield. These are are the numbers I found out.

Type    BASE 
Buckler 22% 
Round   40% 
Kite    50% 
Tower   ?? 
Relic   ??

I haven't tested Tower shields because the only tower shield WARs can use is the Tatami shield which is out of my reach.
If it's true that an Aegis absorbs like a Tower shield, then it should absorb more than 70% damage, 50% (Kite type) + 20% (Aegis 40 def).

It is a fixed reduction per type (the Base), but with a DEF mod, unless I'm reading it wrong. So each shield would have to be individually calculated in that respect.

I'm wondering at the testing myself cause there are some differences like +10 shield skill for archeon and mobs tested on but sounds interesting if true.

Also, does anyone remember the link or have the link to the old tests on shield size and dmg reduction over time threads?
I can't for the life of me find them. I am interested espically since I'm almsot 72 now and going to switch to tatami from general's shield. Wondering what kind of figures I'll be looking at when I do make the switch. Hopefully the killer effects will balance the tower shield size thing.

For the tests, I had to guess the attack rating of the mobs and then set my defense close to that number. Having done that, I let the mob hit me while I keep track of the numbers that shows up the most with and without shield blocks. These two numbers are basically the same except that one has been reduced by the shield blocks. From these two numbers, I figured out the shield absorption % with algebra.

The logic behind the testing method is that there is a flat area in the middle of the pDIF function which has 2 interesting properties. The pDIF produced is 1.0 and, more importantly to this test, this number shows up around 30% of the time under some conditions. In the test, I set my defense around the same as the mobs attack just to have this flat pDIF area present in the mobs random hit damage interval. The tests were done without engaging the mobs because the Signet defense bonus would have messed up the results.

As an example, this is the data of my last test sample.
My VIT: 85
My AGI: 59
My defense: 269
MOB: Sand Lizard in Kuftal
Shield: Darksteel Buckler (Bucker type, LV 59, DEF 14)
Shield Skill: 144
Hits taken: 42
Most frequent non-blocked hits: 11 hits for 63 damage/hit
Most frequent blocked hits: 13 hits for 44 damage/hit

Damage reduction = Between 100% - 44 / 63 and 100% - 44.99 / 63 = Between 30.16% and 28.59%

According to the equation, the damage reduction % of a Darksteel Buckler is 22% + 14 * 0.5% = 29% which is inside the [28.59 - 30.16%] range given by the data.


I didn't comment on the testing method before because it sounds complex and it's confusing if the reader doesn't understand the game mechanics concepts used.


The test mobs were Evil Weapons in the Jeuno areas, crabs and mandies in Boyahda and crabs and lizards in Kuftal. When I started, my skill was 102 and after the tests, it was 145. Although it all started as me trying to skill up shield, when I performed the tests, I kept my main focus on the accuracy of the results and the skill ups was just a side effect. I also performed some tests on the effect of AGI on the shield block rate but the results were inconclusive.

i see what you are saying neispace, but i don't think that works because it also affect damage on unblocked hits. so the % of damage blocked woudl still be unnaffected by total def

Spatan Hoplon Seems to be round 40% +11/2 rounded down 5= -45%, and the Phalanx Effect from what ive noticed is a constant -17 dmg. Great for EP-dc and KC bcnm 60. Just get 3 and rotate.

Has anyone tried the riot shield. Yes you gotta be naked but...

50% Kite + def71/2 35 rounded down=-85%, but you gotta block pretty often cause if your naked your boned. What is your def naked just lvl and Vit/2? if added protct V and Couple minnes with a taco how would that fare? and hwo even owns a riot shield lol. Might be good with Reprisal?

Does the Sipar 20% block rate increase the Buckler shield type since the shild update?

NVM just looked it up. It doesnt seem to apply the same formula from the note. Perhaps due to the Increased block rate.

http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Sipar
Note: This shield has a hidden effect which gives it the highest block rate in the game (98%) but blocks the least amount of damage (1-5%). Often used as a skill-up shield.