Armor Class and Raid Tanking

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by bcbrown [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

This implies that either the leather AC softcap is much higher than 100, or that there's not much of a penalty for adding AC above the softcap, or that there isn't a softcap. In other words, I agree with you [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

There is certainly a softcap based on all evidence and data thus far. There is no evidence of the "squelsh point" theory from what I have seen.

I have been doing some parsing today. I haven't finished yet on all the sets, but here is my 60 SK getting hit by Shiel Glimmerspindle with 300 AC. I realized I was able to just hit 300 AC without a shield using a few alternate pieces in the bank:

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60 SK 1000 hits - 300 AC, No Shield
=========================
DV, Count
19, 453
22, 34
25, 36
28, 23
32, 42
35, 25
38, 26
42, 35
45, 32
48, 28
52, 24
55, 38
58, 27
62, 26
65, 33
68, 24
72, 29
75, 27
78, 32
82, 6

Total Damage = 35754

When we compare this to my Shaman's test:

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60 Shaman 1000 hits - 363 AC Test, No Shield
=================================

DV, Count
19, 381
22, 22
25, 33
28, 28
32, 35
35, 39
38, 27
42, 37
45, 37
48, 38
52, 28
55, 32
58, 23
62, 41
65, 41
68, 41
72, 44
75, 31
78, 33
82, 9

Total Damage = 39236

We can clearly see that the SK takes significantly less damage, due to a higher softcap.

I don't have a level 60 leather class to determine the leather softcap, but as Bcbrown said, his data wasn't great. Ideally some better testing will be done.

Also, we can see that both an SK and a Shaman basically take the same damage at 200 AC. This means neither class has their Softcap below 200 AC, and the mitigation calculation is the same for both classes. To be clear, this is just the AC mitigation calculation. Obviously an SK will take less damage in a similar period of time due to parry, dodge, riposte, and a higher defense skill:

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60 SK 1000 hits - 200 AC, No Shield
=========================
19, 291
22, 40
25, 33
28, 37
32, 37
35, 31
38, 39
42, 30
45, 41
48, 54
52, 53
55, 34
58, 54
62, 35
65, 31
68, 31
72, 41
75, 35
78, 37
82, 16

Total Damage = 41544

=============================
60 Shaman 1000 hits - 200 AC Test, No Shield
=============================

DV, Count
19, 289
22, 41
25, 41
28, 33
32, 32
35, 43
38, 43
42, 38
45, 40
48, 33
52, 38
55, 38
58, 37
62, 39
65, 33
68, 39
72, 41
75, 41
78, 34
82, 27

Total Damage = 41805