Strength Tanks and You.

[Noxifer]

No mitigation will work on orbs in A4. They are considered 'darkness' damage and cannot be mitigated by normal means like manaward and tank CDs. Thrill of battle is very useful, though.

I've seen a difference when using things like Vengeance. Unless the damage from the orbs are wildly fluctuating and I've just been 'lucky' enough to always get the lowest possible when using Vengeance.

Reduces damage taken by 30% and delivers an attack with a potency of 50 every time you suffer physical damage.

Even if orbs count as darkness damage, they still count as damage, and CDs that reduce damage taken will still work. Cooldowns that specifically work on either magic or physical damage, or that raise defense (looking at you, Foresight!), on the other hand...