Parry

[Canadane]

Hey there,
MRD/WAR have the ability to parry attacks rather easily. We have multiple abilities that rely on this and you negate almost all damage while doing this, thus staying alive longer allowing your WHM do tend to other things.

With this in mind, I'm thinking of replacing some gear with some that has high melds of Battledance materia. The IV level materia offer what seems to be quite a lot of parry. However, this materia is dirt cheap on my server. This leads me to believe the following possibilities.
1) Parry isn't helpful at all
or
2) The +25 (per Battledance IV) isn't worth it in the end, with others favouring something else. Possibly overlooking something rather useful.

Now, I primarily tank, so I'd prefer damage reduction as much as possible. I'm aware if I were to focus a little bit more on DPS the added damage would mean more enmity, but with everyone else (maybe even a WHM!) outgunning me in damage, I never relied too much on damage generated enmity.

I started to think of what else I could meld to my hands (as Battledance would go in hands or weapon slot)
HP+ through Bloodthirst isn't all that great for WARs considering they can have over 5k HP in an ideal setup.
Str+ with Strength materia is nice if I wanted to do more damage, I suppose.
Atk+ using Heavens Fist could offer up to +30 attack power each. This is quite a lot! But again, I'm not trying to focus on damage.
Acc+/StoreTP+ Using Heavens Eye or Evenflow is something I do want to consider because combos missing is the worst. The worst. Extra TP is nice I suppose, but only in larger quantities.
Dex+ is something else I'd like to think about, as I do believe a higher dexterity rate means a better parry rate, no? Would +20 Dex be better than +25 Parry?

All other materia that can meld to hands are either magic related or resistance to a specific enfeeblement. Not really that great for a tank.

I guess what I do want to know is, is Parry+ worth it for us? Or am I looking down the wrong route here for my favourite job? Have I overlooked something that's so much more worth it than parrying?

[AmyNeudaiz]

ACC + TP store materia is great. The added TP means you get your combo off faster to establish more hate quicker and the added ACC means you miss a bit less.

[KumaAkuma]

ACC + TP store materia is great. The added TP means you get your combo off faster to establish more hate quicker and the added ACC means you miss a bit less.

Instead of getting that materia, get Exorcism Beans.

[AmyNeudaiz]

Instead of getting that materia, get Exorcism Beans.

Get both and have a bean materia baby?

[Drexel]

Store TP does next to nothing in this game, it gives you a 1% increase TP return for every 10 store TP per attack, you can do the math however I prefer to just round that silly low number down to 0 at least as far as the Evenflow materia is concerned. I can't see any reason to put Evenflow materia in the hand slot over STR or ATK. If anything store TP is some icing on the cake that just comes with the DRG relic weapon and the DL Corselet, both have a more influential amount btw, aside from that it really deserves no one’s attention unless they change the store TP mechanic.

[AmyNeudaiz]

Store TP does next to nothing in this game, it gives you a 1% increase TP return for every 10 store TP per attack, you can do the math however I prefer to just round that silly low number down to 0 at least as far as the Evenflow materia is concerned. I can't see any reason to put Evenflow materia in the hand slot over STR or ATK. If anything store TP is some icing on the cake that just comes with the DRG relic weapon and the DL Corselet, both have a more influential amount btw, aside from that it really deserves no one’s attention unless they change the store TP mechanic.

1% does make that materia pretty crappy.
In that case, Accuracy materia is great for tanking.
But, read the OP again. He said he didn't want STR.

[Molly_Millions]

I don't know why you wouldn't want STR on your hands, it's the best thing for hands for WAR. It will give you more damage and more enmity, both of which are a WAR's priority.

[AmyNeudaiz]

I don't know why you wouldn't want STR on your hands, it's the best thing for hands for WAR. It will give you more damage and more enmity, both of which are a WAR's priority.

Although it is basically the best thing you can put on slot, some people just like to be unique snowflake and do their own thing. Just remember, it's not your character they're gearing up

[Molly_Millions]

Although it is basically the best thing you can put on slot, some people just like to be unique snowflake and do their own thing. Just remember, it's not your character they're gearing up

Which is fine, be a unique snowflake, but be a unique snowflake with the knowledge that you could do yourself and your party a whole lot more good with better gear choices.

I like to play around with unique gear choices myself. However, I only do so because I already have a set that caps my stats.

[Canadane]

I will very likely be using strength in the end. I'm just toying wish some unique snowflake ideas.
Was hoping if anyone knew of any parrying % stats or anything that could show how good or poor a parry boost actually is. If not, then maybe someone who's tried it out.