Most responders are too low of a rank to notice the difference beyond the person who has both tiers of the spells. There is NO REDUCTION<---- It is more coincidence than the buffs working. If you fight Grass Raptors, an adventurer would notice that his or her ranking up has more of an effect than shell. At rank fifty, a raptor's breath deals the same amount of damage before and when casting shell. If you are fighting Dodore and his minions, if you cast shell, him and his minions shadowsear/scourge2 deal the same damage with and without the buff. I have noticed shell considerably lowers my resistance to his spells! Where the occurrence of a partial or complete resistance is reduced greatly, especially on shadowsear. At this point, the only protective ability that reduces damage is emulate. You can continually say that you notice a difference, but two damage reduction is not a benefit. That is wasted mp that you can use on future cures. Unless SE's brings back the functionality of the protective spells shell and protect, I will not use them or ever use those spells. My research of fighting multiple different types of monsters with shell and without using it are far greater in worth to me than your opinion as a rank 17 conjurer who has neither the background or the experience that I have gained.