Paladin BiS Accessory Reddit Discussion

[Jahaudant]

Since this tread is explicitly referencing PLD the argument that crafted accessories are better than Allagan/Hero for tanking is ridiculous. Stop it.

[Maelwys]

Since this tread is explicitly referencing PLD the argument that crafted accessories are better than Allagan/Hero for tanking is ridiculous. Stop it.

Technically it's not THAT ridiculous...

There are quite a few valid arguments for it. But the main reason really comes down to Block + Parry weightings and whether you prefer to help your healer lower the amount of raw healing they have to throw at you over time (More STR/DEX), or give them a greater reaction time buffer in which to heal you (More VIT).

I posted an example build in another thread a few weeks back. Reposting below.

Neck: Melded Gryphonskin
Ear: Melded Rosegold Earcuffs
Wrist: Melded Gryphonskin
Ring1: Melded Gryphonskin
Ring2: Melded Gryphonskin

Weapon: Allagan Blade
Offhand: Allagan Shield
Head: Allagan
Body: Valor
Hands: Valor
Waist: Allagan
Legs: Valor
Feet: Allagan

Grand Total: (with above gear on a 'Sea Wolf', no food)
406 Str, 234 Dex, 493 Vit, 585 Parry, 473 Acc, 383 Crit, 260 Det, 359 SS
HP: 6447.285 (in Party, no food)

Compared to the Post-T5 +Vit/+Parry BIS builds, you'd basically sacrifice 9 Parry, 25 Vit and 2 Acc for 45 Dex, 45 Str, 31 Crit, 30 Det and 7 SS.

In exchange for 5.3% HP, that pushes you up 1-2 Block/Parry Strength Tiers (+1%-2% strength, or about ~0.25-0.5% extra damage mitigation from parry over time, and the same from block) and very roughly around +0.5%-0.6% Block/Parry chance.

So realistically, you'd be swapping ~5% Maximum Health buffer for around a ~1% increase in damage mitigation versus non magic attacks. It also makes Bulwark a little bit stronger and more reliable.

By itself trading 5% HP for 1% mitigation may seem like a bad deal, but if your healer is skilled enough that they never let you drop lower than 5% HP then that extra 5% is going to be "wasted" - it doesn't actually reduce the damage you take. Assuming that your Healer reaction time is good and you're in no danger of being one-shot, the ONLY benefit additional HP gives you is whenever you're Stoneskinned or SCH-buffed and specifically using the extra HP buffer tactically in order to dodge the "added effect" of certain "added effect" attacks.

The blocking/parry increase isn't the only thing affected by accessory swapping however. Swapping in those stats adds somewhere in the region of +15-20% DPS - which also affects enmity generation. This adds a tiny tiny bit to your Self-healing via Bloodbath, and Mercy Stroke if you can ever land it exactly on time... but that's not why it's worth doing. Having higher DPS and enmity generation actually boosts survivability substantially - First you have the old well-proven "Killing things faster means they hit you less" argument. Second; whenever a PLD has a big enmity lead they have the option to spend LESS time Flashing and Cycling their RoH combo and MORE time Stunning, Shield Swiping and Stoneskinning.

Finally, the Dex boost also affects Shield Lob damage. PLD have very low native Dex, so +45 is actually a pretty big deal for Shield Lob. It makes for a much more solid hate lock when pulling at range. [see here].

I'm certainly not saying that Gryphonskins are "always BIS". But there are definitely valid arguments for using them if you're at the point where extra HP would "go to waste".

[Jahaudant]

Finally, the Dex boost also affects Shield Lob damage. PLD have very low native Dex, so +45 is actually a pretty big deal for Shield Lob. It makes for a much more solid hate lock when pulling at range.

Shield Lob damage is based on STR, not DEX. Just want to clear up that misinformation.

[Paikis]

Since this tread is explicitly referencing PLD the argument that crafted accessories are better than Allagan/Hero for tanking is ridiculous. Stop it.

The fact that the discussion is this heated should tell you that they are pretty close. As explained above though, Gryphonskin is pretty much the only choice you should be making at the moment.