How to Warrior.

[Phoenicia]

I didn't read all of it sadly as I am tired. However I wanted to point something out.

Defiance increases max HP (and in turn eHP) by 25%. This is the same as ShO and Grit.

Now you say Defiance is "better" because damage reduction works multiplicatively. But this is untrue.

You shouldn't look at it in the way damage is reduced. You should look at it in terms of eHP:

PLD has 10,000, with Shield Oath eHP is 12,500. Add Rampart and it increases by another 25%. So you get eHP of 15,625.
WAR has 10,000, with Defiance eHP (and actual) is 12,500. Add Inner Beast and eHP increase to 15,625.

So even though Rampart reduced "actual damage" by 16%, it reduced the damage relative to your HP by 20%. Exactly the same as Defiance + IB.

EDIT: Oh the post above me did you more justice reading all of your post. lol