FF and Softcap... how does it work?

Ok I understand the Def softcap but not sure how it applies to my FF defender. Never really worried about the numbers but I am starting to wonder as I get to my last group of powers. I have a FF fender w/ all the bubbles. I am also running maneuvers and just picked up Power Build UP from the APP. If I am adding these buffs to someone who is already softcapped does it push them further into effective defence?

Enemies ALWAYS have a 5% chance to hit no matter what, that means that the max Defense that really "matters" is 95%.

Even-con enemies naturally have a 50% chance to hit or miss, which means all heroes get a "free" 50% defense to start off with.

Thus the "sofcap" is 95 - 50 = 45%. What that means is that anything over 45% is considered a "waste" unless you are fighting enemies that have a way alter that equation. Like Rularuu for example, who have a ToHit bonus.

Get it? More Defense is always fine, but anything above 45% won't really help you against most "normal" mobs.

That makes sense. There goes taking grant invisibility to squeeeeze every drop of def out of the character.

Unless the bubble offers +resistance, clicking PBU and applying shields will grant crazy high defense

On FF it yields 38.5% def with 1 end red and 3 def buff IOs @ 50

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On FF it yields 38.5% def with 1 end red and 3 def buff IOs @ 50

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Your best bet is to just get Maneuvers, the 2 ST shields, and Dispersion Bubble.

Assuming 1.6x benefit from enhancement, Maneuvers grants 5.6% +def(all), Dispersion Bubble grants 16% +def(all), and the shields each grant 24% +def(all types but psi and all positions). That's 45.6 +def to pretty much everything.

K, had to ask because this has been bugging me for awhile.

45% defense is the soft-cap for *even con minions*, correct? So anything else (ex: lts, bosses, AVs, GMs, including +1 minions) would require additional defense to reach the cap?

So wouldn't having a bit more be a good thing, as very few people fight only even cons on teams?

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Like Rularuu for example, who have a ToHit bonus.

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This is probably the most common example cited as a +toHit bonus mob. This is closely followed up by the Devouring Earth eminators. These bonuses are both so high that they effectively nullify any two FF defenders. I can't name off hand any mobs with only a small or moderate +tohit bonus.

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K, had to ask because this has been bugging me for awhile.

45% defense is the soft-cap for *even con minions*, correct? So anything else (ex: lts, bosses, AVs, GMs, including +1 minions) would require additional defense to reach the cap?

So wouldn't having a bit more be a good thing, as very few people fight only even cons on teams?

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No, 45% +def is all that you'll need against anything within 6 levels of you because of how the attack mechanics work. You take the base chance to hit, which is determined by (50%-targetDefense+ownTohit). At the softcap, this number is 5%. The number is then modified by the total accuracy modifier of the target, which is what higher level enemies have. Against anything less than 6 levels above you that's not packing +tohit (re: Rikti Drones, vengeanced buffed Nemesis, AE mobs with BU up), defense above 45% will do nothing for them.

Check out this link for more information. Or you could simply trust us when we tell you that 45% is all you need, even when you're running Invincible missions, because we know more about the game than you do.

Well, thanks for the answer, but didn't need the snarky tone.

The internet ain't what it used to be!

It never was...

For the record, Megrim, it did used to work pretty much as you described, way back in I5 or I6 maybe?
I think bosses used to have a base 75% chance to hit instead of 50%, which lead to underperformance by defence based characters like Ice Tanks and SR scrappers.
This then got fixed to the current system and the idea of a soft cap was introduced.

And this board exists for the purpose of asking questions about Defenders. Don't be put off.

Truly, the internet ain't what it used to be.

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