DEF positional vs elemental

is there really that big a difference? i want to play an energy aura brute but have heard elemental defense is not good. if i want a defense based character i should go SR or SD. I already have those.

edit: i mean really... i just want to know if it is a viable choice.

(QR)

I think it depends on what your fighting, Postional like Nin SR can doged (just about) any thing.

While Elemental is bond to have a Hole or 2(Toxic/Psi) but other then that not that big, my Ice tank(40%Def atm all but Psi/Toxic) dose Nicely but any then Toxic(Hydras) takes him down fast.

so it boils down to what you know for sure you might be fighting the most, building a TFer? a Farmer? etc, thats all it boils down to AND what you like/fun for you.

Hope this was of help, i'm trying to post a little more often and be of help or seeking help, if im wrong im sure someone will do better then me

Generally, typed defense is considered weaker than positional defense, since most of the sets offering typed defense have holes to psi and toxic. You can defiinitely still make a playable EA character though, it's just not going to be quite as tough as a SR or SD character would be.

One advantage I like to typed defense is you can just focus on S/L and get pretty much every attack in the game. All weapon-based sets are going to be S/L in part. Energy and Dark attacks tend to have a smashing component. Most ice attacks, some fire attacks, and some psi attacks will also have smash or lethal. Really all you have to watch out for is ranged elec (melee will have smash), ranged fire attacks, most psi attacks, and pure toxic attacks. Fire, ice, elec, and toxic tend to be fairly rare anyway.

With positional DEF, you tend to have to boost all three attributes. It is possible to get "most" attacks though if you have a flier that just caps range. You'll block everything that's not an AoE, and will be immune to melee since you're flying. I have a permahover Blaster who has 35% ranged DEF. But I also have an invuln Brute who caps S/L and she's really tough.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PRAF68_EU Dispari has more than enough credability, and certainly doesn't need to borrow any from you.

I don't think so. I'm not a Claws guy, but it does have a good amount of knockdowns and knockback as I recall.

claws is a great set for /EA.

Single target knockdown, plus the AOE knockback

In my opinion, the biggest advantages of typed defense over positional is that as Dispari mentioned, you can concentrate on the most common types of damage, and if you are planning to build for defense bonuses, typed defense is usually a 3-4 slot bonus, where positional defense is most often a 6-slot bonus. Not having to 6-slot powers to get a desirable bonus gives you a lot more build options.