Thugs gets to soft cap a lot easier, and if you team with another Thugs MM, it can get even crazier. However, most of that defense is based on your enforcers' auras, so you constantly have to be careful to make sure each pet is standing within close proximity to them (30 feet) in order to get the full effect.
Ninjas defense bonuses are a lot more reliable, because they're just inherent to the pet itself, but the cap is harder to reach because there's no "recharge intensive pet", so you can't slot that extra +5% aura to yourself, and because the ninja defense bonus doesn't benefit from enhancements like the Enforcers' def bonus does.
Also, I've noticed playing /FF MM's that a lot of enemies turn around and try to run away. The advantage of Ninjas is that the Oni has holds and such. It's nice to have them stuck in place. For Thugs, this is a big disadvantage because having an enemy run away can really wreak havoc on your pets' relative positioning.
I'm thinking the best patron pool for both would be Mace Mastery, because of power up. Also the AOE immobilize has fly protection, which is nice for Ninjas, or your Bruiser, so they don't have to try to engage flying foes.
Which do you think is better?
Thugs gets to soft cap a lot easier, and if you team with another Thugs MM, it can get even crazier. However, most of that defense is based on your enforcers' auras, so you constantly have to be careful to make sure each pet is standing within close proximity to them (30 feet) in order to get the full effect.
Ninjas defense bonuses are a lot more reliable, because they're just inherent to the pet itself, but the cap is harder to reach because there's no "recharge intensive pet", so you can't slot that extra +5% aura to yourself, and because the ninja defense bonus doesn't benefit from enhancements like the Enforcers' def bonus does.
Also, I've noticed playing /FF MM's that a lot of enemies turn around and try to run away. The advantage of Ninjas is that the Oni has holds and such. It's nice to have them stuck in place. For Thugs, this is a big disadvantage because having an enemy run away can really wreak havoc on your pets' relative positioning.
I'm thinking the best patron pool for both would be Mace Mastery, because of power up. Also the AOE immobilize has fly protection, which is nice for Ninjas, or your Bruiser, so they don't have to try to engage flying foes.