DEF

Defense is the total physical defense that is factored upon physical damage, which is generally based on ATK as whole or partially. However, there are exceptions.

The descriptions used here refer to Hard and Soft DEF. These names are used for clarity. The vast majority of players do not use these terms in general conversation, and instead refer Armor Def (hard) and VIT Def (soft). Hard DEF works as a relative reduction, whereas Soft DEF is a subtractive reduction.

To obtain the final damage,apply Hard DEF first and then apply soft DEF.

It is shown as A + B in the Status Window, where A represents the Soft DEF and B represents the Hard DEF.

Hard DEF

Effects of Hard DEF on incoming damage

Hard defense, also known as "armor" or "equipment" defense reduces, incoming physical damage multiplicatively.

• Damage after Hard DEF = Damage × [(4000 + HardDEF) ÷ (4000 + HardDEF × 10)]

For example, a player with a Hard DEF of 275 will have incoming damage reduced by about ⅓, and a player with a Hard DEF of 500 will have incoming damage reduced by half.

Hard defense has a base value of 0, and is increased by equipment, some skills, and items.

Additive Bonuses

• Equipment bonus to DEF: +1 per point
• Armor upgrades = Floor[(3 + UpgradeLv) ÷ 4]

Item/Skill	Max Modifier	Additional notes
Agav Card	-10	Armor.
Alicel Card	-5	Armor.
Arclouze Card	+2	Shield. Extra +2 if refined to +5 or lower.
Argiope Card	+1	Armor. Enchant armor with Poison property.
Argos Card	+1	Shield.
Ambernite Card	+2	Armor.
Broad Sword	+5
Coco Card	+1	Headgear.
Cornutus Card	+1	Armor. Makes armor unbreakable.
Cowardice Blade	+5
Cutlus	+1
Dokebi Card	+1	Armor. Endows armor with Wind property.
Evil Druid Card	+1	Armor. Endows armor with Undead property.
Executioner Card	+1	Shield.
Ghoul Card	+1	Headgear.
Goat Card	+2	Armor. Extra +2 if refined to +5 or lower.
High Orc Card	+1	Shield.
Infiltrator	+3
Katzbalger	+10
Luna Bow	+2
Martin Card	+1	Headgear.
Megalodon Card	+1	Shield.
Memory of Thanatos Card	-30	Weapon. Increases damage based on target's DEF.
Mineral Card	+3	Armor.
Munak Card	+1	Shield.
Mysteltainn Card	+1	Shield.
Ogretooth Card	+1	Shield.
Parasite Card	+1	Shield.
Pasana Card	+1	Armor. Endows armor with Fire property.
Porcellio Card	-5	Armor.
Sandman Card	+1	Armor. Endows armor with Earth property.
Schweizersabel	+1	Wind property.
Solider Card	+2	Armor.
Stainer Card	+1	Headgear.
Stalactic Golem Card	+1	Headgear.
Steel Chonchon Card	+2	Armor.
Sting Card	+2	Shield. Extra +2 if refined to +9 or higher.
Swordfish Card	+1	Armor. Endows armor with Water property.
Tamruan Card	+2	Shield.
Tao Gunka Card	-50	Armor. Doubles Max HP.
Wootan Fighter Card	+1	Headgear.
Wootan Shooter Card	+1	Headgear.

Multiplicative Bonuses

Item/Skill	Max Modifier	Additional notes
Grimtooth	-50%
Masamune	-66.7%
Spear Dynamo	-25%	-(SkillLv × 5)%
Frenzy	-100%
Spike	-66.7%

Soft DEF

Soft defense, also known as "VIT" defense, reduces incoming physical damage directly.

SoftDEF      = (VIT ÷ 2) + Max[(VIT × 0.3), (VIT ^ 2 ÷ 150) − 1]
TotalSoftDEF = [(SoftDEF + BonusA) × (1 + BonusB ÷ 100)]

• BonusA is the sum of additive bonuses.
• BonusB is the sum of multiplicative bonuses.

Monsters use a different SoftDEF formula.

SoftDEF      = floor(VIT + Lvl) ÷ 2)

Additive Modifiers

Item	Max Modifier	Additional notes
Divine Protection	+30	+(SkillLv × 3). Only against Undead and Demon monsters.

Multiplicative Modifiers

Item	Max Modifier	Additional notes
Angelus	+50%	+(SkillLv × 5)%

Bypassing DEF

The skills and equipment below are known to either bypass DEF, or have a reversed effect, thus increasing damage from the amount it.

Skills

Skill	Notes
Acid Bomb	Increases damage based on target's VIT instead DEF. Treats Hard Defense as Soft Defense.
Bomb	Treats Hard Defense as Soft Defense.
Battle Chant	One of the negative effect against enemies.
Clashing Spiral	?
Counter Slash
Gloria Domini
Grand Cross	Treats Hard Defense as Soft Defense.
Guillotine Fist
Martyr's Reckoning
Occult Impaction	Increases damage based on target's DEF.
Soul Destroyer	Treats Hard Defense as Soft Defense.
Tarot Card of Fate

Weapons

Weapon	Notes
Ahlspiess
Brocca
Bloody Roar	Only against Demi Human targets.
Caesar's Sword	Only against Plant targets.
Combat Knife	Only against Demi Human targets.
Dragon Killer	Only against Dragon targets.
Dragon Slayer	Only against Dragon targets.
Dragon Wing	Only against Dragon targets.
Executioner	Only against Demi Human targets. Shadow property.
Exorciser	Only against Demon targets.
Gae Bolg	Only against Dragon targets.
Hunting Spear	Only against Brute targets.
Ice Pick Ice Pick [1]	Increases damage based on target's DEF. +1 ATK per 2 Hard DEF*.
Iron Nail [1]
Legacy of Dragon	Only against Dragon targets.
Slaughter	Only against Brute targets.
Weeder Knife	Only against Plant targets.
Twin Edge of Naght Sieger (Red) [3]	5% chance when dealing physical damage.
Twin Edge of Naght Sieger (Blue) [3]	5% chance when dealing physical damage.
Violet Fear [2]	5% chance when dealing physical damage.

Armor

Armor	Notes
Black Feather	If upgrade level is +10 or higher, bypass 100% of hard defense of all race targets when performing a physical attack.
Circlet of Phoenix	If upgrade level is +10 or higher, bypass 100% of hard defense of all race targets when performing a physical attack.
Devil's Hand	If upgrade level is +10 or higher, bypass 100% of hard defense of all race targets when performing a physical attack.
Work Cap	If upgrade level is +10 or higher, bypass 100% of hard defense of all race targets when performing a physical attack.
Ultralight Magic Shield [1]	Bypass 10% of hard defense of normal monsters when performing a physical attack.
Abusive Robe [1]	Bypass 4% of DEF per upgrade level on Demi-Human, Demon, and Undead targets when performing a physical attack
Bone Plate [1]	Bypass 10% of hard defense of Demi-Human and Brute monsters when performing a physical attack
Mighty Black Threaded Armor [1]	Bypass 10% of hard defense of normal monsters, Boss monsters and players when performing a physical attack. If upgrade level is +7 or higher, bypass an additional 20% of hard defense of normal monsters, Boss monsters and players when performing a physical attack. If upgrade level is +8 or higher, bypass an additional 20% of hard defense of normal monsters, Boss monsters and players when performing a physical attack. If upgrade level is +9 or higher, bypass an additional 20% of hard defense of normal monsters, Boss monsters and players when performing a physical attack.
Enforcer Shoes	Bypass 20% of hard defense of normal monsters, Boss monsters and players when performing a physical attack per level of Counter Slash known
Imperial Boots	Bypass 20% of hard defense of normal monsters, Boss monsters and players when performing a physical attack per level of Pinpoint Attack known
Blacksmith's Glove [1]	Bypass 50% of hard defense of All Races when performing a physical attack.
Perverse Demon Mask [1]	Bypass 15% of hard defense of normal monsters, Boss monsters and players when performing a physical attack for every 18 base LUK
Abusive Robe & Morrigane's Manteau Set	Bypass 15% of hard defense of Demi-Human, Demon and Undead race targets when performing a physical attack.
Abusive Robe & Valkyrie Manteau Set	Bypass 15% of hard defense of Demi-Human, Demon and Undead race targets when performing a physical attack.

Card

Card	Notes
Engkanto Card	Bypass 30% of hard defense of Plant monsters when performing a physical attack
Memory of Thanatos Card	Enchants compounded weapon with the Occult Impaction skill effect. Each attack drains 1 SP. DEF -30, Flee -30.
Samurai Specter Card	Ignore normal monster's defense when attacking. Disable its user's natural HP recovery and drain 666 HP every 10 seconds. Drain 999 HP as the weapon is unequipped.
Neo Punk Card & Big Bell Card Set	Bypass 50% of hard defense of Formless and Demon race targets when performing a physical attack.
Nightmare Arclouse Card & Nightmare Minorous Card Set	Bypass 50% of hard defense of Brute and Undead race targets when performing a physical attack.

Skills

Skills that work with the above weapons include:

• Back Stab
• Bash
• Bowling Bash
• Brandish Spear
• Counter Attack
• Flying Kick
• Grimtooth
• Holy Cross
• Mammonite
• Martyr's Reckoning
• Pierce
• Raging Trifecta Blow
• Snatch
• Sonic Blow
• Soul Destroyer
• Spear Boomerang
• Spear Stab
• Throw Spirit Sphere

DEF Reversal

In special conditions, such as for the Occult Impaction skill or item that grants its effect like Ice Pick or Memory of Thanatos Card, the DEF formula is altered. These skills and items ignore hard defense and soft defense, and also add additional attack depending on the target's hard defense. Defense bypass gears in any other form outside of an Occult Impaction effect only bypass hard defense.

See Also

• MDEF