Tiffara

I've seen 156 defense rating thrown around a lot, for the amount necessary to be uncrittable (assuming no resilience). I do not believe this is the correct number, based on my research. It appears to be based on some mistaken assumptions in how defense rating is converted to defense and how this is displayed on the character panel.

1) 2.4 defense rating = 1 defense skill (at level 70) - Incorrect

This number shows up a lot, probably because it was stated by a blue. And it is very close to the correct number. However, if you stack defense rating, you'll find that it's simply incorrect. The actual value is 1.5*82/52 (1.5 is the level 60 conversion, and 82/52 is the scaling for level 70 ratings), or about 2.3653846153 - which looks a lot like 2.4 if you round it. To test this, I put on 363 defense rating - 151.25 using 2.4, 153.463 using 1.5*82/52. The character sheet read 153.

2) The character sheet rounds the displayed defense skill - Incorrect

Actually, it truncates the value, just as it does for weapon skill. This is also easy to test - 359 defense rating gives 151.772 defense skill, which displays at 151.

Thus, the correct value for uncrittable defense rating is 154. There is no difference between 154 and 156 defense rating - both give 65 defense skill.

Now, I know people have been critted with 154 defense rating. They've also been critted with 156 or more. To date, I have seen no one offer a reason why this happens other than player error (sitting) or game bugs (some equipment not giving defense rating, talents not being properly applied). I see no reason to distinguish the 154-155 crits from the 156+ ones.

This isn't to say there isn't a mechanic that takes higher defense levels into account, simply that I have seen no evidence of one, nor have I seen any one offer evidence for one.