The problem is how the damage is calculated. It might seem that +94% defense increase would have bigger impact. And it might have, but only in some specific situations.
Look at the damage calculation formula:
If we simplify it by assuming θ = 1 (as it most often is close to 1) and we will assume attacker’s attack being the same as defender’s defense you can expect ± this damage to be done:
| Attacker’s special | Attack modifier | Defense modifier | damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alasie +462% damage | 0% | 0% | 100 * 4,62^1.35 = 790 |
| Alasie +462% damage | 0% | +94% | 100 * (4,62/1.94)^1.35 = 323 |
| Alasie +462% damage | -34% | 0% | 100 * (4,62*0.66)^1.35 = 450 |
| Alasie +462% damage | -54% | 0% | 100 * (4,62*0.46)^1.35 = 277 |
Let’s check how it works with specials that have much lower % damage (as mentioned GM):
| Attacker’s special | Attack modifier | Defense modifier | damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gravemaker +135% damage | 0% | 0% | 100 * 1.35^1.35 = 150 |
| Gravemaker +135% damage | 0% | +94% | 100 * (1.35/1.94)^1.35 = 61 |
| Gravemaker +135% damage | -34% | 0% | 100 * (1.35*0.66)^1.35 = 85 |
| Gravemaker +135% damage | -54% | 0% | 100 * (1.35*0.46)^1.35 = 52 |
- It’s still important to note that above damage is working with same attack as defense. If attack was ± 15% higher damage than defense then the damage would be about +20% more
- Even if I was working with θ = 1, it won’t be that way in “real life”, so damage will be ±15% of what I calculated
Conclusion
Decreasing single target special skill is harder, because it has high base %. On other hand, decreasing AoE effects is much easier. Attack modifier is much stronger than defense one - that’s the reason why attack is most often -34% and defense +60% (or higher)
I am not saying that JF’s ice defense is bugged or not, but it doesn’t seem to be that off (given the damage calculations)
As @SWEG already posted two more pictures of Alasie’s damage, it’s important to note that:
- on first one the target has some -def debuff (which was applied before JF)
- on second one the attacker has +attack buff from Zimkitha (probably)