How Mob Damage Works
Relevant Calculator:
Mob Damage Calculator
Relevant Formulas:
WDEF = STR * 1.2 + (DEX + LUK) * 0.5 + INT * 0.4
MDEF = STR * 0.4 + (DEX + LUK) * 0.5 + INT * 1.2
Maximum Character Defense = 30,000
Maximum Mob Attack = 29,999
Maximum Character HP = 99,999
As a rule of thumb, your defense needs to be four times the enemy's attack value in order to receive 1 damage from the enemy's attack.
Having 30,000 defense will reduce all damage by about 86%. The "never receive damage" defense number is 40,000 (Because sqrt(WDEF * 0.25) of 40,000 is 100% in the formula), though it's impossible to reach it.
The enemy's attack value is the damage he will do if you have 0 Defense.
Flat damage reduction will only happen on values 8660 and less (and even then at only absurdly high defense values). Values higher than this are always percentage based damage reduction.
The overall procedure is: Get Mob Attack --> Reduce mob attack by threaten --> Calculate & randomize mob attack --> reduce attack by defense --> reduce attack by other means (Achilles, Combo Barrier, etc.) --> reduce damage by Meso Guard.
For every level you are below the enemy, you effectively lose 16 defense or 2.0% of the enemy's damage.
Threaten does not work on Pink Bean or any of his cohorts.
Procedure:
Calculate the following: PDDRounded = Total WDEF * 0.25 <---- Round this to the nearest whole number
Calculate the following: PDDPercentage = Square Root(Total WDEF * 0.25) <--- Round Down
If your level is less than the mob's level, subtract 4 from PDDRounded for every level. If PDDRounded becomes less than 0 because of this, set PDDRounded to 0.
If your level is less than the mob's level, subtract 2.0 from PDDPercentage for every level. If PDDPercentage becomes less than 0 because of this, set PDDPercentage to 0.
Calculate the following: MobDamagePDDRounded = Enemy Attack - PDDRounded
Calculate the following: MobDamagePDDPercentage = (100 - PDDPercentage) * (Enemy Attack / 100)
Pick the smaller number between MobDamagePDDRounded and MobDamagePDDPercentage. Call this number "damage taken"
If damage taken is less than 1, set damage taken to 1.
Damage taken is the maximum damage you will receive from the enemy.