Types of Defense and what they Defend against

[Arceoxys]

Is there a list of this? I know that Will defends against things like Mind Control or Confusion, but what does Deflection defend against? Just auto attacks of any kind? Or are attacks branched into two defense, and slash/pierce is defended by one and crush by another? I think Reflex is related to physical CC, i.e. stunned or proned, correct?

 

[Mungri]

Deflection defends against all attacks that need accuracy to hit including spells I think.

 

Higher deflection = more hits converted to grazes or misses. 

 

Higher accuracy = more misses and grazes converted to hits, and more hits to crits.

Edited April 10, 2015 by Mungri

[Caerdon]

Deflection defends against ordinary melee and ranged attacks in combat (and some spells that physically target you directly). Reflex represents a dodge against AOE spells like Fireball. Fortitude defends against stuff that attacks your physical endurance, like poison and knockdown attemps. Will resists attempts to affect your mind, which you seem to know already.

[Varana]

The defence against spells and abilities should be noted in their description.

Deflection usually is for physical attacks.

[Mungri]

Its not because roll up a fighter tank or two, plus a wizard. Now throw fireballs at your 120+ deflection wizards. No damage.

[Serdan]

All attacks/spells/abilities use accuracy to beat one of the target's defenses.

For physical attacks your accuracy has to beat the target's deflection.

For mental attacks (charm and similar) your accuracy has to beat the target's will.

For (some) AoE attacks your accuracy has to beat the target's reflex.

For poison, knockdown and similar your accuracy has to beat the target's fortitude.

 

All abilities have "vs. [Deflection/Fortitude/Will/Reflex]" in the description.

 

The wiki is suppoed to list the defense for each ability, though it's not complete.

http://pillarsofeternity.gamepedia.com

Edited April 10, 2015 by Serdan

[PBJam]

Also here is a list (which I wrote ) that tells you what types of defenses each monster is strong or vulnerable to:

 

Pillars of Eternity: Monster Strengths and Weaknesses