User blog comment:Mathmagician/Wall of Flesh Solo Guide/@comment-24.61.148.248-20120825212120

Dear Mathmagician, Defense is not always the safest option. (It is sometimes.)

Say I am fighting Armored Skeleton, and so are you.

Your accessories give +20 DEF

My accessories give +20% DMG

Say we both have a Legendary excalibur, no potions, and hallowed armor.We both drink Bowl of Soup and Ale. We never deal critical damage, and have 400 HP each.

You have 66 DEF and deal 75 DMG

I have 48 DEF and deal 90 DMG

Now, if we hit the enemy four times, and take damage every time,

I deal 78 DMG and take 36 DMG per attack

You deal 63 DMG and take 26 DMG per attack

Say we never miss. Afterward...

I am at at 256 HP and the enemy is at 28 HP.

You are at 296 HP and the enemy is at 88 HP.

Now...

I dealt 17% more then you to the skeleton's total HP.

You saved 10% more HP then me.

17% > 10%.

This isn't an attempt to offend you or anything. I just want to point out that more DMG can be appealing, especially in things like normal combat or PvP. Plus, you can always hide in a hole or Magic Mirror if you are near death.(Excluding if you are near your spawn or fighting WoF or the Destroyer for the latter, and if you are fighting block-ignoring monsters for the former.)

However, I still think that Minishark is better since you have a less likely chance to miss, as there are 4x as many chances to hit.