Armor or Deflection?

[xdesperado]

Just got TBF today and playing my first run on normal.

I'm sure this has been answered in a guide someplace but I'm trying to figure as much out on my own as possible and not get possible spoilers or unduly influenced by others opinions early on. New game want to rub most of shiney off myself lol.

Anyways trying to pick some war gear out for my Hydra and would like a simple answer if possible as to difference between Armor and Deflection...i.e. what each does in game so I can make a semi informed decision on gear.

Reading the in game help file Armor is pretty straightforward but I'm a bit confused by Deflection and why I might want a +6% Deflection bonus over a +4 Armor bonus.

The basic Heat-Shielded Leviathan armor for Hydras has 30 Armor and 80% deflection so seems like increasing that low Armor rating would be more beneficial at this early stage.

[Cory Trese]

Lots of details in this Combat Guide:

steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=522600159

Deflection is critical to avoiding Penetrating Hits that damage the Leviathan enough to directly hit the pilot or critical system.

[CdrPlatypus]

I aim to get deflection up.it makes the existing armor worth more in a sense.

[Cory Trese]

Deflection is very important.

If you have 30 Armor and 50% deflection ... 50% of the time it is like you had 15 Armor.

If you have 28 Armor and 90% deflection ... that is better than 40 Armor and 50%.

[fallen]

All depending on how hard your target is hitting with Penetration, but the numbers give a great example

[xdesperado]

As I'm getting further into the game I am starting to see the upsides for both gears that enhance Armor and ones that enhance deflection. My initial post was made very early in game play with little more than initial armors available. As I progress up the Requisition tree and more Armor types become available it becomes easier to see how one type or another could be of greater benefit.

Thanks everyone for the comments, now it's time for me to go finish cleansing Galentia Cross of the xeno (despite my loathing for Rychart lol )