Well, I was working with Barb because that's what was presented.

Barbs have a defense increasing skill in each of their three trees, thus any item that adds +1 to all skills adds 30% enhanced defense. For a paladin, there are only two trees with defense increasing stats. One gives 10%, and the other gives 15% per level.

With a quick inspection... I'd change the shield and helm... eth HoZ with socket... gain +1 to all and +2 combat and add a bit of defense and dex and dex... Helm is eth Andy's Visage with socket... gain +1 to all and some str...

The overall enhanced defense mod would be 1815% over the Barb's 1700% with a bit more base defense... probably around 250 more def...

Let's see... It'd change 156 + 5 + 7.5 + 38.5 + 2.25 + 64 - 1.25 (str penalty) = 272. Then your total would be 4958.25 and the final enhanced defense would be... 95446.3125

That's an estimate, mind you. I think all the basic gear should be the same besides those two items... I took into effect the change of defense, enhanced defense, the extra jewel, the str and dex differences of items and characters, and the different skills of course. If I missed anything, then let me know. Otherwise, that number should hold up.

However... When looking at defiance aura boost from a merc... and I'm assuming the Pally's defiance won't stack with the merc's, the Barb would definately be higher.

A level 55 normal defiance merc has level 18 defiance. +2 skills from the helm, +2 skills from the armor, +4 skills from the weapon (a2 mercs can use spears, right?) = 26 defiance = 320% enhanced defense.

With a perfect merc (which is easy to do) stacked onto a barb's perfect setup, he'd have 99348.5 attacking and 78729 standing defense.

Just in case you're wondering if it's possible to break the 100k mark:

With a perfect barb and a paladin set up for max defiance (+3 circlet, +3 ammy, +1 belt, +2 armor, +2 shield, +4 weapon, +2 rings, +1 anni, +3 torch, +9 gcharms = 30 skills + 1 barb shout = lvl 51 defiance) that's 570% enhanced defense bringing the barb's standing defense to 90444.625 and attacking defense to... *drumroll*

111,064.125

What is it they say about silence being golden?