For a melee martial type - Blink or Displacement?

[Wiggz]

If you were in the thick of things, battling it out against spell and sword, tooth and claw, which would be better protection?

Displacement doesn't seem to help much against spells, but Blink creates a chance for your own attacks to miss. Blink is less effective against those who can See Invisible but it gives you a bonus to attacks against those who can't. Blink also lets you move through solid objects like walls and opponents, so...

[Claxon]

Personally? I go for the Cape of Minor Displacement and call it a day.

If I'm having the spell cast on me? I'm still choosing displacement over blink. Potentially missing my attacks because I'm on the ethereal plane just doesn't jive with me.

[MurphysParadox]

I would argue that blink is a bad idea. A melee character's purpose is to hit things and the miss chance goes directly against that single goal. While blink has a lot of other benefits, not hitting a target is too great a penalty. Remember, if offense is not the melee character's best defense, that character shouldn't be in that fight.

[Imbicatus]

Does Ghost Touch negate the miss chance for blink? Not sure if ethereal counts as incorporeal in Pathfinder. If so, Blink is more attractive if you have a ghost touch weapon.

[Wiggz]

Imbicatus wrote:

Does Ghost Touch negate the miss chance for blink? Not sure if ethereal counts as incorporeal in Pathfinder. If so, Blink is more attractive if you have a ghost touch weapon.

Good question - never considered that.

[PapaZorro]

I was never super-clear on the differences between Ethereal vs Incorporeal to start with. Can someone break it down?

(Also if by chance you're playing Mythic then Mythic Blink allows you to spend a Move Action to not take the chance to miss during your turn, if you're Mythic Hasted also you have an extra Move Action each round - see where I'm going here?).

[Elder Basilisk]

It's too bad there's not an Improved Blink (without the miss chance) in Pathfinder.

For my part, I'm in favor of Blink.

1. Blink protects against magic too.
2. Blink is at least partially effective against enemies with always on true seeing (that's a good percentage of your high end evil outsider). It is more effective in those situations than the 20% chance to avoid attacks from foes who can see you would suggest since a lot of the foes who do have the ability to see you (said high end evil outsiders) make extensive use of magic and area attacks where you get the 50% miss/failure chance (unless the attack can target ethereal creatures) or half damage (area attacks).
3. Blink gives you +2 to hit. That will offset part of the miss chance.
4. Blink gives you some movement flexibility
5. Blink enables you to attack ethereal opponents
6. Blink is not affected by blindfight, blindsight, or other items that neutralize or neuter displacement.

Displacement is lower risk (no miss chance) but is much better protection and offers some utility advantages, that's why I prefer Blink.