So, my first thought on entering Tier 3 was that the vog cub set looked sweet.
But it leaves me with no piercing or shadow defenses.
If, for example, I had vog cub armor and skolver cap, I'd have the same normal defence, and the other half would be split between elemental and piercing.
The ultimate spread would be something like the skolver coat and Divine veil, for even spread of normal/elemental/shadow/piercing, but I'd have less defense in each than if I were focused.
Any thoughts?
I'm with the same problem with as you and what i decided is to suck it up and make sets for each damage type, Piercing i have covered with Skolver, Shadow i'll cover with Valkyrie set and Elemental i'll cover with Vog Cub or/and Nameless. This all will hurt if by any chance at some point they remove normal damage totally out of Tier 3.
I don't think Trinkets will help much, however having several focused sets and changing depending on stratum is expensive but very efficient (all sets don't need be 5*, I have a 4* Skelly Shield for instance and it serves me well for Fiend strata in T2 or T3).
Don't shield stats just affect how well the shield stands up and lasts against various attacks? For example my Wise Owlite will shield more elemental attacks without breaking, but a couple wolvar bites would break it.
Thats how it works, yes. But tanking on a piercing shield Alpha Wolver's bites is still going rambo and don't do that.
Go buy a 4 or 5* shadow trinket with tokens. Also try to buy a 3,4 or 5* elemental trinket (Want mine?) use both and you should be a tad bit more defensive. Also try uv rolling.