5* is not tier 2. I am aware that the deadshot set exists. I don't think players should have to work up an armor all the way to 5* just to have something to use in a fiend or undead stratum that has a few fire levels in tier 2.

Tier 2 is generally understood to be the place for 2-4* gear. Once you're at 5* gear, you should be in tier 3. You also don't need so much normal defense in tier 3, which makes other shadow items (silvermail and divine) viable, but in tier 2 every attack is at least 50% normal. It makes sense for a tier 2 player to be able to equip himself in 2-4* gear for tier 2 strata, like the current fiend levels that have a fire/fiend arena.

You wouldn't tell a player who just started tier 2 but kept being killed by wolvers to use a Skolver set. You'd tell him to get a wolver coat and work it up through dusker and ash tail. Similarly, players that need defense against fireball-throwing devilites shouldn't have to get the deadshot set. There should be something tier-appropriate for players to use when they first face shadow damage in their early forays into tier 2.

It makes little sense for the only two normal/shadow 3-4* armors to be so similar. Both are fire-weak and both are strong against poison. Variety makes the game more interesting because it gives players more choices to make and more variety of play when using different sets.