Avoidance is very good, so is the rest of weaponry for a variety of reasons, and Riding defensively. After that, I would get Vision and philosophy, and then get some artefacts: shield of absorption, sip rings, bracelets, diadem, and some other fun defensive stuff.
If your intention is hunting, I would get SoA then avoidance. If your intention is combat, I would get SoA then avoidance. Though learning some abilities to less than trans is useful. For instance, learning to squint in vision will save you a lot of headache (this is one of my first investments on alts), or learning tattoos to starburst. Keep in mind, learning tattoos opens more tattoo slots at specific ranks. I would learn weaponry to targeting for a combat, it will reduce the number of aliases you need by a long shot.
Answers
Results of disembowel testing | Knight limb counter | GMCP AB files