The Definitive AC Bonus Thread

[Taerdra]

Given Trotsky is no longer around, but certain items and rule changes continue to impact AC calculations and its importance, I would like to take up the mantle of the definitive thread he began. I have followed his general outline and process, added links and recent adjustments, and generally updated format. Any suggestions, etc., are welcome. Thanks for reading.

Most recent edit: 10/17/2007, updated for new Raid Loot and Beta Noir.

General Notes on AC

• Base AC = 10 for all characters.
• There are 9 types of AC bonuses: Armor, Shield, DEX, Natural, Deflection, Size, Sacred, Luck, Insight and Miscellaneous. DEX in theory is not a “type” of bonus, but I think it is easiestly included in this manner.
• DEX bonus is included in all AC calculations in DDO. It can be limited by armor type, materials, and debuffs.
• Unless the bonus is Dodge or Miscellaneous type, they do not stack. That is, the highest individual bonus in that type is used.
• Due to level cap, some bonuses such as +7 Bracers will be race-restricted.

Sources of Armor Bonus

• Item: Armor (+1-14, essentially Armor Base Bonus + Enchantment bonus, randomly generated)
• Item: Docent (+0-5, WF only, randomly generated – these stack with WF Body Feats below, but not other items such as armored bracers)
• Item: Armored Bracers (+1-7, randomly generated)
• Item: Blackwidow Bracers (+4, Waterworks end reward)
• Item: Jeeka's Spangle (+2)
• Item: White Dragonscale Robe (+6, White Dragon Scales)
• Item: Black Dragonscale Robe (+5, Black Dragon Scales)
• Item: Robe of Magi (+5, Black Mausoleum from Mentau Chest)
• Item: Ironweave Robe (+5, from Dragon Chest)
• Item: Cloth of the Faithful (+5, from Accursed Ascension, SF Side amulet upgrade)
• Item: Blue Dragonscale Robe (+4, Blue Dragon Scales)
• Item: Vulkoorim Dervish Robe (+4, from Sands of Menechtarun)
• Item: Dragoncrafted Robe (+4, Dragon Relics)
• Item: Giantcrafted Robe (+4, Giant Relics)
• Item: Beta Noir (+4, bracers from Cursed Crypt)
• Item: Shroud of the Abbot (+4, from Accursed Ascension raid chest)
• Item: Elfcrafted Robe (+3, Elf Relics)
• Item: Robe of Arcane Puisance (+3, from Tempest Spine)
• Item: Delera's Vestments (+2, from Delera's Tomb end reward)
• Item: Thanatos Weave Robe (+2, from South Threnal end reward)
• Spell: Mage Armor (+4)
• Feat: Warforged Composite Plating (+2, automatic for WF)
• Feat: Warforged Mithril Body (+5)
• Feat: Warforged Adamantine Body (+8)

NOTE: Many armors such as KDS or Tourney armor have different specs than is normal (higher DEX bonus, lower base, etc.). If using those, it is important to take that into account.
NOTE: WF may only have 1 body feat at any given time, Composite, Mithril or Adamantine.

Sources of Shield Bonus

• Item: Shields (+1-9, Randomly Generated)
• Spell: Shield (+4)
• Feat: Two Weapon Defense (+1, while dual-wielding)

Sources of DEX Bonus
NOTE: You need increments of 2 after achieving a base value of 10 DEX to get each incremental +1 bonus.

NOTE: DEX bonus cannot exceed Max Dex Bonus of associated armor type and any Armor Mastery enhancements taken. Tower Shields also impact your Max Dex Bonus if they are lower than that associated with your armor.

• Stat: DEX (-1-+8, +8 based on 20 base + 3 level ups + Tome +3)
• Item: “Dexterous” prefix (+1-+3, need increments of 2 after achieveing base of 10 DEX to get each incremental +1 bonus)
• Enhancement: Ranger DEX 1-3 (stacks with racial, but not other class, DEX enhancements)
• Enhancement: Rogue DEX 1-3 (stacks with racial, but not other class, DEX enhancements)
• Enhancement: Halfling DEX 1-2
• Enhancement: Elf DEX 1-2
• Enhancement: Drow DEX 1-2
• Spell: Cat’s Grace (+2 – doesn’t stack with any equipped Item)

Sources of Natural Armor Bonus

• Item: Pre-order Amulet (+1)
• Item: Shroud of the Abbot (+4, from Accursed Ascension raid chest)
• Item: Hammer of Life (+2, Dragon Chest)
• Item: Seal of Earth (+3, from DQ Chest)
• Item: Ring of Balance (+2, Invader Tokens)
• Spell: Madstone Rage (+4, only castable from Madstone Boots from Reaver Raid Chest)
• Spell: Barkskin (+3-5, Ranger base or potion)
• Spell: Tenser's Transformation (+4, Wizard/Sorcerer base or scroll)
• Enhancement: Bladesworn Transformation (+4, WF only, req. Cleric 6/Paladin 9)

Sources of Deflection Bonus

• Item: "of Protection" Item (+1-5, Randomly Generated)
• Item: “of Stability” (+2, True Neutral only)
• Item: "of Greater Stability" (+4, True Neutral only)
• Item: Sorrel (+4, Shield of Legend option for collectible turn-ins)
• Item: Iron Manacles (+4, Chaotic Align only (UMD DC20), from Delera's Tomb end reward)
• Item: Spectacular Optics (+3, from South Threnal end reward)
• Item: Kundarak Warding Bracers (+3, from Dragon Chest)
• Item: Ring of the Silver Concord (+2, from Dragon Chest)
• Item: Cloak of Shadows (+2, from Vampire Chest)
• Item: Dusty Rose Ioun Stone (+1)
• Item: Spiked Turban (+3, from Sands of Menechtarun)
• Item: Docent of Defense (+2, Invader Tokens)
• Item: Mysterious Ring (chance for +3, from Chamber of Raiyum)
• Item: White Dragonscale Collectibles (+4, White Dragon Scales)
• Item: Amulet of the Stormreaver (+4, from Reaver’s Chest)
• Item: Ancient Band (+3, from Madstone Crater)
• Item: Cloak of Invisibility (+2, from Tempest Spine)
• Item: Arlyn’s Staff (+1, from Gwylan’s Stand)
• Spell: Shield of Faith (+2-4)
• Spell: Protection from Evil (+2 versus evil)
• Spell: Protection from Chaos (+2 versus chaos)

Sources of Dodge Bonus (Dodge bonuses Stack)

• Item: Chaosgarde Bracers (+2, lawful Align only DC20, from Xorian Cipher)
• Item: Chattering Ring (+3, from Titan Chest)
• Spell: Haste (+1)
• Feat: Dodge (+1)
• Feat: Defensive Stance (+2, while activated)
• Feat: Combat Expertise (+5, while activated)
• Feat: Mobility (+4, only when Tumbling)
• Feat: Uncanny Dodge (+4 or +6, Barbarian/Rogue Only)
• Enhancement: Dwarven Giant Dodger (+1-3, Dwarf only, only Vs. Giants)
• Enhancement: Fighter's Mobility (+2-6, requires Mobility, only when Tumbling)
• Enhancement: Favoured Defense (+1-3, Ranger only, Vs. Favoured Enemies)
• Race: Giant Evasion (+4, Dwarf only, only Vs. Giants)

Source of Size Bonus

• Race: Halfling (+1)

Source of Luck Bonus

• Spell: Recitation (+2, Cleric base)

Sources of Insight Bonus

• Item: "Of Parrying" (+1, Randomly Generated)
• Item: Ethereal Bracers (+1 from "Parrying", Ghosts of Perdition)

Source of Misc Bonuses (Misc bonuses stack)

• Action: Active Block (+2, only while Blocking)
• Class: Paladin's Aura of Good (+1-4 versus evil)
• Enhancement: Action Boost (+2-5, Paladin/Fighter only)
• Enhancement: Hero's Companion (+1-3)
• Enhancement: Human Versatility - Armor Class (+2-5, Human only)

Other Notes

• You can only have one "stance" activated at a time, e.g. Defensive Fighting *or* Combat Expertise.
• Combat Expertise is also mutually exclusive with offensive toggles.

Links
Original Thread (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=30186)
Max Potential AC in the Current Game by Maldini (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=30188)
The Definitive Static Rewards and Unique Chest Loot by Dragon.Star (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=121279)
The Definitive Guide to Clothing and Jewelry Properties by Sani Medicor (http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=96919)

Requested Information
If I'm missing any, or if you can answer any of my requests, feel free to post and let me know, and I will update.

[Taerdra]

Just in case I need more space with future updates. - Taerdra

[The_Cataclysm]

Pretty sure Luck Bonuses don't stack.

[Krep]

Need to add where "parrying" weapons come in. Do they stack with everything else, making them a whole new type? If not, what category do they fall into? If dual wielding 2 Parry weapons, do they stack?

thanks for resurrecting the thread Taerdra!

Krep

[The_Cataclysm]

Originally Posted by Krep

Need to add where "parrying" weapons come in. Do they stack with everything else, making them a whole new type? If not, what category do they fall into? If dual wielding 2 Parry weapons, do they stack?

thanks for resurrecting the thread Taerdra!

Krep

The type is insight, which as far as I know isn't used by anything else for AC at the moment. It shouldn't stack with itself though.

[Borror0]

Originally Posted by Krep

Need to add where "parrying" weapons come in. Do they stack with everything else, making them a whole new type? If not, what category do they fall into? If dual wielding 2 Parry weapons, do they stack?

thanks for resurrecting the thread Taerdra!

Krep

The Parrying weapon gives an Insight bonus so they stack with everything currently in the game. I don't know if they stack with themselves though. Might do like Chattering Rings...

[Borror0]

Originally Posted by The Cataclysm

The type is insight, which as far as I know isn't used by anything else for AC at the moment. It shouldn't stack with itself though.

Saving Throws too.

[Taerdra]

Originally Posted by The Cataclysm

Pretty sure Luck Bonuses don't stack.

I think you're correct. I got confused as they stack with other bonuses on skills. Thanks for the correction.

[Taerdra]

Originally Posted by Borror0

The Parrying weapon gives an Insight bonus so they stack with everything currently in the game. I don't know if they stack with themselves though. Might do like Chattering Rings...

I've added Insight as a separate type of bonus. I know this looks a little strange as there is only 1 example, but I believe long-term that we could see Insight bonuses added into game. I've seen these in skills (along with competence, etc.) already. Many special PrC abilities are also classified as Insight such as Duelist's AC bonus.

[Maldini]

I thought that Tenser's Transformation gives a Natural Armor bonus too.

[Maldini]

Also, Human Versatility gives a 2 - 5 AC bonus among other bonuses.

[Taerdra]

Added Tenser's and Human Versatility per Maldini's comments. Please note HV changes are scheduled for 5.0.

[Borror0]

Hey, good job reviving this thread!

How about translating it to the wiki? Say...

• Sources of deflection bonus;
• Sources of dodge bonus;
• Sources of armor bonus;
• Sources of shield bonus;
• Source of size bonus;
• Source of luck bonus;
• Sources of insight bonus;
• Sources of Dexterity bonus;
• Source of miscaleneous(sp?) bonus;
• Sources of natural armor bonus;

Then:

• I'll add a link to those pages from where it belongs.
• You could then merge all this information on one page, say Armor Class bonus?
• You also could add some of the informarion found here on the Armor Class page.

Tell me if it's yes or a "Heck no!" I usually try to motivate guide writers to edit on the wiki as writing a guide shows you've got some interest on helping others. If you're scared by the complexity of a wiki, pm me, I'll show you the bases. But don't be scared to edit right away, I'll correct your mistakes really quick and teach you to do it right. Creation is much longer than correction.... and we all learn from our mistakes, do we?

[Taerdra]

Borror0,
Sorry for late response. I will check out the site and think about how to post them into the wiki format. Will let you know if I need some help.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Glenalth]

Another armor bonus source.

Madstone Rage grants +4 Natural Armor bonus.

Can be found on Madstone Boots.

[Borror0]

Originally Posted by Glenalth

Another armor bonus source.

Madstone Rage grants +4 Natural Armor bonus.

Can be found on Madstone Boots.

More precisely Madstone Rage which can come Madstone Boosts and the enviroment in Madstone Crater (and Reaver Raid?)

Originally Posted by Taerdra

Borror0,
Sorry for late response. I will check out the site and think about how to post them into the wiki format. Will let you know if I need some help.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Thanks to you for particpation to the DDO wiki project.

[Taerdra]

Originally Posted by Glenalth

Another armor bonus source.

Madstone Rage grants +4 Natural Armor bonus.

Can be found on Madstone Boots.

Good catch. Added.

[Katrina]

Just some sugestions for changes.

Originally Posted by Taerdra

DEX bonus.
Personally I think you should name this 'stat modifier bonus' (could be confusing to new players when they wonder why their 17 dex doesn't give them +17 ac

Source of Luck Bonus

• Spell: Recitation (+2, Cleric base)
  
• Stone of Good Luck (+1 Luck Bonus)
• Rabbit Gloves (+1 Luck Bonus)
• Head of Good Fortune (+2 Luck Bonus)

[binnsr]

The Head of Good Fortune provides a +2 Luck bonus to saves and skills, but not Armor Class - the same applies to rabbit gloves (and the luck stone I presume since I've never seen one). Recitation is the only one that applies to your AC.

[Taerdra]

Will be updating soon... once I compile everything from Mod5.

Stay tuned... been travelling too much for work lately.