The Definitive AC Bonus Thread

[tr0tsky]

Well, there was a post in the General Forum about all the various AC bonuses a person could get, but it's more or less devolved into a flame war...so I edited out all the non-DDO stuff and am posting here. (Kudo's to Polyformist for the original thread).

Everyone starts with a Base AC of 10, and adds the highest bonus *only* from each of the following categories (except Dodge/Misc, which stack with other like bonuses)

Sources of Natural Armor Bonus

• Item: Pre-order Amulet (+1)
• Item: Hammer of Life (+2, from Dragon Chest)
• Item: Seal of Earth (+3, from Marilith Chest)
• Item: Ring of Balance (+2, Invader Tokens)
• Spell: Barkskin (+3-5)

Sources of Armor Bonus

• Item: Armor (+1-13, Randomly Generated)
• Item: Docent (+0-5, Randomly Generated)
• Item: Armored Bracers (+1-6, Randomly Generated)
• Item: Blackwidow Bracers (+4, from Waterworks)
• Item: Jeeka's Spangle (+2)
• Item: Delera's Vestments (+2, from Delera's Tomb)
• Item: Ironweave Robe (+5, from Dragon Chest)
• Item: Vulkoorim Dervish Robe (+4, from Sands of Menechtarun)
• Item: Ring of Trollish Regeneration (+2, no longer in loot table)
• Spell: Mage Armor (+4)
• Feat: Warforged Armor Feats (+2-8)

Sources of Shield Bonus

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

Sources of Deflection Bonus

• Item: "of Protection" Item (+1-5, Randomly Generated)
• Item: Armor/Shield of Stability (+2, True Neutral only)
• Item: Iron Manacles (+4, Chaotic Align only, from Delera's Tomb)
• Item: Spectacular Optics (+3, from South Threnal)
• 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)
• 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, 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 (+4-6, 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 (+1-2, Ranger only, Vs. Favoured Enemies)
• Race: Giant Evasion (+4, Dwarf only, only Vs. Giants)

Source of Size Bonus

• Race: Halfling (+1)

Source of Misc Bonuses (Misc bonuses stack)

• Action: Active Block (+2, only while Blocking)
• Attribute: Dexterity Bonus (+0-20, limited by Armor Max Dex)
• Class: Paladin's Aura of Good (+2-5 versus evil)
• Enhancement: Action Boost (+2-5, Paladin/Fighter Only)
• Enhancement: Hero's Companion (+2-3)

Notes

• You can only have one "stance" activated at a time, e.g. Defensive Fighting *or* Combat Expertise

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.

Cheers

[Maldini]

Dwarfs: +4 against Giant Class Monsters

Enhancements: Fighter's Dodge +1
Enhancements: Fighter's Combat Expertise I +2
Enhancements: Fighter's Combat Expertise II +4

[tr0tsky]

Originally Posted by Maldini

Dwarfs: +4 against Giant Class Monsters

I didn't put that in there because it wasn't in the write-up for Dwarves. I see now it's a Dwarf-Only enhancement at level 1. Kinda silly that they don't get it by default.

Thanks.

Edit: Giant Dodger says it gives an "additional +4", so I'm going to assume they get a base +4 vs giants even if it doesn't say so.

Anyone know how much Fighter's Mobility adds?

[Polyformist]

I like what you have done with the place

[Maldini]

I think that it has the potential to go up to +6 at the later dwarven levels, so the range would be +4-6.

Also as a side note to your guide, maybe throw in this little tidbit I worked out in the fighter's forum about the Max Potential AC allowed in the current game at Level 10:

I'm starting this thread after some discussion with Riott on our private forums about ways to max out AC. Here is how to achieve the maximum AC currently allowed to players in the game:

For a Pure Level 10 Fighter
+5 Mithral Full Plate: +13 (Armor)
+5 Tower Shield: +9 (Shield)
Dex Bonus: +2
Hammer of Life/Barkskin: +2 (Natural)
Deflection Bracers (Chaotic): +4 (Deflection)
Fighter's CE II: +9 (Dodge)
Base AC: +10
Fighter's Dodge: +2 (Dodge)
Fighter's Action Boost IV: +6 (Enhancement)
Paladin's Aura of Good: +5 (Morale)
Total Possible AC: 62

If someone sees an error in my assessment, please post and let me know. Or if you think the max AC is higher than 61, please post and show how.

[tr0tsky]

Why not use Iron Manacles for a +4 deflection as opposed to +3 goggles? Also, Mithral Fullplate allows +3 dex, not +2.

One other thing, the description for Aura of Good says that it gives a Deflection Bonus to AC...so it shouldn't technically stack with the bracers/goggles. Not sure though.

edit: Also, unless the hybrid has UMD 20, he can't wear the delera's bracers. Maybe you mixed those 2 up?

[Maldini]

Originally Posted by tr0tsky

Why not use Iron Manacles for a +4 deflection as opposed to +3 goggles? Also, Mithral Fullplate allows +3 dex, not +2.

One other thing, the description for Aura of Good says that it gives a Deflection Bonus to AC...so it shouldn't technically stack with the bracers/goggles. Not sure though.

edit: Also, unless the hybrid has UMD 20, he can't wear the delera's bracers. Maybe you mixed those 2 up?

Yes I edited my post to show that only a Chaotic Fighter can reach max dex of 62. Yes, Mithral Full Plate is 3, but you're still limited by the least common factor of the Tower Shield. And from what I've seen and heard, a Mithral Tower Shield only lowers the skill check penalty, not the max dex bonus, which is 2.

Aura of Good is morale the last I checked. Shield of Faith is Deflection and it stacks with Aura of Good.

A hybrid build can reach a UMD of 22.5.

[tr0tsky]

Originally Posted by Maldini

Aura of Good is morale the last I checked. Shield of Faith is Deflection and it stacks with Aura of Good.

Ok, I'll change that. I was pretty sure they stacked...but the KB says that the Pally enhancements add deflection bonus to ac *shrug*...wouldn't be the first time it was wrong :P

[Polyformist]

Aura of Good +1 ac
based on Enhancements availible can adjust AC by +1,
based on Enhancements availible can adjust saves,


lvl 1
Aura of Good (passive): Grants +2 bonus to AC and +2 bonus to saving throws to all characters within range.

lvl 3
Aura of Courage (passive): Beginning at 3rd level, a paladin is immune to fear (magical or otherwise). Each ally within 10 feet of the paladin gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects.

[Polyformist]

Max Dex Bonuses are as follows.

Half Plate = 0 dex

Full Plate = 1 dex

Mithril Half Plate = 1 dex

Mithril Full Plate = 2 dex


Right??

[Maldini]

Max Potential AC is actually 70 from current discussion. This is based on a Chaotic Halfling 2 Barb/8 Figther Build:

For a Halfling 2 Barbarian/8 Fighter Chaotic Build
+5 Mithral Full Plate: +13 (Armor)
+5 Mithral Tower Shield: +9 (Shield)
Dex Bonus: +3
Barkskin: +5 (Natural)
Deflection Bracers (Chaotic): +4 (Deflection)
Fighter's CE II: +9 (Dodge)
Base AC: +10
Halfing Size AC: +1 (Dodge)
Fighter's Dodge: +2 (Dodge)
Fighter's Action Boost III: +5 (Enhancement)
Paladin's Aura of Good: +5 (Morale)
Barbarian's Uncanny Dodge: +4 (Dodge)
Total Possible AC: 70

[tr0tsky]

Originally Posted by Polyformist

Right??

No, Mithral adds 2 to the Max Dex.

[tr0tsky]

Originally Posted by Maldini

Max Potential AC is actually 65 from current discussion. This is based on a Chaotic 2 Barb/8 Figther Build:

Oh yah, forgot about Uncanny Dodge (rogue/barbarian), I'll add that.

[tr0tsky]

Originally Posted by Polyformist

Aura of Good +1 ac

Base Aura of Good is +2 AC, +2 Saves. Enhancements can bring this up to +5 AC, +5 Saves.

the part I was talking about from the DDO Knowledge Base is thus:

Class (level): Paladin (level 1)

Grants +2 deflection bonus to AC and +2 resistance bonus to saving throws to all characters within range. This is a passive feat

[Polyformist]

TMK Uncanny Dodge only opperates when in Medium or Light armor, Not heavey

can we get a confirmation on this?

[mend]

nvmd

[tr0tsky]

Originally Posted by Polyformist

can we get a confirmation on this?

Not in DDO, you can use it wearing any armor you want.

edit: I added Action Boost as a Circumstance bonus, since it stacks with everything else, and is activated.

[Aelasyl]

I hate to nitpick, but the Dexterity bonus to AC is it's own type of bonus and should not be lumped in with the Dodge bonuses. Other than that very nicely compiled thread.

Also, here's a bit of a contribution.
The Dusty Rose Ioun Stone provides a +1 bonus to AC. I can't nail down what type of bonus though. It has the protection ability.

[tr0tsky]

Originally Posted by Aelasyl

I hate to nitpick, but the Dexterity bonus to AC is it's own type of bonus and should not be lumped in with the Dodge bonuses. Other than that very nicely compiled thread.

Yah, I couldn't really figure out how to classify the Dex Bonus...I'll just give it it's own :P

[Maldini]

Protection +2/+3, etc. is considered a Deflection bonus, no?