Armor Class

Your Armor Class, or AC, is a number that enemies need to roll to hit you.

It’s widely said that if you have a 40 AC or below, you shouldn’t bother buffing your AC at all. Some of the better intimtanks exceed 80. Here, we’ll explore how to tweak your AC and what you’ll need to make it as high as possible.

Different Types of Bonuses

There are a few different bonuses to AC that your character can enjoy. The general rule is that bonuses with different names stack.

• Base
• Dodge
• Natural
• Armor
• Shield
• Dexterity
• Size
• Insight
• Blocking

Base Armor Class

Everyone starts with a 10. That was easy, eh?

Dodge Bonuses

Dodge is one of the neatest forms of AC bonuses because it actually stacks! Here’s the very simple fact that most can’t seem to grasp: Dodge bonuses stack with other bonuses of a different number. Ex.: A +1 and a +3 will stack for a total of +4, but +3 and +3 will not stack for +6, it’s still +3. So if you have 5 different +1 to +5 bonuses working, you’ve got +15 to your AC! Simple, right?

Let’s explore all the stuff that gives us each bonus… while there are skills and clickies that give you a small burst of effect (say 15-20 seconds), this article will only observe the consistent effects that are not monster-specific.

1. +1
   1. Dodge Feat
   2. Alchemical Armor Ritual
   3. Alchemical Shield Ritual
2. +2
   1. Defensive Fighting Feat (-4 to hit when activated)
   2. Chaosgarde Bracers (Gear from Xorian Cipher quest, must be Lawful)
3. +3
   1. Chattering Ring (Gear from The Titan Awakes raid)
   2. Dragontouched Armor Sovereign property
4. +4
   1. Inspire Heroics (Bard Song)
   2. Icy Raiment (Robe from Ghosts of Perdition and Garamol in Subterrane)
5. +5
   1. Combat Expertise Feat (-5 to hit when activated)

According to the Official DDO User Manual, the maximum possible Dodge bonus achievable is 10, but players have reported this is not the case… +15 is possible.

Natural Armor Bonus

Natural AC bonuses basically make your skin thicker. There are very few items, less than 10 in the whole game, that provide this effect. The most common item is the Ring of Balance from Invaders! collectibles. The ranger spell Barkskin also simulates this bonus.

Armor

The most common form of an armor bonus is… armor! Your chainmail, full plate, etc. gives you a number… this is your armor bonus. You may find items, such as Bracers of Armor, that simulate this effect (creates a magical force field for lack of explanation) or spells.

Shield

The physical protection of a shield can give you up to a +9 depending on the type and up to +5 more for magical properties. An intimtank’s best friend is a +5 Mithral Tower Shield until he gets Levik’s stuff.

Dexterity

Your DEX can help your overall AC by letting you be agile enough to move out of the way of sharp and pointy things coming at your body. Your DEX will possibly be capped by the armor. Enhancements and past life feats are available to some classes to lessen this cap.

Size

Halflings get a +1 size bonus because they’re teenie.

Insight

Very few things give you heightened awareness such as parrying or bonuses from Dragontouched Sovereign Runes or Green Steel weapons.

Blocking

While actively blocking, you get +2.

The Other Stuff…

There are other ways to boost AC, but they’re situational, such as against Evil or Halfling Companion, etc. These are not discussed here because we’re looking at the consistent effects, not the “what if this were to happen” effects.