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How to Reduce AC in Pathfinder: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re facing down a heavily armored foe in Pathfinder and their AC is making it impossible to land a hit? Don’t despair! There are numerous strategies to effectively reduce an enemy’s Armor Class (AC), opening them up for devastating attacks. The primary methods fall into a few key categories: reducing their Dexterity bonus to AC, applying penalties to AC directly, targeting their Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD) instead, or bypassing AC altogether with touch attacks and save-based effects. Let’s delve into each approach in detail!

Breaking Down the Barriers: Methods to Lower AC

1. Dexterity Reduction

A significant portion of many creatures’ AC comes from their Dexterity modifier. Reducing this modifier directly weakens their defenses.

Stun, Blind, or Paralyze: These conditions typically remove a creature’s Dexterity bonus to AC, making them much easier to hit.
Curse of Weakness (Bestow Curse, Cursed Bombs): This effect directly lowers the target’s Dexterity score, thus lowering their AC.
Exhaustion (Boneshatter): Similarly, inflicting exhaustion can lower Dexterity, and thus AC.

2. Direct AC Penalties

Some abilities and effects apply penalties directly to a creature’s AC.

Prone: A prone target suffers a -4 penalty to AC against melee attacks. Effects like Trip, Sirocco, or Force Bombs can induce this condition.
Bewildering Injury (Thug 4): This Thug class feature can reduce a target’s AC, with a potentially larger reduction for the Thug applying the injury.

3. Targeting Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD)

Instead of trying to overcome a high AC, focus on their CMD. Many creatures with high AC have relatively lower CMD, making them susceptible to combat maneuvers.

Trip: Forces the target prone, incurring the -4 AC penalty against melee attacks.
Grapple: Restrains the target, potentially hindering their actions and making them easier to hit by allies.
Swallow Whole: Removes the target from the fight entirely, dealing damage over time.

4. Bypassing AC

Certain attacks and effects completely ignore or bypass a creature’s standard AC.

Touch Attacks: These attacks only consider the target’s touch AC, which excludes armor, natural armor, and shield bonuses. Spells like Shocking Grasp utilize touch attacks. Remember, Dexterity, deflection, dodge, and size bonuses still apply to touch AC.
Save-Based Effects: Spells and abilities that target Fortitude, Reflex, or Will saves bypass AC entirely. For example, a Fireball will damage creatures regardless of their AC, based on their Reflex save.

5. Buffing Your Party

Sometimes, the best way to “reduce” enemy AC is to increase your party’s ability to hit.

Bless: Provides a +1 bonus on attack rolls.
Haste: Grants an extra attack and a +1 bonus on attack rolls.
Heroism: Provides a morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Flanking: A classic tactic that provides a +2 bonus on attack rolls.

6. Debuffing the Enemy

Applying debuffs to the enemy, beyond just AC penalties, can also make them easier to hit.

Blindness/Deafness: Impairs the target’s ability to defend themselves.
Sickened/Nauseated: Imposes penalties on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks.
Fear: Can cause the target to become shaken or frightened, imposing penalties.

Understanding AC Components

To effectively reduce AC, it’s essential to understand how it’s calculated. Remember the basic formula:

AC = 10 + Armor Bonus + Shield Bonus + Dexterity Modifier + Natural Armor Bonus + Deflection Bonus + Dodge Bonus + Size Modifier + Other Modifiers

By understanding these components, you can identify which ones are most vulnerable to manipulation. For instance, if an enemy relies heavily on their Dexterity bonus, methods to reduce their Dexterity become particularly effective.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What’s considered a “good” AC in Pathfinder?

This varies depending on the level of play. Generally:

Fair AC: 18 + Level
Excellent AC: Level + 20
Extremely Good AC: Level + 23 or more

2. How does size affect AC?

Size modifiers apply to both AC and attack rolls. Smaller creatures gain a bonus to AC and attack rolls, while larger creatures suffer a penalty. Consult the size modifier table for specific values.

3. What bonuses stack with each other on AC?

Generally, bonuses of the same type do not stack (e.g., you can’t stack two armor bonuses). However, bonuses of different types usually do stack. For example, you can stack an armor bonus, a shield bonus, a Dexterity bonus, a deflection bonus, and a dodge bonus.

4. How do I calculate Touch AC?

Touch AC = 10 + Dexterity Modifier + Dodge Bonus + Deflection Bonus + Size Modifier + Other Modifiers

Armor, natural armor, and shield bonuses are not included in touch AC.

5. What’s the difference between a dodge bonus and other types of AC bonuses?

Dodge bonuses represent a character’s ability to nimbly avoid attacks. Importantly, dodge bonuses stack with each other, which is why they are called out as such on effects that grant one.

6. Can you reduce a creature’s AC to 0 or below?

Yes, it’s possible to reduce a creature’s AC to 0 or even a negative value, making them incredibly vulnerable to attacks.

7. Are there any feats that help reduce enemy AC?

Yes, several feats can indirectly reduce AC. For example, feats that improve combat maneuver checks, like Improved Trip or Greater Grapple, make it easier to target a creature’s CMD.

8. Does flanking always provide a +2 bonus on attack rolls?

Yes, flanking provides a +2 bonus on attack rolls against the flanked creature. This is a fundamental combat tactic in Pathfinder.

9. How do I improve my character’s Dexterity?

You can improve your Dexterity through several means:

Leveling Up: Allocate ability score increases to Dexterity.
Magic Items: Use items like belts of incredible dexterity.
Spells: Cast spells that temporarily boost Dexterity, such as Cat’s Grace.

10. What are some good spells for bypassing AC?

Magic Missile: Automatically hits the target (unless they have specific defenses).
Fireball: Targets a Reflex save, bypassing AC.
Hold Person: Paralyzes the target if they fail their Will save, removing their Dexterity bonus to AC.

11. How does concealment affect AC?

Concealment grants a chance for attacks to miss. Total concealment provides a 50% miss chance, while lesser concealment provides a 20% miss chance.

12. Can environmental factors affect AC?

Yes, environmental factors can impact AC. For example, fighting in darkness can impose penalties on attack rolls, effectively making it harder to hit the target.

13. Are there any creatures that are immune to AC reduction?

Certain creatures may have immunities or resistances that make it difficult or impossible to reduce their AC through specific methods. For example, a creature immune to paralysis wouldn’t be affected by effects that remove Dexterity bonus to AC by paralyzing them.

14. How does Armor Proficiency work in relation to AC?

Wearing armor without the proper proficiency imposes penalties on attack rolls, skill checks, and movement speed. It doesn’t directly reduce AC, but it makes it harder to hit, therefore reducing the number of times you will be able to try to make an attack roll, thus decreasing your chance of landing an attack.

15. What is the Games Learning Society?

The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) is a community dedicated to exploring the intersection of games and education. It provides resources and a platform for discussing how games can be used for learning and development.

By mastering these strategies and understanding the nuances of AC, you can overcome even the most heavily armored opponents in Pathfinder. Remember to adapt your tactics based on the specific enemy you’re facing and the resources available to your party!

How do you reduce AC in Pathfinder?