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Understanding Armor Class in Baldur’s Gate 3: A Comprehensive Guide

Armor Class (AC) in Baldur’s Gate 3 represents how difficult it is for an enemy to successfully hit your character with an attack. It’s a numerical value derived from a combination of factors, including armor, dexterity, shields, and various magical effects. When an enemy attacks, they roll a 20-sided die (d20) and add their attack bonus. If the result is equal to or higher than your character’s AC, the attack hits. If it’s lower, the attack misses. The higher your AC, the harder you are to hit.

Diving Deeper into AC Mechanics

Understanding the individual components that contribute to your character’s AC is crucial for optimizing your defenses and surviving the perils of Faerûn. Let’s break down each element:

Armor

The most obvious source of AC comes from the armor you wear. Different types of armor offer varying levels of protection:

Light Armor: Provides a base AC value plus your Dexterity modifier (up to a maximum, typically +2). Examples include leather armor and studded leather armor.
Medium Armor: Offers a higher base AC than light armor but limits the Dexterity bonus you can add (usually to +2). Examples include chain shirts and breastplates.
Heavy Armor: Provides the highest base AC but doesn’t allow any Dexterity bonus to be added. Examples include plate armor and splint mail. While offering the highest AC, heavy armor can impose Disadvantage on Stealth checks.
No Armor: Some classes, like Monks and Barbarians, gain AC bonuses from features like Unarmored Defense, which usually relies on their Wisdom or Constitution modifier, respectively.

Dexterity Modifier

As mentioned above, your Dexterity modifier plays a significant role, particularly with light and medium armor. A higher Dexterity score directly translates to a better AC when wearing these types of armor.

Shields

Wielding a shield grants a flat +2 bonus to your AC. This is a simple but effective way to increase your survivability. Keep in mind that you must be proficient in shields to use them effectively; otherwise, you’ll face significant penalties.

Magical Effects and Feats

Beyond gear, various magical effects, feats, and class abilities can further enhance your AC. These can include:

Spells: Spells like Shield and Mage Armor temporarily boost your AC. Shield is a powerful reaction spell that provides a significant AC bonus until the start of your next turn.
Feats: The Defensive Duelist feat allows you to use your reaction to add your proficiency bonus to your AC against a melee attack, provided you’re wielding a finesse weapon.
Class Features: Certain classes, like the Monk, gain innate AC bonuses through features like Unarmored Defense, which adds their Wisdom modifier to their AC when not wearing armor.
Items: Magical items can provide various AC bonuses or grant additional defensive abilities.

Circumstances and Conditions

Situational factors and conditions can also affect AC:

Cover: Taking cover behind objects grants bonuses to AC and Dexterity saving throws. Half cover provides +2 to AC, while three-quarters cover provides +5.
Prone: Being prone imposes Disadvantage on ranged attack rolls against you but also imposes Disadvantage on your own attack rolls.
Invisible: Creatures with the Invisible condition are difficult to target, granting attackers Disadvantage on attack rolls.
Other Conditions: Conditions like Restrained, Paralyzed, or Unconscious can significantly lower or even negate your AC.

Optimizing Your AC

Building a character with a high AC involves careful consideration of your class, race, gear, and feat choices. Here are some general tips:

Prioritize Dexterity: If you plan on wearing light or medium armor, investing in a high Dexterity score is essential.
Choose Armor Wisely: Select armor that suits your character’s playstyle and proficiency. If you’re a frontline fighter, heavy armor might be the best option, even with the Stealth penalty.
Don’t Neglect Shields: A shield is a simple and effective way to boost your AC.
Consider Feats: Feats like Defensive Duelist or Shield Master can provide valuable defensive benefits.
Utilize Spells and Abilities: Take advantage of spells and class features that can temporarily increase your AC.
Be Mindful of Conditions: Avoid conditions that lower your AC or make you vulnerable to attack.

By understanding how AC works and how to optimize it, you can create a durable and resilient character capable of withstanding the challenges of Baldur’s Gate 3.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does “Advantage” and “Disadvantage” mean when attacking against AC?

Advantage means you roll two d20s and take the higher result. Disadvantage means you roll two d20s and take the lower result. This significantly impacts the likelihood of hitting or missing, respectively.

2. How does “Heavy Armor Master” feat interact with AC and damage reduction?

The Heavy Armor Master feat grants +1 to Strength and reduces bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage you take by 3 while wearing heavy armor. It doesn’t directly increase AC, but reducing incoming damage enhances your overall survivability.

3. Does being “Surprised” affect my AC?

Yes, being Surprised prevents you from taking actions, moving, or using reactions during the first round of combat. While it doesn’t technically lower your AC, you cannot use reactions that might boost it, like the Shield spell or the Defensive Duelist feat.

4. Can I stack multiple sources of AC, such as Mage Armor and regular armor?

No. Typically, you can only benefit from one source of base AC. You can’t combine the AC granted by Mage Armor with the AC of regular armor. However, you can stack bonuses that are added to your AC, such as a shield or magical items that explicitly grant an AC bonus.

5. How does “Unarmored Defense” work for Monks and Barbarians?

Unarmored Defense is a class feature that allows Monks and Barbarians to calculate their AC without wearing armor. For Monks, their AC is 10 + Dexterity modifier + Wisdom modifier. For Barbarians, it’s 10 + Dexterity modifier + Constitution modifier. They can still use shields.

6. Does AC affect saving throws?

No, AC only affects attack rolls. Saving throws are a separate mechanic used to resist spells and other effects. Different saving throws target different abilities (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma).

7. What happens if an enemy has a negative attack bonus?

Even if an enemy has a negative attack bonus, they still roll the d20. If the result, after subtracting the negative bonus, equals or exceeds your AC, they hit. A result of “1” on the d20 is always a miss, regardless of bonuses or penalties.

8. How do I increase my AC as a spellcaster who doesn’t wear armor?

As a spellcaster, you can increase your AC through spells like Mage Armor or Shield. You can also choose feats like Moderately Armored to gain proficiency with medium armor and shields. Additionally, some races provide innate AC bonuses.

9. What is the difference between AC and resistance to damage?

AC determines whether an attack hits you in the first place. Resistance to damage reduces the amount of damage you take after a successful hit. They are separate defensive layers.

10. Does the “Mirror Image” spell affect my AC?

The Mirror Image spell creates illusory duplicates of yourself. Attackers must determine which image is real, effectively giving them a chance to attack a harmless illusion instead of you. It doesn’t directly increase your AC but makes it harder to hit the real you.

11. How does “Bless” affect AC?

Bless doesn’t directly affect AC. It adds 1d4 to attack rolls and saving throws. By increasing the chance for your allies to hit their enemies and avoid harmful effects, it indirectly contributes to the party’s overall survivability.

12. What happens if I’m wearing armor I’m not proficient in?

Wearing armor you’re not proficient in imposes Disadvantage on attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks that involve Strength or Dexterity. This is a severe penalty, making it crucial to only wear armor you’re proficient with.

13. Does flanking grant a bonus to hit, bypassing AC?

No, flanking does not exist in Baldur’s Gate 3. Instead, the game uses Advantage/Disadvantage to represent tactical positioning. Having the high ground, or attacking from stealth are example scenarios which will give advantage on the attack roll.

14. Are there any races that provide a natural AC bonus?

Certain races, or sub-races, provide natural AC bonuses. For example, the Githyanki receive medium armor proficiency which can improve AC for classes that lack this proficiency. Draconic Bloodline Sorcerers gain a permanent increase to their AC while not wearing armor at level 1.

15. How can I see my character’s AC in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Your character’s AC is displayed on their character sheet. You can access the character sheet by pressing the “C” key or navigating through the game’s menu. The AC value is typically located near your character’s other statistics. Hovering over the value will show you the individual components that contribute to the final calculation.

How does the armor class work in Baldur’s Gate 3?