D&D 5E Theory Crafting fun: Max AC with Standard Array, without Feats, and without GM provided magic items?

[Coroc]

Let us start with one candidate Barbarian level 20, raging, this is fair game since he will rage whenever AC is needed aka combat situation.

So this is Con24 dex20 for 22 unarmed defense, a shield and he gets 24, pretty impressive already.

 

[ClaytonCross]

Ok, let us see now what AC might be realistic without magic items, just feats and MC and then one more just single class no feats, maybe in the reverse order that is more easy. Since this is the minimum available at any table, it would be very interesting.

Challenge Excepted, but to be clear my main post fits all those requirements because the artificers "magic items" actually are not. If they artificer dies they fade away because they are part of its class features not actual items, the feature refers to them as "prototype magic items". Banning the artificer I did above.

Shield of Faith or Haste are important, but so is shield but sorcerer 5 or wizard 5 can get you shield and haste.

Hunter (Ranger) 7 / Sorcerer 5 (shadow?)
Str 10 Dex 15 Con 12 Int 8 Wis 14 Cha13 + race modifiers something with +1 dex is all you care about
Warforged +2 con, +1 (one state of your choice, dex) +1 AC
Hunter Ranger lvl7:
- Medium Armor (half plate 15) + Shield (2) + Medium Armor master Feat (Dex bonus +3) = AC21
- Defensive Fighting Style +1 and Defensive Tactic: Multiattack Defense +4AC= AC26
Sorcerer 5:
- Shield Spell +5 and Haste +2 = AC33
Since all you care about is shield and haste, Spells DC not important so minim 13 cha is fine. Maybe shadow sorcerer for some cool abilities that a ranger might enjoy. Warfroged is not just an AC bonus here, since it you need the dexterity from the free choice and the constitution will help you maintain concentration on haste.

Hunter Ranger lvl7:
- Medium Armor (half plate 15) + Shield (2) + Medium Armor master Feat (Dex bonus +3) = AC20
- Defensive Fighting Style +1 and Defensive Tactic: Multiattack Defense +4AC= AC25 (no spells)

 

[Iry]

FRIENDIFICER
Rune Knight 7/Artillerist 11
The Goal: Boosting SOMEONE ELSE to ridiculous AC.
+6 Defensive Runes
+2 Haste
+2 Enhanced Defense Infusion
+1 Repulsion Shield
+1 Cloak of Protection

So you show up in a group and give someone +12 AC whenever you want. You can imbue Blur into an object so they can give everyone else disadvantage to attack them. Your turret gives them 1d8+5 Temporary HP every single round, and you can still throw out fireballs if you want.

 

[Stoutstien]

remember once you reduce the chance of being hit below 10%(crits) its better to find ways of causing disadvantage on incoming attacks VS adding more AC. lets do a fighter 2/ battle smith 14+

• warforged/simic hybrid 1 AC
• plate 18 AC
• shield 2 AC
• def F style 1 AC
• enhanced def infus 2 AC
• repul shield 1 AC
• cloak of prot 1 AC
• ring of prot 1 AC
• warding bond SSI + tiny servant 1 AC and resistance to all damage

that is 28 AC before casting shield, blur or haste.
Could dip cleric for SoF to add 2 more but I would go pure artificer until at least 14 then cleric and finally fighter.

 

[Stoutstien]

FRIENDIFICER
Rune Knight 7/Artillerist 11
The Goal: Boosting SOMEONE ELSE to ridiculous AC.
+6 Defensive Runes
+2 Haste
+2 Enhanced Defense Infusion
+1 Repulsion Shield
+1 Cloak of Protection

So you show up in a group and give someone +12 AC whenever you want. You can even imbue Shield into an object to increase that to +17 at the cost of their action. Your turret gives them 1d8+5 Temporary HP every single round, and you can still throw out fireballs if you want.

shield cannot be put into the SSI because it doenst have a caasting time on an action

 

[ClaytonCross]

remember once you reduce the chance of being hit below 10%(crits) its better to find ways of causing disadvantage on incoming attacks VS adding more AC. lets do a fighter 2/ battle smith 14+

• warforged/simic hybrid 1 AC
• plate 18 AC
• shield 2 AC
• def F style 1 AC
• fighter lv 1 +
• enhanced def infus 2 AC
• repul shield 1 AC
• cloak of prot 1 AC
• ring of prot 1 AC
• warding bond SSI + tiny servant 1 AC and resistance to all damage

that is 29 AC before casting shield or blur

You never know what your going to fight, so you go with the highest. +19 to hit is the highest I can find +20 for the roll 39AC to only hit with natural 20s. So anything 40 or higher is pointless but less than that could still be useful.

 

[Stoutstien]

You never know what your going to fight, so you go with the highest. +19 to hit is the highest I can find +20 for the roll 39AC to only hit with natural 20s. So anything 40 or higher is pointless but less than that could still be useful.

Part of the parameters was not to include DM handing out magical items so as I know getting to 38 isn't an option.
Soi if had to pick between 30 AC with disadvantage(blur) on incoming attacks or 32 AC(shield of faith) i'd take the prior Everytime.

 

[ClaytonCross]

Part of the parameters was not to include DM handing out magical items so as I know getting to 38 isn't an option.
Soi if had to pick between 30 AC with disadvantage(blur) on incoming attacks or 32 AC(shield of faith) i'd take the prior Everytime.

This is true but you can't stack disadvantage with disadvantage. You can stack disadvantage with shield of faith or Haste, also mirror image and blink Though I am not sure how to translate them into AC values.

If you character is in darkness (aka unseen) attacking an opponents who is standing in the light (aka seen) the opponent would gain disadvantage on attacks against you. This can be done with prestidigitation putting out the torch at your end of the hall or the candle at the table on your side of the room. Then, you could move to 3/4 cover behind your flipped table or hall corner and take your potion of speed ...

Forge Cleric 6 | Hunter Ranger 7 | Sorcerer or Wizard 5 | Total character level 18
Standard Array: Str 15 | Dex 10 | Con 12 | Int 13 | Wiz 14 | Cha 8
War forged +1 AC
Race Adjusted Stats: Str 15 | Dex 10 | Con 14 | Int 14 | Wiz 14 | Cha 8
Plate (18) shield (+2) = 20
Forge Cleric lvl6: shield of faith +2, Blessing of the Forge +1 and Soul of the Forge +1 = 22 (24)
Hunter Ranger lvl7: Defensive Fighting Style +1 and Defensive Tactic: Multiattack Defense +4AC= 23 (29)
Sorcerer 5: Shield Spell +5, Blink, Mirror Image =
>>> AC23 Base and AC34 with spells and temporary effects <<<
3/4 Cover +5AC
>>> AC21 Base and AC39 with spells and temporary effects <<<
Opponent's disadvantage on attack for attacking an unseen target +5AC (effectively) however, disadvantage does not change the 39 total only 20s hit, it does decrease the chance of a 20.
Blink adds 50% chance of "full cover" preventing an attack against you at all
Mirror image adds about a 1 in 3 chance your attack at the target is at an illusion....

= how to really piss of a GM aka Falling object randomly kill this character. lol

 

[Stoutstien]

This is true but you can't stack disadvantage with disadvantage. You can stack disadvantage with shield of faith or Haste, also mirror image and blink Though I am not sure how to translate them into AC values.

If you character is in darkness (aka unseen) attacking an opponents who is standing in the light (aka seen) the opponent would gain disadvantage on attacks against you. This can be done with prestidigitation putting out the torch at your end of the hall or the candle at the table on your side of the room. Then, you could move to 3/4 cover behind your flipped table or hall corner and take your potion of speed ...

Forge Cleric 6 | Hunter Ranger 7 | Sorcerer or Wizard 5 | Total character level 18
Standard Array: Str 15 | Dex 10 | Con 12 | Int 13 | Wiz 14 | Cha 8
War forged +1 AC
Race Adjusted Stats: Str 15 | Dex 10 | Con 14 | Int 14 | Wiz 14 | Cha 8
Plate (18) shield (+2) = 20
Forge Cleric lvl6: shield of faith +2, Blessing of the Forge +1 and Soul of the Forge +1 = 22 (24)
Hunter Ranger lvl7: Defensive Fighting Style +1 and Defensive Tactic: Multiattack Defense +4AC= 23 (29)
Sorcerer 5: Shield Spell +5, Blink, Mirror Image =
>>> AC23 Base and AC34 with spells and temporary effects <<<
Potion of Speed (Non-concentration haste spell for 1 hour) +2AC
3/4 Cover +5AC
>>> AC23 Base and AC41 with spells and temporary effects <<<
Opponent's disadvantage on attack for attacking an unseen target +5AC (effectively) however, disadvantage does not change the 39 total only 20s hit, it does decrease the chance of a 20.
Blink adds 50% chance of "full cover" preventing an attack against you at all
Mirror image adds about a 1 in 3 chance your attack at the target is at an illusion....

= how to really piss of a GM aka Falling object randomly kill this character. lol

Personal favorite is actually the artillerist warforged artificer. They can use their action to dodge and bonus action to use cannon. Having 1/2 cover constantly and freeing up concentration for haste.

*Can SSI work with the additional action provided by haste? It's definitely not casting a spell but is it 'use an object'?

 

[ClaytonCross]

Personal favorite is actually the artillerist warforged artificer. They can use their action to dodge and bonus action to use cannon. Having 1/2 cover constantly and freeing up concentration for haste.

*Can SSI work with the additional action provided by haste? It's definitely not casting a spell but is it 'use an object'?

Using dodge would be another way to combine haste and enemy disadvantage an it is character controlled to its better than putting out a light. As far as "SSI" I am not sure what you mean by that. It likely obvious but its late here and my mind is not connecting the dots.