D&D 5E AC 25+

[KarinsDad]

For fun, I decided to create a high AC PC and see how high I could get it:

Human

Str, Int, Wis 9
Con, Dex, Cha 16

Barbarian 1
Draconic Sorcerer 19 (Con and Dex 20)

1: 18 (Dex, Con, Shield, Unarmored Defense)
2: 21 (plus Mage Armor)
4: 21 (Draconic Resilience instead of Mage Armor, now permanent)
5: 22
9: 23
13: 24
17: 25
20: 31 (vs. melee only, Defensive Duelist)

Magic items, the Shield spell, Blur, etc. could allow for higher short term AC.


Note: the wording of Mage Armor, Unarmored Defense, and Draconic Resilience might be interpreted to mean that these cannot stack. If so, then a spell caster cannot cast Mage Armor on an unarmored Barbarian with a Con of 16 or greater and get any benefit either.

 

[Zelc]

Note: the wording of Mage Armor, Unarmored Defense, and Draconic Resilience might be interpreted to mean that these cannot stack. If so, then a spell caster cannot cast Mage Armor on an unarmored Barbarian with a Con of 16 or greater and get any benefit either.

They don't stack, sorry

 

[FadedC]

From reading the rules I'm about 99% sure that mage armor and unarmored defense do not stack, both in terms of the RAW and in terms of their intent.

Apparently there was an also an announcement saying that the multiclass rules were changed to require you have the stat requirements of your previous class as well as your new class. So you'd need a 13 strength for a barbarian/sorcerer.

 

[Uller]

I don't think things like Mage Armor and Thick Hide stack.

Thick Hide:
While you are not wearing any armor or using a shield, your Armor Class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier.

Mage Armor
The target’s base AC becomes 13 + its Dexterity modifier. The spell ends early if the target dons armor or if you dismiss the spell as an action.

You can't use a shield with Thick Hide and the both say that your AC becomes X + specific mods. Mage Armor doesn't just add +3 and Thick Hide doesn't just add + CON. I think if that was their intention they'd have worded it something like "The target's AC increases by 3. The effect ends if the target dons armor or if you dismiss the spell as an action." Same with Thick Hide. They didn't word it "You can apply your CON bonus to your AC while not wearing Armor or using a shield"

 

[Plaguescarred]

I agree with Zelc, fadedC and Uller. Game elements that re-determine base AC (instead of AC 10+ Dex mod) such as Unarmed Defense, Magic Armor and Draconic Resilience don't stack as they are not AC bonus but different seperate method to calculate value of the same attribute.

 

[Uller]

It's a neat idea though. Back in 3e one of my players managed to get her AC up so high that a cloud giant needed a nat 20 to hit her...so he sat on her instead.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

5e rules are written in "natural language" rather than clear, gamist language. I suspect this kind of misinterpretation will be common

 

[Grazzt]

It's a neat idea though. Back in 3e one of my players managed to get her AC up so high that a cloud giant needed a nat 20 to hit her...so he sat on her instead.

My kind of DM

 

[Psikerlord#]

I think mage armour is not armour and definitely does stack with unarmoured defence. There is nothing in either description to suggest they dont stack. It is also not overpowered, since an mc sorcerer could get a similar ac by mcing with fighter or war cleric instead and simply wearing actual armour. The opportunity cost is the mc stat requirement and losing a level of sorcerer, plus fluff complications (if any - eg dont barbs hate magic?).

 

[Mirtek]

I think mage armour is not armour

That is correct.

and definitely does stack with unarmoured defence.

This is incorrect

There is nothing in either description to suggest they dont stack.

They can't stack because they don't add something, the change the formular entirely.

If UD would say "add your Con mod to your AC" and MA would say "add +3 to your AC" they would stack, but neither is adding anything.

UD doesn't let you just add your Con mod to the original formula, it lets you replace the original formular with a new one. Same with MA, not adding +3, but using a replacing formular instead.

That's also why UD from a barbarian and a monk do not stack. If both would simply say "add your Con mod" and "add your Wis mod" they would stack. But both are not adding to the existing formular but are replacing it.