D&D 5E Highest Possible 5E AC

[Kithas]

If we're including magic items the highest I have found is

15 Ranger, 1 Barbarian, 4 Sorcerer

20 base ac from barbarian, +3 shield gets you to 25
A Defender bumps you to 28
Magical Shield for another 2(30)
Guardian Ring (31)
Concentrating on Blur, Reaction for Shield (36)
Multiattack Defense Gets you to 40
If you have someone who can cast shield of faith you can bump to a wopping 42 with disadvantage to get hit, and evasion for dex saves.
Most of the time you will have a 1/400 chance to get hit (2 crits)


If we are guranteeing any magic items I want one could eek out 2 more ac if you go with +3 Half Plate, Defensive Fighting style and Medium armor master instead of barbarian, your base would be 15+3+3+1 so 22, then +3 shield makes it 27 etc. making the cap 44, honestly though like someone pointed out the highest monster to hit is +19, so anything over 39 is gravy.

No magic items it maxes out at 33, still massively high considering they also have disadvantage to hit you. That +19 to hit? Ends up at around 15% chance to get hit, and only a ~30% chance to even need to use shield.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Its not just 1ac it lets you wear +3 magic light armour as well it bumps your ac up to 33

and bladesinger does not allow you to wear +3 magic light armor?

 

[derickmoore25]

and bladesinger does not allow you to wear +3 magic light armor?

Nope that's why you take the dip in fighter for the prof with light armour.

 

[Njall]

Nope that's why you take the dip in fighter for the prof with light armour.

Actually, Bladesingers get light armor proficiency IIRC.

 

[derickmoore25]

Actually, Bladesingers get light armor proficiency IIRC.

I thoughtthey had wizard profciencies but I could be wrong if they get light armour the class is even better.

 

[Blue]

To necro an old thread, the new UA Cleric: Divine Domains gives another option.

Cleric (Forge) gets Heavy Armor and shield spell as a domain spell. Also an ability to turn a nonmagical armor or weapon (but not shield) to +1 for the day. So 1st level is 16 (chain) +1 (magic) + 2 (shield spell) = 19. Self-cast Shield of Faith for 21. Burst to 26 with Shield when needed.

6th level they get Soul of the Forge for +1 bonus to AC is medium or heavy armor. This is should stack with Defensive Fighting Style. (Or Mariner Fighting Style if going medium armor and the medium armor feat.)

That would give a +1 to any of the base armor options (though obvious not barb 20 option). And I like self-casting Shield fo Faith instead of relying on an outside source.

EDIT: Duh, used medium armor instead of heavy.

 

[dco]

Without magic items or feats that you can add later the most defensive options for each class:
- Barbarian --> Max DEX and CON and use a shield. 24AC at lvl 20.
- Bard --> Valor college --> Max DEX, use a shield and cast defensive spells and mage armor. 20AC + spells
- Cleric --> Use a domain that grants heavy armor and shield, cast defensive spells. 20AC+spells
- Druid --> Coast or Underdark --> MAx DEX + L.armor + shield + spells--> 19AC+spells
- Fighter --> Eldritch knight --> (Heavy armor/DEX+Mage armor)+shield+defense+spells. 21AC+spells
- Monk --> Max DEX+WIS, WoS for teleports WoOH for sanctuary. 20 AC + ki for dodge
- Paladin --> Heavy armor+shield+defense+spells. 21AC+spells.
- Ranger --> M.Armor or light armor and max Dex+shield+hunter defensive features. 19AC+spells.
- Rogue --> Arcane trickster --> Max dexterity+light armor/mage armor+spells. 18AC+spells
- Sorcerer --> Max DEX Dragon or M.armor + spells. 18AC + spells
- Warlock --> ArchFey --> Max DEX + light or shadow armor + misty escape+ temporary hit points+other spells. 18AC+spells
- Wizard --> Abjuration --> Max dex+ spells + arcane ward, spell resistance+ improved abjuration. AC18+spells.

Then you can add magic armors, magic items, feats, multiclass...depends on the options the GM gives you.

 

[Blue]

This is all theory crafting, it's not for a game so there is no "what the DM gives you".

BTW, Wizard (Bladesinger) can generate a much higher AC then Wizard (Abjurer). Yes abjurer has arcane ward but we're just playing around with AC here.

 

[dco]

Thats why I posted defensive options but forgot to say I only used PH the only one allowed in our games.
All depends on the GM, theoretically he could allow a class, race, spell, feature giving infinite AC and your bladesinger would be pointless.

 

[zaratan]

no magic item I think would be bladesinger 18, fighter 1 barbarian 1
shapechanger into planetar Unarmored defense + bladesong will be AC 27
mariner fighting style AC 28
dual wielder AC 29
if DM let keep the warforged feature in the new form, AC 30
shield spell every turn with spell mastery AC 35 (34 without warforge)

ok, shapechanger is just 1h/day
If Magic Itens allowed, you can keep them in planetar form