Not being denied your Dex bonus to AC?

[Oryan77]

Is there a feat, spell, or something that will make you immune to being denied your Dex bonus to AC?

 

[blargney the second]

No single way, but there are lots of little ways to patch up the holes:
* get Uncanny Dodge (feat Shape Soulmeld - Impulse Boots)
* 5 ranks in Balance
* avoid climbing or get a climb speed
* avoid swimming, get a swim speed or take Shape Soulmeld - Cerulean Sandals
* max out Sense Motive

 

[moritheil]

Being immune to critical hits and having terrible Dex may practically achieve the same result.

 

[Kat']

Yeah, having Dex 11 or less, the solution to your AC problems...

AFAIK there's no other solution than Uncanny Dodge. 2 levels of Barbarian, Scout or Warblade or 4 levels of Rogue will grant you this. There are a few PrCs which offer it too.

 

[blargney the second]

Crappy Dex changeling warshapers to the rescue! (again, as usual)

 

[Herzog]

Being immune to critical hits and having terrible Dex may practically achieve the same result.

Several AC enhancing class abilities (like Dex bonus to AC for monk and ninja) are also negated when losing your dex bonus to AC.

Uncanny Dodge is to my knowledge the only way to avoid that.
(although there might be feats or skill tricks that allow you to keep your dex bonus under specific circumstances)

Having a climb speed lets you keep your ac bonus while climbing, I think....

 

[Jeff Wilder]

Several AC enhancing class abilities (like Dex bonus to AC for monk and ninja) are also negated when losing your dex bonus to AC.

This needs clarifying.

It's true that monks lose their Dex bonus to AC when flat-footed, but they don't lose their class ability bonuses to AC (Wisdom modifier or class-related AC bonus) when flat-footed, or when otherwise denied their Dex bonus to AC. Those bonuses are only lost when wearing armor, carrying a shield, immobilized or helpless, or carrying a medium or heavy load.

As an aside, how odd that monks don't get Uncanny Dodge.

 

[Elethiomel]

Also, having crappy DEX won't help you any more against sneak attacks. Always having your DEX bonus available means that the only way to sneak attack you is through flanking.

 

[Herzog]

@Jeff Wilder:
you're right.

However, I distinctly remember some kind of AC bonus that is negated when you lose your Dex to AC. I just can't remember which one it is.
(is it dodge?)

Herzog

 

[Jeff Wilder]

However, I distinctly remember some kind of AC bonus that is negated when you lose your Dex to AC. I just can't remember which one it is.
(is it dodge?)

Dodge is one, yeah. There are many. Canny Defense -- Int bonus to AC, from Duelist or Swashbuckler -- is another. The monk and ninja bonuses not being lost is the exception, not the rule, and you were remembering the rule.