Warforged Fighter 1 / Artificer 14 will get you to 27 AC!
Here's the progression. Only magic items are created by the Artificer features. You give up a lot of cool Infusions to focus on AC like this (and also deal with a slower Artificer progression), but it's still a very viable build. You need at least 15 STR, but it will work whether INT or STR is your main stat. I suggest leaving STR at 15 and maxing INT especially since Battle Smiths can use INT when using magic weapons and the other subclasses buff your cantrips. Doesn't matter which subclass you pick, though.
Full Disclosure: I also posted this in Tips & Tactics, but then I saw the Artificer class forum was opened, and it's a better fit here. So hope that's okay.
Level 1: 22 AC
Plate Armor 18 AC (assuming it's available; if it's not, add it later)
Warforged +1
Defense Fighting Style +1
Shield +2
Level 3: 23 AC
Infusion: Enhanced Defense (on armor) +1
Level 7: 24 AC
Infusion: Repulsion Shield +1
Level 11: 26 AC
Enhanced Defense bonus goes to +2 (so a net +1 bonus)
Infusion: Cloak of Protection +1
Level 15: 27 AC
Infusion: Ring of Protection +1
What's next?
As far as I can tell, there's no RAW way to increase your static AC without non-Infusion magic items or boons after Level 15. If there is, let me know!
However, there are still plenty of ways to continue focusing on AC. If you went Artillerist or Battlesmith, then you already have the Shield spell, but two levels in Wizard would give access to Arcane Defense, which is awesome. It also might be good to dip a level into War Domain Cleric (or two levels into Paladin) for Shield of Faith, which lasts ten minutes and only takes a 1st level spell slot (and concentration). However, that would mean at least 13 WIS or 13 CHA, which might be hard to pull off since this build uses either STR or INT as the main stat.
Ah, but the point of this is that it's static AC without non-Infusion magic items. Definitely ways to temporarily increase it further, but those are DM-dependent or temporary.
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Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to mention the possibility of game-shattering AC for this build just by being an Alchemist and multiclassing with a level or two of warlock. Essentially, if you've ever heard of the "coffeeboss" or barista build, you would know that Experimental Elixirs only disappear after they are drunk or you finish a long rest. Normal downside for lack of long resting would be exhaustion, but warforged don't need to sleep, so they don't get the debuff!
Also, you can choose the type of elixir whenever you create it using a spell slot, meaning every time you finish a short rest, you can expend your warlock spell slot(s) to create Resilience elixirs (The drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes). Store them in a bag of holding...and pretty much look like an alcoholic all the time drinking your AC-buffing elixirs. In other words, assuming you drank them for 9 of the 10 minute duration, that being the maximum possible amount before combat I'd assume, that is a +90 TO YOUR AC!
The math behind it: you get an action every 6 seconds, spend that to drink an elixir, that's 10 per minute. 9 min. x 10 elixirs, you get the idea.
Even if you don't have enough downtime to create a HUGE stockpile of the Resilience elixirs, you can still get multiple in each day and give yourself an epic Armor Class buff in combat anywhere from +1 to +90 AC! So right there is a RAW way to increase it to insane measures. Yes indeed it is temporary, but if you get enough of them, you can basically always drink and have a bonus going into combat.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to mention the possibility of game-shattering AC for this build just by being an Alchemist and multiclassing with a level or two of warlock. Essentially, if you've ever heard of the "coffeeboss" or barista build, you would know that Experimental Elixirs only disappear after they are drunk or you finish a long rest. Normal downside for lack of long resting would be exhaustion, but warforged don't need to sleep, so they don't get the debuff!
Also, you can choose the type of elixir whenever you create it using a spell slot, meaning every time you finish a short rest, you can expend your warlock spell slot(s) to create Resilience elixirs (The drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes). Store them in a bag of holding...and pretty much look like an alcoholic all the time drinking your AC-buffing elixirs. In other words, assuming you drank them for 9 of the 10 minute duration, that being the maximum possible amount before combat I'd assume, that is a +90 TO YOUR AC!
The math behind it: you get an action every 6 seconds, spend that to drink an elixir, that's 10 per minute. 9 min. x 10 elixirs, you get the idea.
Even if you don't have enough downtime to create a HUGE stockpile of the Resilience elixirs, you can still get multiple in each day and give yourself an epic Armor Class buff in combat anywhere from +1 to +90 AC! So right there is a RAW way to increase it to insane measures. Yes indeed it is temporary, but if you get enough of them, you can basically always drink and have a bonus going into combat.
You can only make 8 resilience potions a day on average with 2 levels in warlock
Warforged don't need to sleep, but the rule in Xanathar's guide is based on long rests and not sleep
I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to mention the possibility of game-shattering AC for this build just by being an Alchemist and multiclassing with a level or two of warlock. Essentially, if you've ever heard of the "coffeeboss" or barista build, you would know that Experimental Elixirs only disappear after they are drunk or you finish a long rest. Normal downside for lack of long resting would be exhaustion, but warforged don't need to sleep, so they don't get the debuff!
Also, you can choose the type of elixir whenever you create it using a spell slot, meaning every time you finish a short rest, you can expend your warlock spell slot(s) to create Resilience elixirs (The drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes). Store them in a bag of holding...and pretty much look like an alcoholic all the time drinking your AC-buffing elixirs. In other words, assuming you drank them for 9 of the 10 minute duration, that being the maximum possible amount before combat I'd assume, that is a +90 TO YOUR AC!
The math behind it: you get an action every 6 seconds, spend that to drink an elixir, that's 10 per minute. 9 min. x 10 elixirs, you get the idea.
Even if you don't have enough downtime to create a HUGE stockpile of the Resilience elixirs, you can still get multiple in each day and give yourself an epic Armor Class buff in combat anywhere from +1 to +90 AC! So right there is a RAW way to increase it to insane measures. Yes indeed it is temporary, but if you get enough of them, you can basically always drink and have a bonus going into combat.
You can only make 8 resilience potions a day on average with 2 levels in warlock
Warforged don't need to sleep, but the rule in Xanathar's guide is based on long rests and not sleep
The production limitation doesn't stop how long the elixirs last, meaning you could produce a large stockpile over time (and many short rests) and use that for drinking when adventuring.
Actually, the ruling from Xanathar's says "A long rest is never mandatory, but going on without sleep does have its consequences." it clearly states that long rests are directly tied to sleep (with the rest of the ruling there explaining how to execute those consequences). In other words, a creature that does not require sleep, will not be punished for a lack of it. Not to mention, unlike elves, warforged have a separate feature for how to fulfill a long rest, rather than just replacing their lack of sleep with something else.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to mention the possibility of game-shattering AC for this build just by being an Alchemist and multiclassing with a level or two of warlock. Essentially, if you've ever heard of the "coffeeboss" or barista build, you would know that Experimental Elixirs only disappear after they are drunk or you finish a long rest. Normal downside for lack of long resting would be exhaustion, but warforged don't need to sleep, so they don't get the debuff!
Also, you can choose the type of elixir whenever you create it using a spell slot, meaning every time you finish a short rest, you can expend your warlock spell slot(s) to create Resilience elixirs (The drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes). Store them in a bag of holding...and pretty much look like an alcoholic all the time drinking your AC-buffing elixirs. In other words, assuming you drank them for 9 of the 10 minute duration, that being the maximum possible amount before combat I'd assume, that is a +90 TO YOUR AC!
The math behind it: you get an action every 6 seconds, spend that to drink an elixir, that's 10 per minute. 9 min. x 10 elixirs, you get the idea.
Even if you don't have enough downtime to create a HUGE stockpile of the Resilience elixirs, you can still get multiple in each day and give yourself an epic Armor Class buff in combat anywhere from +1 to +90 AC! So right there is a RAW way to increase it to insane measures. Yes indeed it is temporary, but if you get enough of them, you can basically always drink and have a bonus going into combat.
You can only make 8 resilience potions a day on average with 2 levels in warlock
Warforged don't need to sleep, but the rule in Xanathar's guide is based on long rests and not sleep
The production limitation doesn't stop how long the elixirs last, meaning you could produce a large stockpile over time (and many short rests) and use that for drinking when adventuring.
Actually, the ruling from Xanathar's says "A long rest is never mandatory, but going on without sleep does have its consequences." it clearly states that long rests are directly tied to sleep (with the rest of the ruling there explaining how to execute those consequences). In other words, a creature that does not require sleep, will not be punished for a lack of it. Not to mention, unlike elves, warforged have a separate feature for how to fulfill a long rest, rather than just replacing their lack of sleep with something else.
Is this the right quote?
Whenever you end a 24-hour period without finishing a long rest, you must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion. It becomes harder to fight off exhaustion if you stay awake for multiple days. After the first 24 hours, the DC increases by 5 for each consecutive 24-hour period without a long rest. The DC resets to 10 when you finish a long rest.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to mention the possibility of game-shattering AC for this build just by being an Alchemist and multiclassing with a level or two of warlock. Essentially, if you've ever heard of the "coffeeboss" or barista build, you would know that Experimental Elixirs only disappear after they are drunk or you finish a long rest. Normal downside for lack of long resting would be exhaustion, but warforged don't need to sleep, so they don't get the debuff!
Also, you can choose the type of elixir whenever you create it using a spell slot, meaning every time you finish a short rest, you can expend your warlock spell slot(s) to create Resilience elixirs (The drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes). Store them in a bag of holding...and pretty much look like an alcoholic all the time drinking your AC-buffing elixirs. In other words, assuming you drank them for 9 of the 10 minute duration, that being the maximum possible amount before combat I'd assume, that is a +90 TO YOUR AC!
The math behind it: you get an action every 6 seconds, spend that to drink an elixir, that's 10 per minute. 9 min. x 10 elixirs, you get the idea.
Even if you don't have enough downtime to create a HUGE stockpile of the Resilience elixirs, you can still get multiple in each day and give yourself an epic Armor Class buff in combat anywhere from +1 to +90 AC! So right there is a RAW way to increase it to insane measures. Yes indeed it is temporary, but if you get enough of them, you can basically always drink and have a bonus going into combat.
You can only make 8 resilience potions a day on average with 2 levels in warlock
Warforged don't need to sleep, but the rule in Xanathar's guide is based on long rests and not sleep
The production limitation doesn't stop how long the elixirs last, meaning you could produce a large stockpile over time (and many short rests) and use that for drinking when adventuring.
Actually, the ruling from Xanathar's says "A long rest is never mandatory, but going on without sleep does have its consequences." it clearly states that long rests are directly tied to sleep (with the rest of the ruling there explaining how to execute those consequences). In other words, a creature that does not require sleep, will not be punished for a lack of it. Not to mention, unlike elves, warforged have a separate feature for how to fulfill a long rest, rather than just replacing their lack of sleep with something else.
Is this the right quote?
Whenever you end a 24-hour period without finishing a long rest, you must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion. It becomes harder to fight off exhaustion if you stay awake for multiple days. After the first 24 hours, the DC increases by 5 for each consecutive 24-hour period without a long rest. The DC resets to 10 when you finish a long rest.
I see no mention of sleep here.
That is the part that follows my previous quote. The first part, which you missed quoting, and the overarching section title, directly connects it to sleep.
The production limitation doesn't stop how long the elixirs last, meaning you could produce a large stockpile over time (and many short rests) and use that for drinking when adventuring.
Actually, the ruling from Xanathar's says "A long rest is never mandatory, but going on without sleep does have its consequences." it clearly states that long rests are directly tied to sleep (with the rest of the ruling there explaining how to execute those consequences). In other words, a creature that does not require sleep, will not be punished for a lack of it. Not to mention, unlike elves, warforged have a separate feature for how to fulfill a long rest, rather than just replacing their lack of sleep with something else.
Is this the right quote?
Whenever you end a 24-hour period without finishing a long rest, you must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion. It becomes harder to fight off exhaustion if you stay awake for multiple days. After the first 24 hours, the DC increases by 5 for each consecutive 24-hour period without a long rest. The DC resets to 10 when you finish a long rest.
I see no mention of sleep here.
That is the part that follows my previous quote. The first part, which you missed quoting, and the overarching section title, directly connects it to sleep.
That is purely flavor text. (btw, I just found that on a reddit post, so not including that wasn't intentional)
The production limitation doesn't stop how long the elixirs last, meaning you could produce a large stockpile over time (and many short rests) and use that for drinking when adventuring.
Actually, the ruling from Xanathar's says "A long rest is never mandatory, but going on without sleep does have its consequences." it clearly states that long rests are directly tied to sleep (with the rest of the ruling there explaining how to execute those consequences). In other words, a creature that does not require sleep, will not be punished for a lack of it. Not to mention, unlike elves, warforged have a separate feature for how to fulfill a long rest, rather than just replacing their lack of sleep with something else.
Is this the right quote?
Whenever you end a 24-hour period without finishing a long rest, you must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or suffer one level of exhaustion. It becomes harder to fight off exhaustion if you stay awake for multiple days. After the first 24 hours, the DC increases by 5 for each consecutive 24-hour period without a long rest. The DC resets to 10 when you finish a long rest.
I see no mention of sleep here.
That is the part that follows my previous quote. The first part, which you missed quoting, and the overarching section title, directly connects it to sleep.
That is purely flavor text. (btw, I just found that on a reddit post, so not including that wasn't intentional)
All good. I suppose that makes more sense, I just think it doesn't make sense mechanically for something or someone who doesn't have to rest through sleep should have to rest at all, let alone gain exhaustion from it. I still think the rules are vague in that arena
I suppose that makes more sense, I just think it doesn't make sense mechanically for something or someone who doesn't have to rest through sleep should have to rest at all, let alone gain exhaustion from it. I still think the rules are vague in that arena
"Although they were manufactured, warforged are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids." They do, in fact, need rest.
Being able to receive the benefits doesn't mean they still receive negative effects for lack of it. The feature Constructed Resilience clearly lays out that they don't need almost everything that living humanoids do--- including sleep, which is the primary form of rest.
Being able to receive the benefits doesn't mean they still receive negative effects for lack of it. The feature Constructed Resilience clearly lays out that they don't need almost everything that living humanoids do--- including sleep, which is the primary form of rest.
Being able to receive the benefits doesn't mean they still receive negative effects for lack of it. The feature Constructed Resilience clearly lays out that they don't need almost everything that living humanoids do--- including sleep, which is the primary form of rest.
"When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal."
The Xanathar's rules extend the normal long rest rules (by providing additional downsides to not taking a long rest), and there is nothing excluding warforged from them.
Being able to receive the benefits doesn't mean they still receive negative effects for lack of it. The feature Constructed Resilience clearly lays out that they don't need almost everything that living humanoids do--- including sleep, which is the primary form of rest.
Cool. Where does that matter in the rules?
I was clarifying off of the previous comment. Mind you, I do think you're correct regarding the no-sleep irrelevance to long rest exhaustion.
At least the alchemist build would work with any functioning coffeelock race.
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Warforged Fighter 1 / Artificer 14 will get you to 27 AC!
Here's the progression. Only magic items are created by the Artificer features. You give up a lot of cool Infusions to focus on AC like this (and also deal with a slower Artificer progression), but it's still a very viable build. You need at least 15 STR, but it will work whether INT or STR is your main stat. I suggest leaving STR at 15 and maxing INT especially since Battle Smiths can use INT when using magic weapons and the other subclasses buff your cantrips. Doesn't matter which subclass you pick, though.
Full Disclosure: I also posted this in Tips & Tactics, but then I saw the Artificer class forum was opened, and it's a better fit here. So hope that's okay.
Level 1: 22 AC
Plate Armor 18 AC (assuming it's available; if it's not, add it later)
Warforged +1
Defense Fighting Style +1
Shield +2
Level 3: 23 AC
Infusion: Enhanced Defense (on armor) +1
Level 7: 24 AC
Infusion: Repulsion Shield +1
Level 11: 26 AC
Enhanced Defense bonus goes to +2 (so a net +1 bonus)
Infusion: Cloak of Protection +1
Level 15: 27 AC
Infusion: Ring of Protection +1
What's next?
As far as I can tell, there's no RAW way to increase your static AC without non-Infusion magic items or boons after Level 15. If there is, let me know!
However, there are still plenty of ways to continue focusing on AC. If you went Artillerist or Battlesmith, then you already have the Shield spell, but two levels in Wizard would give access to Arcane Defense, which is awesome. It also might be good to dip a level into War Domain Cleric (or two levels into Paladin) for Shield of Faith, which lasts ten minutes and only takes a 1st level spell slot (and concentration). However, that would mean at least 13 WIS or 13 CHA, which might be hard to pull off since this build uses either STR or INT as the main stat.
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
Potion of Speed for another +2 for no concentration
Shield of Faith for another +2
Get a ceremony wedding for another ac boost
Ah, but the point of this is that it's static AC without non-Infusion magic items. Definitely ways to temporarily increase it further, but those are DM-dependent or temporary.
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
I know this is an old thread, but I thought it would be fun to mention the possibility of game-shattering AC for this build just by being an Alchemist and multiclassing with a level or two of warlock. Essentially, if you've ever heard of the "coffeeboss" or barista build, you would know that Experimental Elixirs only disappear after they are drunk or you finish a long rest. Normal downside for lack of long resting would be exhaustion, but warforged don't need to sleep, so they don't get the debuff!
Also, you can choose the type of elixir whenever you create it using a spell slot, meaning every time you finish a short rest, you can expend your warlock spell slot(s) to create Resilience elixirs (The drinker gains a +1 bonus to AC for 10 minutes). Store them in a bag of holding...and pretty much look like an alcoholic all the time drinking your AC-buffing elixirs. In other words, assuming you drank them for 9 of the 10 minute duration, that being the maximum possible amount before combat I'd assume, that is a +90 TO YOUR AC!
The math behind it: you get an action every 6 seconds, spend that to drink an elixir, that's 10 per minute. 9 min. x 10 elixirs, you get the idea.
Even if you don't have enough downtime to create a HUGE stockpile of the Resilience elixirs, you can still get multiple in each day and give yourself an epic Armor Class buff in combat anywhere from +1 to +90 AC! So right there is a RAW way to increase it to insane measures. Yes indeed it is temporary, but if you get enough of them, you can basically always drink and have a bonus going into combat.
The production limitation doesn't stop how long the elixirs last, meaning you could produce a large stockpile over time (and many short rests) and use that for drinking when adventuring.
Actually, the ruling from Xanathar's says "A long rest is never mandatory, but going on without sleep does have its consequences." it clearly states that long rests are directly tied to sleep (with the rest of the ruling there explaining how to execute those consequences). In other words, a creature that does not require sleep, will not be punished for a lack of it. Not to mention, unlike elves, warforged have a separate feature for how to fulfill a long rest, rather than just replacing their lack of sleep with something else.
Is this the right quote?
I see no mention of sleep here.
That is the part that follows my previous quote. The first part, which you missed quoting, and the overarching section title, directly connects it to sleep.
That is purely flavor text. (btw, I just found that on a reddit post, so not including that wasn't intentional)
All good. I suppose that makes more sense, I just think it doesn't make sense mechanically for something or someone who doesn't have to rest through sleep should have to rest at all, let alone gain exhaustion from it. I still think the rules are vague in that arena
"Although they were manufactured, warforged are living humanoids. Resting, healing magic, and the Medicine skill all provide the same benefits to warforged that they do to other humanoids." They do, in fact, need rest.
Being able to receive the benefits doesn't mean they still receive negative effects for lack of it. The feature Constructed Resilience clearly lays out that they don't need almost everything that living humanoids do--- including sleep, which is the primary form of rest.
Cool. Where does that matter in the rules?
"When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal."
The Xanathar's rules extend the normal long rest rules (by providing additional downsides to not taking a long rest), and there is nothing excluding warforged from them.
I was clarifying off of the previous comment. Mind you, I do think you're correct regarding the no-sleep irrelevance to long rest exhaustion.
At least the alchemist build would work with any functioning coffeelock race.