TLDR: how far can I push my Thri-kreen's AC using RAW?
An unarmored Thri-Kreen gets an AC of 13+ DEX
In the 2024 PHB it says, "Your base AC calculation is 10 plus your Dexterity modifier. If a rule gives you another base AC calculation, you choose which calculation to use; you can’t use more than one."
I know that you can't combine that with things like a Monk's unarmored defense that resets the AC calculation. But you can add bonuses to that such as Shield of Faith to add +2.
My question is can I use a Thri-kreen's natural armor with other Subclass features like a Bladesinger's Bladesong ability that ups their AC by their INT bonus or Oath of the Noble Genies Genie Splendor that ups their AC by their CHA bonus?
I do not mean together as those seem like the same type of bonus so they wouldn't stack, I just use those as two examples of subclass features.
+10 (30 Dexterity via Epic Boons and other sources)
+ 5 (+3 Shield)
+1 Ring of Protection (attuned)
+1 Cloak of Protection (attuned)
+1 Ioun Stone, Protection (attuned)
+10 (30 Intelligence) with Bladesong for 1 minute
+1 Warhorn of Valor until start of next turn, bonus action
+3 Wand of Orcus (Artifact, attuned, assuming you are successful) - Alternatively +5 via a reaction from Staff of the Acrobat (requires Attunement)
+2 Teeth of Dahlver-Nar (Artifact, attuned)
+1 Flying Chariot
13 + 35 = 48 AC for one round before spells. Note: I don't think it's possible without severe shenanigans to reach a 30 in two attributes so this is just a theoretical limit. I would say a 20+ in both should be doable though. That would still be a 38 AC before spells.
Spells
+2 Ceremony - Wedding for 7 days
+2 Haste for 1 minute (concentration; cast by someone else)
+2 Shield of Faith for 10 minutes (concentration, cast by someone else)
+1 Warding Bond for 1 hour (cast by a Cleric or Paladin)
+5 Shield cast by you as a reaction until start of your next turn. Not compatible with Staff of the Acrobat.
+2 Tasha's Otherwordly Guise (concentration, cast by you with a successful check from a spell scroll)
+14 AC from spells for one round.
In total that would be an absurd 62 AC. Most of that is wasted because once someone only hits 5% of the time, the excess makes no difference. However, as an intellectual exercise, that is the highest I can think of it going use the Thri-kreen base armor.
Thri-Kreen and Armor Class?
TLDR: how far can I push my Thri-kreen's AC using RAW?
An unarmored Thri-Kreen gets an AC of 13+ DEX
In the 2024 PHB it says, "Your base AC calculation is 10 plus your Dexterity modifier. If a rule gives you another base AC calculation, you choose which calculation to use; you can’t use more than one."
I know that you can't combine that with things like a Monk's unarmored defense that resets the AC calculation. But you can add bonuses to that such as Shield of Faith to add +2.
My question is can I use a Thri-kreen's natural armor with other Subclass features like a Bladesinger's Bladesong ability that ups their AC by their INT bonus or Oath of the Noble Genies Genie Splendor that ups their AC by their CHA bonus?
I do not mean together as those seem like the same type of bonus so they wouldn't stack, I just use those as two examples of subclass features.
In general, you can combine it with features that add a bonus to your AC, but not with features that provide a different base AC calculation.
Bladesong adds a bonus to AC equal to your Intelligence modifier, so that works.
Genie's Splendor is an alternative way to calculate your base AC, so that does not work.
pronouns: he/she/they
Let me see, using the Thri-kreen armor class, the theoretical maximum I can think of is:
13 + 35 = 48 AC for one round before spells. Note: I don't think it's possible without severe shenanigans to reach a 30 in two attributes so this is just a theoretical limit. I would say a 20+ in both should be doable though. That would still be a 38 AC before spells.
Spells
+14 AC from spells for one round.
In total that would be an absurd 62 AC. Most of that is wasted because once someone only hits 5% of the time, the excess makes no difference. However, as an intellectual exercise, that is the highest I can think of it going use the Thri-kreen base armor.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.