It seems like monsters do not ever go above a AC of 25, however I can't find any limit for AC in the rules. If you can quote the passage where it's from then that would be great.
Edit: Bit of a weird rule too considering +3 Plate Armor and a +3 Shield would easily get you to 26 AC, and this forum shows it's not too difficult to reach higher numbers even without magical items.
You guys do realise that there is an ac 25 armour cap, right?
maybe unofficially for creatures, but i know of no such thing for PCs. monsters can have insanely high hit bonuses with attacks that deal XdCRAZY damage, so no i don't think there is that cap. Where did you get that "rule" (if you could call it that)?
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Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Check out my Disabled & Dragons Youtube Channel for 5e Monster and Player Tactics. Helping the Disabled Community and Players and DM’s (both new and experienced) get into D&D. Plus there is a talking Dragon named Quill.
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
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Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
Or if you swap to Forge Cleric/Fighter/Sorcerer (or take magic initiate to grab shield):
Warforge (+1 AC) + Plate (18) + Shield (+2) + Blessing of the Forge (+1) + Soul of the Forge (+1) + Shield Spell (+5), Defensive Fighting Style (+1), & Shield of Faith (+2) & Haste (+2) = 33 AC
3/4 cover would get you to 38 as well.
The barbarian unfortunately would not be able to cast shield during rage though. But out of rage they would be a bit tankier from an AC perspective!
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
Be mindful that barbarians using unarmored defense aren't eligible for defensive fighting style since you have to be wearing armor.
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
Be mindful that barbarians using unarmored defense aren't eligible for defensive fighting style since you have to be wearing armor.
add bracers of defense for AC 39 (removing Defensive fighting)
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Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
Be mindful that barbarians using unarmored defense aren't eligible for defensive fighting style since you have to be wearing armor.
add bracers of defense for AC 39 (removing Defensive fighting)
The original ask was no magic items unfortunately.
Just posted in another topic, but consider the Dodgy Forge Cleric — for the sake of comparison, let’s imagine he is at level 6 and got Fighting Initiate (Defense) feat by level 4.
Full Plate + Shield: 20
Blessing of the Forge: 21
Defense fighting style: 22
Soul of the Forge: 23
What’s the main strategy of this nimble Cleric? Dodge action. He will use Dodge action in every opportunity aside from cast a spell. His signature move will be to cast Spirit Guardians in round 1, then jump in the middle of the enemies, upcast Spiritual Weapon and Dodge like a crazy.
If we consider that being attacked at disadvantage could be represented as bonus of +3~5 to AC, we are talking about an AC of 26~28 without spells and magic itens.
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
Be mindful that barbarians using unarmored defense aren't eligible for defensive fighting style since you have to be wearing armor.
AC 40 if pure 20 lvl barbarian with 24 con
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Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
Be mindful that barbarians using unarmored defense aren't eligible for defensive fighting style since you have to be wearing armor.
AC 40 if pure 20 lvl barbarian with 24 con
10+dex+con+shield. 10+5+7+2=24 + 1 warforged=25 +5 Shield (once per rest with magic initiate)=30 + 2 Shield of Faith +2 Haste = 34 +5 (3/4 cover)= 39. Requires really high stats, two concentration spells, one once per rest spell that is unlikely to be used if this is the only attack, and 3/4 cover. Defensive Fighting Style isn't eligible even if you used a feat to get a fighting style since you are using unarmored defense and wielding a shield doesn't count for wearing armor.
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It seems like monsters do not ever go above a AC of 25, however I can't find any limit for AC in the rules. If you can quote the passage where it's from then that would be great.
Edit: Bit of a weird rule too considering +3 Plate Armor and a +3 Shield would easily get you to 26 AC, and this forum shows it's not too difficult to reach higher numbers even without magical items.
if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
Considering my Warforged Paladin is sitting at a 28 right now, you are incorrect.
https://ddb.ac/characters/36167654/LdGmak
Pretty Sure there isnt
You do realize the DMG monster "rules" are guidelines.
maybe unofficially for creatures, but i know of no such thing for PCs. monsters can have insanely high hit bonuses with attacks that deal XdCRAZY damage, so no i don't think there is that cap. Where did you get that "rule" (if you could call it that)?
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
Single Class to make it easy
Warforged Eldritch Knight in Plate + Shield + Shield Spell, Defensive Fighting Style, & Shield of Faith & Haste cast on them = 1+18+2+5+1+2+2= 31AC
Needs a party member to cast shield of faith on you, but AC 31 with no magic items. You can get another +5 AC if you can get behind 3/4 cover. So ......AC 36
Check out my Disabled & Dragons Youtube Channel for 5e Monster and Player Tactics. Helping the Disabled Community and Players and DM’s (both new and experienced) get into D&D. Plus there is a talking Dragon named Quill.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPmyTI0tZ6nM-bzY0IG3ww
Without magic items or spells.
Nothing in the title or post excludes spells.
correct JH.
AC 38 if you are a barbarian with 20 each DEX and CON (Unamored defense is 20, bypassing the plate armor)
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
Or if you swap to Forge Cleric/Fighter/Sorcerer (or take magic initiate to grab shield):
Warforge (+1 AC) + Plate (18) + Shield (+2) + Blessing of the Forge (+1) + Soul of the Forge (+1) + Shield Spell (+5), Defensive Fighting Style (+1), & Shield of Faith (+2) & Haste (+2) = 33 AC
3/4 cover would get you to 38 as well.
The barbarian unfortunately would not be able to cast shield during rage though. But out of rage they would be a bit tankier from an AC perspective!
Be mindful that barbarians using unarmored defense aren't eligible for defensive fighting style since you have to be wearing armor.
35, lizard folk monk/cleric
13+dex+wis+2 for spiritual shield spell assuming you get 10 epic boons to increase your dex and wis to 30 but you did say as high as possible
I did not see that when I posted
add bracers of defense for AC 39 (removing Defensive fighting)
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
The original ask was no magic items unfortunately.
I do like that as an option otherwise.
oh yeah... whoops :)
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
Just posted in another topic, but consider the Dodgy Forge Cleric — for the sake of comparison, let’s imagine he is at level 6 and got Fighting Initiate (Defense) feat by level 4.
Full Plate + Shield: 20
Blessing of the Forge: 21
Defense fighting style: 22
Soul of the Forge: 23
What’s the main strategy of this nimble Cleric? Dodge action. He will use Dodge action in every opportunity aside from cast a spell. His signature move will be to cast Spirit Guardians in round 1, then jump in the middle of the enemies, upcast Spiritual Weapon and Dodge like a crazy.
If we consider that being attacked at disadvantage could be represented as bonus of +3~5 to AC, we are talking about an AC of 26~28 without spells and magic itens.
Oops yeah, you're right.
AC 40 if pure 20 lvl barbarian with 24 con
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
10+dex+con+shield. 10+5+7+2=24 + 1 warforged=25 +5 Shield (once per rest with magic initiate)=30 + 2 Shield of Faith +2 Haste = 34 +5 (3/4 cover)= 39. Requires really high stats, two concentration spells, one once per rest spell that is unlikely to be used if this is the only attack, and 3/4 cover. Defensive Fighting Style isn't eligible even if you used a feat to get a fighting style since you are using unarmored defense and wielding a shield doesn't count for wearing armor.