While exploring and questing are key parts of Baldur’s Gate 3, even if you try to tread a path of peace, you’re going to end up in some battles. BG3 has my favorite kind of combat, which is turn-based and tactical rather than full-on action. This means that understanding how the algorithms behind the scenes work is key to success, and one of the most important ones here is Armor Class. It’s taken straight from Dungeons & Dragons, but if you’re not familiar with it, read on for our full Armour Class guide.
How to calculate your AC in Baldur’s Gate 3
Many characters, in most situations, will derive theirArmor Class (AC) from their armor, adding a shield if they’re using one in their offhand, plus any bonuses (such as Dexterity or magic items). It is also possible to have spells and effects set your base AC. Those with a distantDungeons & Dragonspast can forget all they know about THAC0, as wanting a low AC is a thing of the past in D&D 5e, which Baldu’rs Gate 3 is based on. In BG3,a high AC number is better than a low one.
Related:BG3 Illithid Powers Guide
Non-magical light armor (such as Padded and Leather) gives abase AC of around 11-12,medium armor (Hide and Chain Shirt) 12-13, andheavy armor (Chainmail, Ring Mail) 14-16. There is some crossover when you start to find better quality items, while Plate is the best (heavy) armor with a non-magical base AC of 18.If you’re only wearing clothes, your base AC is 10.
If you also carry a shield, you will usually get an AC bonus of +2. Magical armor can then give further bonuses. For example, if you had +2 Magic Plate and a +1 Magic Shield, your ACC from these items would be 23 (18+2 then adding the shield+2+1). For a list of all armor ACs, see the table below.
Basic Armor (AC) table
How does Dexterity affect Armor Class?
While classes such asbardsandrogueswill tend to wear light armor or non at all, and many other classes will stick to medium, the lower AC given by the armor itself is bolstered instead by being more flexible. Lighter armor users can benefit from an AC bonus based on their Dexterity.
All heavy armors, and many medium armors, have the added disadvantage of not allowing the character to use Stealth.
Helmets and AC
Helmets do not directly affect AC in Baldur’s Gate 3 despite following the same rules of armor proficiency. However, they are still important items to equip as soon as you find some, as they give your characters important bonuses.
You may find other types of helmets, including magic ones, but these are the standard types you’ll find throughout the game.
How important is Armor Class in BG3?
Having a high ACdoesn’t mean you’ll take any less damage per hit, but itdoes mean you’re less likely to be hit at all, which is clearly a good thing. If an attack role is the same as your AC rating or higher, you’ve been hit. Damage is then rolled and taken off of your current Hit Point (HP) total. Remember thateven if you have a monumental AC,you’ll still be hit if the enemy rolls a natural 20. And you know that is going to happen just when you don’t want it to!
All Baldur’s Gate 3 Armor Proficiencies by Class
If you’re about to build a character it is important to remember thatnot all classes are proficient in all armor types. Wearing armor (or a shield) if you’re not proficient in it comes with a series of penalties that make it borderline impossible to make it work. For example,you will not be able to cast spells, and you’llalways have theDisadvantage statusin combat.
Related:Best Concentration Spells in BG3
Whileit is possible to gain extra armor proficienciesin a variety of ways (such as multiclassing and feats), this often comes at the expense of better options, and I wouldn’t advise it.
Other ways to improve your AC
There are also some spells and effects that can increase your AC. Some examples include:
There are also occasional improvements that improve elements of your AC:
For more Baldur’s Gate 3 guides here at Pro Game Guides, click through toBest Sorcerer Metamagic in BG3andBG3 Wizard Build Guide – Best Stats and Subclassand loads more!
