Like the tabletop RPG that inspired it, Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that allows for some truly ridiculous and delightful min-maxing. In the years since the game’s release, players have experimented with unique builds that maximize various stats, recreated existing characters from other media, found bizarre ways of tackling tough bosses, and more. One stat that is particularly fun to mess with is Armor Class (AC), which can limit damage taken and create some extremely “tanky” builds that can easily shake off hits from gods, devils, and Elder Brains. With experimentation, some Baldur’s Gate 3 players have managed to reach some truly unbelievable AC numbers.
Maximized AC Builds Actually Rely On One Surprising Stat
The actual highest Armor Class able to be reached in Baldur’s Gate 3 is currently a subject of debate, with no one number agreed upon by the fanbase. Several Baldur’s Gate 3 content creators on sites such as YouTube and Reddit have created “maximized AC” builds, which combine weapons and armor with temporary spell effects and elixirs. Content creators have noted numbers between 50 and 80, although the higher totals are dependent on spells, elixirs, and other short-term boosts and can only be maintained briefly.
In general, a “maximized AC” build in Baldur’s Gate 3 does not rely on heavy armor, despite items such as the Helldusk Armor boasting high AC numbers on paper. Instead, the Armor of Agility, which grants an AC of 17 plus the unit’s Dexterity score, is generally considered the best for AC-stacking. It is sold by the armorer Gloomy Fentonson in the Lower City. One hypothetical Armor of Agility-based build maximizes Dexterity as follows:
- Naturally maximize Dexterity through leveling up until it reaches 20.
- Spare Auntie Ethel after fighting her in Act 1, and eat her hair for +1 to Dexterity.
- In Act 3, interact with Shar’s Mirror of Loss and pass a DC25 Religion check to sacrifice a memory in exchange for a further +2, making Dexterity 23.
- A Gnome, Halfling, or Dwarf can increase this further by wearing the Nimblefinger Gloves (+2 for Gnomes, +1 for Halflings or Dwarves), possibly reaching Dex 24 with a +7 modifier.
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Further Maximize AC With Equipment And Spells
The sheer variety of weapons, accessories, helmets, boots, gloves, and other items in Baldur’s Gate 3 encourages players to experiment with different combinations to maximize their AC. However, a few pieces of equipment have generally become mainstays in high AC builds alongside the above-mentioned Armor of Agility. Generally, a Shield is wielded in the offhand rather than a secondary weapon. Shields can increase AC by up to +3. (The character Hope wields a +4 Shield, but it cannot be taken from her without making use of mods or glitches.) Other potential AC-boosting options include:
- Defender Flail – +1, purchased in Creche Y’llek
- Cloak of Protection – +1, purchased at Last Light Inn
- Helm of Balduran – +1, found in Ansur’s Dragon Sanctum
- Wondrous Gloves – +1, dropped by a Mimic in Grymforge
- Evasive Shoes – +1, purchased at Last Light Inn
- Ring of Protection – +1, rewarded for completing the Emerald Grove quest “Steal the Sacred Idol.”
- Bracing Band – +1 after using Shove, rewarded for completing the Underdark quest “Find the Missing Boots.”
Equipment Is Only One Part Of The Puzzle
However, relying on equipment alone can only bring a player’s AC so high. Temporary in-battle boosts are necessary as well. A player maximizing AC should bring several spellcasters, such as Shadowheart or Gale, into battle with them to cast valuable boosts.
The most potent is the Mirror Image spell, which grants a whopping +9 to AC as long as all three doubles are active. Other spells that increase AC temporarily are Shield (+5), Haste (+2), Shield of Faith (+2), and Warding Bond (+1). Many have an extremely brief duration, however, so how high the player’s AC can truly get depends on how many they are able to successfully stack within a single turn of combat.
Multiclass For Best Effect
Obtaining extremely high AC in Baldur’s Gate 3 also depends on the unit’s chosen class. The best option is generally a blend of Fighter and College of Swords Bard, with the option to take some levels in Wizard or Cleric should the player want to cast AC-boosting spells on themselves rather than having companions do it.
Only one level of Fighter is generally needed, which grants access to the Defensive Fighting Style — a +1 bonus to AC while wearing armor. Then, dipping into to College of Swords Bard for at least 3 levels unlocks Defensive Flourish, which boosts AC by 4 for one turn. Making use of Elixirs such as the Elixir of Bloodlust can grant additional actions, allowing for more spells to be cast or more flourishes to be used per turn. This makes stacking AC more efficient, but, again, most temporary effects will last only briefly, meaning a character with an AC in the 60–80 range will be temporary with a ‘base’ AC out of combat somewhere in the 30 to 50 range.
Keep in mind that the options discussed in this article are not the only available choices for maximizing AC in Baldur’s Gate 3. It is also possible to build a quite high AC character who is a Barbarian with Unarmored Defense, for example. Alternately, players can take the Defensive Duelist feat and wield a Finesse weapon for a boost. The wonderful thing about a game like Baldur’s Gate 3 is the fact that it allows for such experimentation, and that there is no “one right answer” for anything in the game — well, maybe except for adopting Scratch and not giving him back to the abusive kennel master, that is.
- Released
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August 3, 2023
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
