When engaging in combat in Dungeons & Dragons, at that place are many mechanics that players need to proceed rail of in addition to their character's ability scores and diverse class features. Whether a character is level one or level xx, a character's Armor Class (or Air-conditioning for short) is an important defensive element. Reflecting how well-armored or evasive a character is, a character'southward Ac is the full number another creature needs to curl to hitting a character with an attack.

This means that the higher a character'southward Ac, the more difficult they will be to striking. For this reason, it'southward a great idea for players to be conscious of their characters' AC and piece of work to increase information technology over the course of a campaign. And then nosotros're going to examine the various ways that players tin can go nearly improving their character'southward Ac in Dungeons & Dragons.

5 Improve Your Dexterity

Ranger in the mountains with a black panther companion
Drizzt Do'Urden art past Wizards of the Coast

Perhaps the well-nigh straightforward ways of improving nearly any character's AC is to ameliorate your Dexterity ability score. For those not wearing armor or for those wearing light or medium armor, a graphic symbol adds their Dexterity Power Score modifier to their AC. This ways that a broad range of characters can reliably improve their AC by only improving their Dexterity equally part of level-ups.

It's important to note that a character wearing medium armor tin can only add this modifier to a maximum of +two unless they take the Medium Armor Primary feat that raises this cap to +3 instead. This selection, unfortunately, doesn't pertain to those utilizing heavy armor, as characters wearing such armor are unable to add together their Dexterity modifier to their armor course.

4 Upgrade Your Armor

dnd artificers
Armorer Artificers from Tasha'south Cauldron of Everything by Brian Valeza

As 1 of the most common sources of an AC improvement is from a grapheme'southward armor, obtaining better armor or upgrading armor a grapheme already has can be a straightforward means of improving Ac. Characters with proficiency in heavy armor often outset with chainmail, so obtaining the superior total plate is often a peachy step to getting a college AC. Similarly, for those utilizing light armor, going from leather to studded leather is an affordable and worthwhile upgrade.

Once a character is equipped with their optimal armor type, the articulate path to obtaining even so even ameliorate armor is to attempt to go +1, +2, or +iii armor of those types. Providing an additional AC bonus of the respective number, these superior forms of armor are technically magical. The accessibility of such armor ranges greatly from DM to DM, as some will allow players to pay gold to have their armor upgraded into these superior forms, while others may have +ane, +2, and +3 armors be a rarity that must be worked for.

3 Gain The Defense Fighting Manner

fighter class d&d
Dungeons & Dragons Thespian's Handbook past Wizards of the Coast

One trait found betwixt diverse martial classes such every bit Fighters and Paladins is the ability to proceeds a fighting style. Fighting styles are possible benefits that tin can offer anything from a bonus to striking with a sure type of weapon or even access to cantrips in the instance of Paladins and Rangers. While i of the most straightforward fighting styles, the Defense FIghting style states that equally long as the graphic symbol at hand is armored, they gain +ane to their Ac.

While this fighting style can exist gained with ease for most martial characters, cheers to the Fighting Initiate feat, a character of whatever class is capable of learning a fighting manner. This ways that if a character wants to focus on improving their AC, they can essentially spend a feat to improve their AC past +1.

2 Use AC Improving Magic Items

A group of adventurers facing off against a horde of enemies
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide Encompass Art by Tyler Jacobson

In addition to your armor, other equipment such as magic items tin can be used to amend a graphic symbol's AC. While a character only has access to three attunement slots (with the exception of Artificers), there are several great magic items that tin help bolster your defenses. Firstly, the Bracers of Defense force are an attunable Rare magic item that can better a graphic symbol's Ac by +2 as long every bit they aren't wearing armor.

This makes them a stellar choice for a grapheme such as a Monk or Barbarian with the Unarmored defense ability, or a Wizard or Sorcerer that lacks armor proficiency. Additionally, another Rare magic item, the Ring of Protection, tin can provide a +1 to a graphic symbol's Air conditioning with no strings attached.

1 Consider Races And Subclasses That Ameliorate AC

Tortle Dungeons & Dragons art
Tortle by Wizards of the Coast

While not an option for those already underway with a campaign, there are various options available to players in the midst of character creation that tin offer a character an improved Air-conditioning. For those looking for specific subclasses that tin offering an improvement to one'southward AC, the Forge Domain Cleric and Armorer Artificer each have ways of improving their AC through the utilize of specialized traits.

For those looking to proceeds the benefit of natural armor through your race, potentially subverting the need for armor altogether, the following races provide a character with natural armor:

  • Lizardfolk
  • Locathah
  • Loxodon
  • Simic Hybrid
  • Tortle
  • Warforged

In addition to the races in a higher place, Shifters of the Beasthide multifariousness gain access to a +1 bonus to their Ac when shifted. Unlike the natural armor abilities of the previously mentioned races, this Beasthide Ac bonus is even applied if the character at hand is wearing armor.

Adjacent: Dungeons & Dragons: Best Means To Commencement A Campaign