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Tired of getting hit inBaldur’s Gate 3? Not sure what armor is best for a certain character? Don’t know why your fast little rogue is taking far less damage than your tank in fights? All of these things are calculated off a very funny number known as Armor Class, one of the most important stats of any Dungeons & Dragons-related game.
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However, the mechanics of how Armor Class don’t quite operate the way you think they would be based on the name. In fact, it’s very possible your non-armor-clad characters might have a higher AC than your walking tin-can on the front lines. But how and why? It’s all about Dexterity, friends.
What Does Armor Class Do?
Armor Class (AC) is the calculation of how likely an attack made against the target is tohit or miss.If an attacking roll ishigher or the same as a target’s Armor Class rating, they hitand deal damage.If it is lower, they missand deal no damage.
Youdo not need to have armorto have an Armor Class rating. It is a misleading name that only calculates your likelihood of being hit and taking damage.
If you’re unsure of the Armor Class of a character in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’re able to look at it byright-clicking on the character(or their portrait so long as you’re not actively in control of them) andpressing Examine.Alternatively, you can hoveryour cursor over the character’s portraitin or out of battle to see their AC indicated by a small shield icon.
How Do I Calculate Armor Class?
Armor Class is generally calculateddepending on the type of armorthe person is wearing.
Helmets, jewelry, and boots do not add anythingto the Armor Class rating unless they have a specific, magical trait that says otherwise.
Shields add a static bonusto an Armor Class. Generally, this bonus is +2. Therefore, if you have a shield equipped, you will have an additional number added to your AC.
Certain featslike the Fighter’s feat, Fighting Style: Defense, may also add additional bonuses to your Armor Class, but these are few and far between.
Armor Proficiency
There is one last thing to consider when thinking of Armor Class:Armor Proficiency. All classes have preferences on what armor they like and can wear.
Light armor, Medium armor, shields
Light armor
Light armor, Medium armor, shields (no metal objects)
All armor, shields
Wizard
None
If a character wears a piece of armor or a shield that they are not proficient in,they will receive penalties:
There areways to gain proficiencyfor armor types, but the two most efficient methods will be:
So long as your character is proficientwith their armor set, they will be able toenjoy all the benefitsto their Armor Class it provides. Whether your character is a speedy, Dextrous monster or a heavy, well-armored tank, your character can enjoy their own high Armor Class and the wonders of not taking any damage.
