Barkskin Question (all armor spells really)

[Chaosolous]

On Barkskin it says "Protect a creature from attacks: increase it's Armor Class up to 16."

Does that mean it will only raise that creature's AC to 16?
or
Does that mean it will raise the creatures AC up to an amount of 16?

Examples of what I mean:

Circumstance 1: Creature has 2 AC. Cast Barkskin. Creature now has an AC of 16. {{Or}} Creature has 14 AC. Cast Barkskin. Creature now has an AC of 16.

Circumstance 2: Creature has 2 AC. Cast Barkskin. Barkskin rolls 4. Creature now has 6AC. {{OR}} Creature has AC of 17. Cast Barkskin. Barkskin rolls 12. Creature now has 29 AC.

[Daliena]

"You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target’s skin has a rough, bark-like appearance, and the target’s AC can’t be less than 16, regardless of what kind of armor it is wearing."

This is per the Tabletop. Unless Larian butchered it for some inexplicable reason, Barkskin effectively means you have 16 (or better) AC while it's up and that's that.

[Chaosolous]

Originally posted by Daliena:

"You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target’s skin has a rough, bark-like appearance, and the target’s AC can’t be less than 16, regardless of what kind of armor it is wearing."

This is per the Tabletop. Unless Larian butchered it for some inexplicable reason, Barkskin effectively means you have 16 (or better) AC while it's up and that's that.

Ahhh, okay. I think I get it.

In that case it would change it so that you always have AT LEAST (minimum) 16AC regardless. Got it.

[Recjawjind]

Originally posted by Daliena:

"You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target’s skin has a rough, bark-like appearance, and the target’s AC can’t be less than 16, regardless of what kind of armor it is wearing."

This is per the Tabletop. Unless Larian butchered it for some inexplicable reason, Barkskin effectively means you have 16 (or better) AC while it's up and that's that.

Still how it works here. Though never saw any reason to ever use it. You can get stupidly high AC values without.

[Daliena]

Originally posted by Recjawjind:

Originally posted by Daliena:

"You touch a willing creature. Until the spell ends, the target’s skin has a rough, bark-like appearance, and the target’s AC can’t be less than 16, regardless of what kind of armor it is wearing."

This is per the Tabletop. Unless Larian butchered it for some inexplicable reason, Barkskin effectively means you have 16 (or better) AC while it's up and that's that.

Still how it works here. Though never saw any reason to ever use it. You can get stupidly high AC values without.

Moon-Moon Druids might find a use for it, I dunno, haven't used Halsin. Animal forms typically aren't rocking humongous AC after all.

[Recjawjind]

Originally posted by Daliena:

Moon-Moon Druids might find a use for it, I dunno, haven't used Halsin. Animal forms typically aren't rocking humongous AC after all.

Haven't run a druid, but IIRC there are pieces of gear that specifically increase AC in wildshape. Could be mistaken though.

[Hobocop]

It will only go up to 16 and no higher.

Seeing as how Owlbear form has a base AC higher than that, it's a pretty useless spell even by the time you get it because I'd rather use my Concentration on Spike Growth or something.

There is a Medium armor that gives you the effect of Barkskin while wearing it, which is kinda neat, but still not great, since depending on your comp, you also might have Adamantium Scale available which is just better.

[Daliena]

Originally posted by Hobocop:

Adamantium Scale

Oh ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, don't tell me Larian removed the "no metal armor for druids" limitation.

[Hobocop]

Originally posted by Daliena:

Originally posted by Hobocop:

Adamantium Scale

Oh ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, don't tell me Larian removed the "no metal armor for druids" limitation.

They did, and seeing as how there...zero guidance in 5e as to what happens if a druid does wear metal armor, it's for the better, tbh.

Never mind that Yuan-ti scale is available not long afterward, so eh.