Increasing my bard's AC

[Sneakimus]

I have been looking for ways to increase my College of Lore bard's AC, seeing as she(respecced Minthara) is currently sitting at only 15. Any tips would be appreciated.

I am currently in Act 2.

[Doomvora]

More DEX and/or wearing a shield.

[Pixel_Kitsune]

Wish I could help you. Ran a Lore Bard 10/Warlock 2 my first play, was sitting at 18 by final battle which was from the Act 2 Robes, Cloak of Protection and 18 Dex via gauntlets.

In general I just kept them out of the front line.

[Mork]

The easy answer is high DEX but you can still stay a STR build by using Hill Giant Elixir.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3032798672

Elixir are very strong and they last for the whole long rest and we can craft / buy them relatively easily.

If you are interested in crafting potions / elixirs i would recommend you hire a hireling and build him as a high wisdom medicine expert.

3 cleric for the Enhance Ability spell
2 wizard (Transmutation School)
1 rogue (medicine specialist)

And you should be able to create 2 potions / elixirs each time you craft one.

[Sneakimus]

Originally posted by Doomvora:

More DEX and/or wearing a shield.

I do not think College of Lore bards have access to shields.

Originally posted by Pixel Kitsune:

In general I just kept them out of the front line.

This has been my go-to strategy, although with all the speed boosts/ranged enemies/360 ambushes, AC is still quite valiable.

Bards seem tricky to raise the AC of. With str characters, you just add armor. Whereas with a spellcaster, you can just use dex + mage armor + the AC gloves and you'll easily get to 18 AC even butt naked. Though bards don't get access to mage armor.

... unless, can mage armor be cast on other creatures?

[Powercrank]

there should be a cloak and ring both with +1 ac that you can get in act 2. can't remember where, though, so... glad I could help :^)

[Pixel_Kitsune]

If you're super concerned about Ac take a 1 dip in Draconic Sorcerer.

It stacks so you don't lose spell slots, gives you essentially mage armor constantly as well as access to the Shield spell.

A human or half elf bard 11/Sorc1 with the Dex Gloves, Sorc Robe and the amulet that also adds Cha to damage would have a Firebolt for 3d10+10 dmg and an AC 21/26
13 Base
4 Dex
1 Cloak
2 Shield
1 Robe
+5 Shield.

[Doomvora]

Originally posted by Sneakimus:

I do not think College of Lore bards have access to shields.

Ah minthara didn't see that, then no she does not.

More DEX, two weapon fighting feat, best light armor is 14+DEX, cloak of prot or wondrous gloves (grymforge)

Should give you something like 22 AC if you have 20 dex (the armor isn't until act 3 tho so you'd have to settle for something like 12+DEX, which is still 20).

[steelcoresoviet]

A little theorycrafting, but
Starting stat of 16 dex (you may need to respec to get this)
Spidersilk armor
Wondrous gloves from the grymforge
Ring of protection from the idol quest

Gets you to 17, and you could get higher with item upgrades.

If you want to leave dex at +2, then you should probably be a Valor Bard.