Highest AC class/ NPC?

[Mike]

I was thinking about starting a new game and going for super high AC.
I have seen items for almost every slot that give +1 AC.
I have seen light/medium/heavy armor that give around 19 AC totals. I think the highest I have seen is 15+dex=20 AC.
I also saw +1 shield, so 3 more AC from that. Seems like 30 AC is pretty doable.

I was wondering if there is a specific class or race that gets more AC?

Does one of the starting characters get an AC bonus from their unique background? Like vampire/fire inside/other weird companion mechanics give a AC bonus?
I was thinking the shield spell might be a good idea to include since it gives +4 AC, but not sure if it stacks with holding a shield.

Any other suggestions?

[MewTressym]

Highest I've seen is 41AC using a cleric/bard build with defensive flourish. Medium armor high dex build.

[Sceles]

Forge Cleric

Edit: Soz looks like it's not playble in BG3 lol. Damn

[⇧⇨⇩⇩⇩]

Naked gnome is the best build.

[Revan619]

There are options to increase it. Armour. Shield. Haste. Mirror Image. Boots, cloak and ring that each can add +1. Defensive flourish can add more on a bard.

Still Id rather have a caster focusing on DPS. They still have decent AC. 13 light/mage armour. Dex probably 16 for +3. A shield on human can add +2 or take the bracers. +3 for boots/cape/ring. That way you are 21 AC before adding 2 for haste and 3 for mirror image.

I dont think ive ever seen a scenario where I have needed more than 26 especially if on average my spells are doing 150+ without crits and there are options to x4 the damage plus casting four to five times a round.

[shogunsmurf]

Not even on best yet but :

Defensive flail : 1 AC
Shield : 2 AC
Armor : 18 AC
Fightinstyle : 1 AC
Ring : 1 AC
Cloak : 1 AC
Boots : 1 AC
Gloves : 1 AC

that's 26 already without buff and there is better armor and shield worth +3 more, don't know if there is a helm with 1 more. Mirror image and shield of faith is +5.

You might be able to get 2 more out of armor if you use the +17 armor with full dex modifier that you can buy at lights inn, which also allows you to use the dual wield feat for 1 more AC

So i'm guessing the max would be around 38ish.

[Belegc]

will try:
Gnome 8 Eldritch Knight Fighter/1 Barbarian/3 college of swords Bard (17 Dex, 16 Con, 15 Int)
you get 3 feats: ASI 2 Con, ASI Dex+INT, ASI 2 Con)

AC:
Base 10 AC
Con 5 AC (from barbarian unarmored defense)
Dex 4 AC
Robe of Supreme Defences (need a concentration spell for it to work): 1 AC
Shield: 3 AC
Defensive Flail: 1 AC
Ring: 1 AC
Cloak: 1 AC
Boots: 1 AC
Mirror Image: 9 AC
Shield Spell Reaction (not sure if it can be applied together with mirror image): 5 AC
Nimblefinger Gloves: 1 AC (2 Dex if gnome)
Necromancy of Thay: 1 AC (2 Dex)
Defensive Flourish: 4 AC
Haste: 2 AC
Shield of Faith: 2 AC

in Total: 51AC. I think you can get 1 more if you are going the heavy armor path and defense fighting style with the legendary armor.

completely whacky build and not sure it will work but even so, very high AC.
also very high saves due to the robe and high dex/con. offensively you are not that good.

Edit: another try
8 EK/4 Sword Bard (16 Dex/16 Str/14 Con) (4 feats: 2 ASI Str, 2 ASI Dex)

AC:
Base 10 AC
Armor: 7 AC (armor of Agility)
Dex: 5 AC
Shield: 3 AC
Defensive Flail: 1 AC
Ring: 1 AC
Cloak: 1 AC
Boots: 1 AC
Wondrous Gloves: 1 AC
Mirror Image: 9 AC
Shield Spell Reaction (not sure if it can be applied together with mirror image): 5 AC
Fighting Style Defense: 1 AC
Necromancy of Thay: 1 AC (2 Dex)
Defensive Flourish: 4 AC
Haste: 2 AC
Shield of Faith: 2 AC

a lot better from an offensive POV. just wear the INT helmet as well.

Total: 54AC

[rumpelstiltskin]

enemies have pretty tame ab in this game (it's not like +10 bonus on unfair in wotr), and bosses often don't rely on ac-based attacks, so something like 54 is an absolute overkill. pretty soon disadvantage becomes much more important, since enemies will still hit on 20s and can swarm you, so turning that 1/20 into 1/400 is way better. disadvantage with hits on 17+ is better (for the defender) than 20-only hits.

[guppy]

Not sure if mirror image should count - it removes 3 AC every time sombody misses you.

Warding bond does offer +1 AC though and seems non of the previous posts mentions it

[Fluff]

I suggest not min-maxing that much since numbers in this game for enemies are very close to tabletop, they aren't bloated to 50-100 AC DC and more. So you will strive for more challenge instead.

Like Luality made her 2nd playthrough Solo Tactician without using explosives and even avoiding Haste potions, and it was amazing.