Need advice on End game AC Build.

[Symerith]

Hey,

This is my first attempt at an AC build.
Basically, I'm looking for a self sufficient build that can reach 80+ AC while maintaining a decent DPS.

What I mean by :
- self sufficient : Can throw emergency heals (like LoH, empowred/quickened Cure wounds) or scroll heal easily (high Healing amp. would be great)
- AC : high enough that it counts in endgame, and I want to maintain decent DPS. Although I have some epicly geared toons, this toon must not be "geared intensive" to each a good AC.
- decent DPS : I don't want to get a lot of misses and decent DPS with PA. (Sword and board is not an option here) I don't mind sacrificing some AC potential for decent DPS.

Builds I considered :
- Emerald Build
- Divine Phoenix
- Paladin/Monk 18/2 split or 14/6.

I know it's hard to find a build that can reach those 3 goals but that would be a really fun build in my opinion.
Any advice on a build is welcome!
Any idea of a build that can

[gara-xxx]

well it takes a $hitload of gear but I m basing my main on this 1 ... http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=245032

[Symerith]

Although the AC is pretty impressive, I would like a build with more self sufficiency. Maybe paladin with LoH & use of empowered cures?

Any idea could help !

[Arsont]

First off, a word of warning: AC builds are probably THE most gear intensive builds out there. Sure, any build can require a lot of gear to reach a vaguely optimal performance level, but AC builds often need equal work gearing just to be viable. AC builds can take twice as long as a standard full-****** dps build (In regards to endgame; AC is pretty easy with little gear up until Gianthold).

For example. A viable AC at endgame is ~80 for most content (Last I saw elite Horoth still needed a 91 AC minimum), as you noted.

Let's look at some basic gear for an AC twf build:
+4 Dodge (Icy)
+8 Armor (Lootgen bracers or various epic bracers; Also epic Siren's Belt)
+4 Insight (Min II, Alchemical, Watcher's Blade, epic Siren set bonus)
+3 Dodge (Chattering Ring or Epic Grim's Bracelet)

Icy Raiment are a rare pull in the Subterrain. +8 lootgen bracers are near impossible to find anymore, and can be expensive to buy. Then the other option is +8 on epic bracers, which of course means running epics. Same with the belt and Epic Grim's Bracelet. The Chattering Ring is another rare drop from one of the least run raids (On Sarlona anyhow). If you're really looking for max AC, it's probably worthwhile to fit in the three piece Abishai set, so that's two more epic items you'll be grinding. Note that the eSiren set and Grim's Bracelet are mutually exclusive. These are some bare-minimum items you'd be wanting to have.

Anyhow. Just wanting to point out that if you want to make an AC build, it's gear intensive. You can't go into an AC build halfway and expect results.

Now that that's out of the way:

You're wanting a viable dps AC build. So, twf. You're also wanting decent to-hit (No misses). So far, I'd suggest something along the lines of a 12/6/2 fighter/ranger/monk or fighter/paladin/monk build. Monk is a pretty obvious choice for most any AC build; Wis to AC, evasion and two feats. The paladin split would get two uses of Lay on Hands and access to either extra heal amp or tier I stance (Doesn't stack with fighter Defender stance). 18/2 paladin/monk is an option, but would require even more work to deal with to-hit. Other options would be something along the lines of 12/6/2 paladin/ranger or fighter/monk or 12/7/1 ranger/paladin or fighter/monk.

I'd suggest the 12/6/2 fighter/paladin/monk split. Half-elf with cleric dillitante, and you'd be able to self-heal via scrolls and decent heal amp quite well, as well as the two LoH. With this split, you have the option of being able to go Kensai II (Strong dps) and Defender of Siberys I for the AC. 6 pally also adds Divine Righteousness for hate, as well as cha to saves.

Assuming Kensai II/DoS I/Monk 2. Assuming 15/16/14/11/13/8 base, 32 pt Half elf.
AC for this split might look like:
+10 Base
+5 Protection
+3 Barkskin
+8 Armor (AC bracers or Siren's Belt)
+4 Dodge (Icy)
+3 Dodge (Grim's Bracelet/Chattering Ring)
+2 Dodge (Mabar Cloak or Tharaak Bracelet)
+1 Dodge (Feat)
+1 Alchemical (Icy)
+2 Paladin aura
+2 DoS Stance
+5 Combat Expertise
+4 Insight (Min II)
+4 Shield
So an easy 54 AC.

+6 Wisdom (13 base+6 item+2 tome+1 enhancement=22)
+7 Dexterity (16 base+6 item+2 tome=24)
+5 Airship (If you have access to +2 shrines, kobold, dwarf and Defender)
+2 Ranger 12th bark
74 relatively easy to get.

+4 bard song
+2 Recitation
+1 Haste
81 raid-buffed.

So, it'd take a bit of gear, but the AC will be easy to get once you have the gear. Could add +1 for Two Weapon Defense, +3 if you have/can make epic 3-piece Abishai set (Probably boots, helm, bracers). With Cleric dilly, you'll be able to easily UMD Heal and Raise scrolls, as well as have a 2 LoH, Divine Sacrifice, Divine Righteousness, Kensai II Power Surge and the assorted goodies in-between.

Again, this is just the build I think would be closest to what you're asking for, but there's serveral options that could work (As I mentioned earlier). If you'd like an explanation or anything, or a more complete build layout, feel free to ask.

Apologies, since this turned out a bit longer than I had expected. Hopefully it helps.

[Symerith]

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. This is exactly what I was looking for!

I have a 12 fighter / 6 ranger / 2 monk, (human monster) but entirely DPS focused. My toon only has a maxed 40 AC with raid buff and no AC gear. :/

Although I would have liked more self healing through cures, reaching such a high AC and still having Kensai II is amazing. All the other builds that I've looked at only seem to go for the Defender PrE and HotD for the extra healing amp & rely on the epic abishai set, several TRs,...

Again, thanks a lot, that's exactly what I've been looking for!

+1

[Bodic]

a Dwarf in Epic Duelist leathers is also an Idea. You can push alot of dex in them granted no monk, but at Point Blank an AA could do a good job.

[RS-Makk]

Question - a build like the one recommended above (the Kensai II / DoS I / Monk 2), assuming an AC of about 80 on AC mode, would be able to tank what content/difficulty?

And please correct me if I am wrong, but that build as compared to the 'Emerald' build (Stalwart Defender II / Paladin 6 / Monk 2) is an AC difference of 3? (Stalwart Defender I is a total AC of 5 in stance while DoS is a total AC of 2 in stance?). Would bumping up AC from 80 to 83 really 'open up' that much more content from a tanking standpoint?

Thanks

[grodon9999]

Question - a build like the one recommended above (the Kensai II / DoS I / Monk 2), assuming an AC of about 80 on AC mode, would be able to tank what content/difficulty?

And please correct me if I am wrong, but that build as compared to the 'Emerald' build (Stalwart Defender II / Paladin 6 / Monk 2) is an AC difference of 3? (Stalwart Defender I is a total AC of 5 in stance while DoS is a total AC of 2 in stance?). Would bumping up AC from 80 to 83 really 'open up' that much more content from a tanking standpoint?

Thanks

Honestly . . . at this point any AC over 85 is a waste. That'll get you safe from Hard horoth and Elite Sulu. There is no reason to do Elite tower anymore at all and AC tanking the new raids doesn't look like the way to go (I could be wrong, will know after running them a few more times).

Tanking hard Horoth with an 80 will be fine, you'll get hit but you won't get slaughtered. Just keep your HP up.

[RS-Makk]

That's kind of what I thought. Just for my reference.. for HP tanking, what would you say is the HP needed (assuming a build with evasion)?

[grodon9999]

That's kind of what I thought. Just for my reference.. for HP tanking, what would you say is the HP needed (assuming a build with evasion)?

I want Horoth tanks to have at least 700 HP (guy we used on Elite in the U11 run had over 1000).

For the new content . . . no such thing as too much. was in an LoB last night on NORMAL where all the melees were about 800 HP and at one point or another all had died. Granted the raid is new and people will learn to twitch out of the way better (old farts like me are screwed) so who knows.