AC / Level?

[Taldaas]

I did a few searches and couldn't find anything, so if this already exists can someone point me in the right direction?

Is there a chart or table or something that shows how much AC a tank should have at various levels? I have been building myself as a tank character and thought I was doing well with 36 AC and 170HP at level 9.

Then I was reading a thread a little bit ago and saw someone mention to not even try to tank at level 11 unless you have 300+HP and 50+AC.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Aaxeyu]

I did a few searches and couldn't find anything, so if this already exists can someone point me in the right direction?

Is there a chart or table or something that shows how much AC a tank should have at various levels? I have been building myself as a tank character and thought I was doing well with 36 AC and 170HP at level 9.

Then I was reading a thread a little bit ago and saw someone mention to not even try to tank at level 11 unless you have 300+HP and 50+AC.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

It's not really about what level you are, it's where you are.
Before you get to gianthold your Ac will be fine, but once you are there you will need a decent build and nice gear to be able to tank reliably.
A s&b character with less than 40-50 AC is quite useless there.

[Quikster]

It's not really about what level you are, it's where you are.
Before you get to gianthold your Ac will be fine, but once you are there you will need a decent build and nice gear to be able to tank reliably.
A s&b character with less than 40-50 AC is quite useless there.

I would go a step farther. If you are wearing a shield in GH your ac better be above 50. Otherwise dump the shield for a second vorpal or some better dps.

[calvinklien]

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[Lorien_the_First_One]

because everyone has a couple of those laying around...

Check the brokers in house D, the Shav, and the inspired quarter. Check the AH. don't just look for your preferred weapon type, but all slashing weapons.

At this point in the game most of the vets have more vorps than they need and since vorps aren't selling very well on the AH anymore (I often have them expire unsold when I'm only charging base price) many of them end up at the brokers

[calvinklien]

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[Quikster]

because everyone has a couple of those laying around...

You cant find a better dps weapon than a shield? Really? Maybe this game isnt for you then......

[Taldaas]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Just one more question.

Well if 50+ AC is necessary is that even reasonably possible for a fighter with poor dex? I walked into the game with the assumption that heavy armor and heavy sheilds would mean dex would have very little meaning (Yep, should have researched more first).

I've looked at about a dozen AC threads here on the forum and in about all of them ~ 15 AC is coming direction from dex or dex related feats. It seems to me that this means any one created with an 8 dex can kiss tanking good bye?

[calvinklien]

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[calvinklien]

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[grodon9999]

ranged rangers, archers, own slayer areas. period. with the right bow and a manyshot, any boss is toast.

My "broken" 28-point build Arcane archer (R16) is over 400 kills in vale right now. You just have to use stealth, high-ground, and tactics to get your kills.

Back on topic . . . in GH my buffed AC was in the low 40s but I still kept getting hit a lot. 50 is probably right for a "tank." That said, I don't think I've even seen a "tank" since level 10.

[Yajerman01]

I run around GH alot, clearing the entire slayer area each run. I dont buff and have a base AC at 50. Suffice to say, at 50, you can pretty much go head to head with most mobs and still manage to reach a shrine or quite area to heal up.

Of course, I stayed at a Holliday Inn, so my actual abilities might be flawed.

If you can at least squeeze a 45 AC and obtain a blur somehow, you can manage the same, unless of course your hitting with daggers.

[shawnystyle7]

My "broken" 28-point build Arcane archer (R16) is over 400 kills in vale right now. You just have to use stealth, high-ground, and tactics to get your kills.

Back on topic . . . in GH my buffed AC was in the low 40s but I still kept getting hit a lot. 50 is probably right for a "tank." That said, I don't think I've even seen a "tank" since level 10.

Archers dont tank, they kite so AC is next to meaningless. I have a lvl 20 kensai heavy repeater. She has maxed all vale slayers most of devil battlefield, soloed all the new inspired quarter stuff at around level 18, and easily solos a lot of quests that will wipe groups, ie coal chamber. Big deal, kiting is lame. All with an whooping ac of 28ish, DR/5 and a bunch of immunites/resists. The point is that when you are grouped, kiting is highly aggitating. I stand their and take my licks when i draw aggro. I even stand there in raids and help box in the bosses. Ya i could prolly bump her ac into the 40's or so with the right gear, but it wouldnt matter in anything in GH or beyond. You'd think i would have some sympathy for archers in a group setting but i dont. Mine has **** AC and no mellee ability yet I dont kite in groups.

[grodon9999]

Archers dont tank . . .

I so don't want to get off topic but . . .

Yes, archers can't tank but you can draw aggro. Kiting in a groups is bad play, but drawing the aggro of a monster or 4 and then guiding them through the FWs, BBs, and the whirling steel of your DPS fighters (as well as your own dual-blades, you did put the Bow away when the monsters got close, right?) has worked for me (so far, I could be completely wrong once we get the heck out of GH).

[calvinklien]

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[MrWizard]

I did a few searches and couldn't find anything, so if this already exists can someone point me in the right direction?

Is there a chart or table or something that shows how much AC a tank should have at various levels? I have been building myself as a tank character and thought I was doing well with 36 AC and 170HP at level 9.

Then I was reading a thread a little bit ago and saw someone mention to not even try to tank at level 11 unless you have 300+HP and 50+AC.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

well, a lot depends on what the character is (class and race).

Getting the toughness feat, once, will gain you access to the enhancements of toughness and racial toughness. As you level more of these become available and your hit points will go up accordingly.
False life items start at 5 and go up to 30, the higher the level, the higher the amount.


For AC there are some things that help you...

Armor itself starts at +1 and goes to +5. As you level up you find better armor.
Mithral armor, if you wear heavy armor, will allow more dex bonus to be computed.
if you are a fighter, adding stalwart defender at 6th level will get you some ac benefits
Combat expertise adds 5 when you need it

Potions of barkskin and shield of faith will each give you 3 AC benefit, but you will find 'protection' items going from +1 to +5 as you level and soon you will not need the shield potion.

Dex stat items help as long as your armor and enhancements will allow higher numbers. Fighters and many races get 'armor mastery' enhancements which allow more of a dex bonus with armor being worn.

Dodge feat is good for +1

A tower shield, preferable mithral is good for damage reduction when blocking and better AC than a regular shield. +1 to +5 translates into +5 to +9 actual AC.


Adding alchemical bonuses to your shield and armor will grant you +1 for each, for 2 more.

10 base
1 dodge feat
3 barskin pot
3 shield pot
1 shield alchemical ritual
1 armor alchemical ritual
5 combat expertise
------------------
24 extra ac at any level.

7 for mid range tower shield
10 for midrange armor
4 for mid range dex bonus
1 for mid range stalwart defender enhancement
1 for mid range stalwart stance
------------------------
47 (+3 for blocking) for 47 at a mid range between 6 and 12.

buffs

1 haste
3 pally aura
2 bard song
2 armor class boost fighter
----------------------------
55 easy ac for pure fighter in block mode from 6 to 12 level.



here is an example at 13th level....with very little in the way of uber loot. You can map this backwards for level 11. Meaning you can take a few pluses off the armor and prot items here and there.

369 hit points in stance

AC = 38 to 77+
10 base
5 dex bonus
13 armor (+5 mithral plate)
9 Tower shield (+5 mithral)
5 Protection item
2 chaos bracers
1 dodge
2 stalwart defender
------------------
47 standing, unbuffed with shield
38 standing, unbuffed, two weapon fighting

3 stalwart defender stance
5 combat expertise
3 barkskin potion
--------------------
58 with shield self buffed
49 two weapon fighting self buffed

1 haste
2 ranger barkskin
5 pally aura
4 blocking
4 bard song
3 armor class boost (short duration)
-------------------------
77 shield blocking
64 two weapon blocking

[Humperdink]

Is there a chart or table or something that shows how much AC a tank should have at various levels?

Here's some *general* guidelines on effective AC:

-Level 7 to 10 content 30-35
-Gianthold/Desert 45-50
-Vale/Reaver Refuge 50-60
-Shavarath 65+
-Raid tanking 70-80+

[Myxalplyx]

Here's some *general* guidelines on effective AC:

-Level 7 to 10 content 30-35
-Gianthold/Desert 45-50
-Vale/Reaver Refuge 50-60
-Shavarath 65+
-Raid tanking 70-80+

Thanks to the original poster to this thread and thank you for answering his question spot on. I was going to post this very same question but decided to search this morning and found this. My ac range was only up to lvl 12 though. Didn't know what was considered ok beyond that. This is a good guideline.

I have a ton of builds but am working on two specific ones that have grabbed my attention lately. Lvl 11 Warforged Rogue and Lvl 8 Warforged Bard. Both will be getting CE (Combat Expertise) with their next Feat selection. I use defensive fighting now fairly often to carry group stones to shrines with both toons. The rogue is at about 39ac and the bard at 41 ac (with barkskin pots). This is SOOOOO important when you have a ton of mobs behind you and you get 'harried' with the red or other skull on your upper right hand screen. My ac saved my arse many many times. Good stuff!

Also posting in this thread so I can find it easily later. Will follow your general guideline to a 'T'. Thank you!

MrWizard.....your straightforward advice is a lot of help too. Simple and straight to the point.