what are the highest ac classes?

[automater]

what are the highest ac classes in order?

[Angelus_dead]

Monk, Fighter, Paladin

[Pwesiela]

Monk, Fighter, Paladin

Monk, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger

Usually in some form of combination involving monk.

[SolarDawning]

There's a rumor floating around out there that monks are the highest AC class, but there's not that much substance to it. It's easy to get around 50 on a pure monk, but extremely difficult to get significantly higher.

Monk splashes, however, are another story. The ability to use a greensteel weapon for Insight AC, built in shield bonuses from Tempest, etc, all help. Ranger 18/Monk 1/Rogue 1 is a popular mix. In that example, they have +5 natural armor from barkskin, +4 shield bonus to AC, +4 insight AC on a weapon, +favored defense enhancements... all of those are bonuses which a pure monk either cannot easily get or maintain.

[Aerendil]

^^ Yep.
I'd say monk-splashed Rogues, Rangers, and Paladins are in the top 5 for best AC.
Top 2 spots I'd probably give to a fully armoured, sword and board Dwarven Paladin-Defender of Siberys and a Dwarven Fighter-Stalwart Defender with full raid buffs.

Monks *can* get uber AC, but as mentioned above, have to work hard for it, and a lot of Monks these days can't be arsed, stopping somewhere around the 50 to low-60s marker.

[Angelus_dead]

There's a rumor floating around out there that monks are the highest AC class, but there's not that much substance to it.

No. It is entirely and exactly true.

Monk splashes, however, are another story.

That's not a class.

[LordPiglet]

It also takes some grinding to get up to the high ac levels.

My exploiter hit 55 ac (once I level and take CE) pretty easily. Above that will take some grinding for things like a chattering ring, Min II & Lit II kopeshes, DT armor.

[Delacroix21]

There's a rumor floating around out there that monks are the highest AC class, but there's not that much substance to it. It's easy to get around 50 on a pure monk, but extremely difficult to get significantly higher.

Monk splashes, however, are another story. The ability to use a greensteel weapon for Insight AC, built in shield bonuses from Tempest, etc, all help. Ranger 18/Monk 1/Rogue 1 is a popular mix. In that example, they have +5 natural armor from barkskin, +4 shield bonus to AC, +4 insight AC on a weapon, +favored defense enhancements... all of those are bonuses which a pure monk either cannot easily get or maintain.

This... Monk SPLASHES are the highest, due to unarmed limitations.


OR


Pure monks who gimp themselves with kamas. Who now have a slightly better option with shortswords or longswords.

[Ollathir]

Monk, Fighter, Paladin, Ranger.

I havent updated the defender stances for either the paly or fighter or the cap increase for Monk Stance in my guide (in sig). Base AC by class bonus max wb Monk. Gear is another situation to consider, S&B Levic's insight bonuses, ToD rings and such favors Paladin and Fighter.

[automater]

Thanks for info. Very helpful.

[sigtrent]

There are categories of sorts...

Highest self buffing
Absolute Maximum
Highest practical

You have two main routes

Heavy armor: Fighter or Paladin
- They are about even self buffing
- Fighter wins the absolute max
- Fighter can make a more well rounded AC tank
- Paladin can self heal and fighter generally can't

No armor: Monk+Ranger
Either one is pretty good, but put them together and its a very high AC combo

All AC builds are very gear dependent