Melee AC while leveling up

[Qezuzu]

Alright. So I TRed a rogue, and have learned the value of having a high AC while leveling.

But, I feel as though my AC is running dry on elite lvl12 content. I was getting hit very often, in a full party, with 44 self buffed AC.

10 base
10 armor bonus (+5 mith breastplate)
7 DEX bonus (mobility boots used)
4 Deflection
4 wand of shield
3 barkskin pot
2 defensive stance
2 ship buffs
1 Etheral bracers (insight)
1 Haste

I believe I can get another 4 AC by getting the cloak of flames, bracers of wind, and a crafted +1 dodge trinket. That's 48 AC... I also use the Roar belt from DQ, which is effectively +2 AC against most trash.

I also have a wand of recitation, but they're rare.

I can also use Improved Uncanny Dodge and Human Versatility boost for a short term, but significant, +10 to AC. So I can get 54 AC in tight spots right now, and 58 if I farm some stuff...

Basically, when will this AC not be very helpful? And is there any source of AC that I missed?

Note that I plan on running elites a lot, but I will consider AC when farming on lower diffs.

[TPICKRELL]

The effectiveness of AC varies by content. Was this by chance Lordsmarch? If so, they seem to have higher to hits relative to level than most content.

I've generally found that a 50 AC is meaningful in most content into the GiantlHold or Orchard level.

[TPICKRELL]

Also options that could add a few more points.

As noted, you don't have a dodge item in the list, 1 and 2 are craftable and aren't terribly expensive. I usually craft a natural armor +3/Dodge +2 trinket for toons that have a meaningful ac... saves hassling with pots and adds a couple of points. Dodge +3 is available on the wind bracers in the challenges, the mabar cloak has dodge +2, and the challenge cloak of flame has insight 4.

Also, there are 3 stacking natural armor buffs on our ship (Kundarik, Deneith and the kobold all give +1).

[Qezuzu]

It was indeed lordsmarch, but also Wiz King. Wiz King was not as bad, but there was also a ranger who gave me barkskin.

Apparently, the lvl13 Paladin hireling has a +4 AC aura, and can LoH me. I'll have to see if his AI is worth dealing with, either as an active combatant or as an invisible, killable AC item. Could be useful when not in a full party.

[Stormraiser]

Don't forget combat expertise if you want 5 extra AC.
See if you can find a way to get blur on yourself.

[Glenalth]

It's worth noting that if you go the Bracers of Wind route at level 12 and fully upgrade them, you can craft your +1 dodge bonus onto them and it will stack with the +2 bonus on them already. The added Blurry effect for another 20% miss chance helps a lot too.

If you wait for the level 16 version you'll get that +2 dodge upgraded to +3 and the +1 dodge granted when the Air Guard buff goes off stacks as well.

[wax_on_wax_off]

This is the thread that I put my experiences with AC on my monk splashed rogue. I'd suggest that another easy source of AC is to spec as acrobat, showtime gives +2 AC if you haven't capped out your MDB and it gives extra uses of uncanny dodge. For me this just meant leaving haste boost at tier 2 and maxing out damage boost to open extra action boost enhancements.

I found at your level that attack on stormreach needed 60-65 elite but then GH needed 55-60 (for 95% misses). With 50 AC you'll still be seeing a significant amount of misses (50% damage mitigation probably).

Could always run the Titan raid, I pulled the Chattering Ring on my first run through (2 of them dropped in the chest along with some other gear!)

[ThePrincipal]

nice weapon to use is cursespewing, which effectively gives you a +4 AC once the mob is cursed.

[Qezuzu]

This is the thread that I put my experiences with AC on my monk splashed rogue. I'd suggest that another easy source of AC is to spec as acrobat, showtime gives +2 AC if you haven't capped out your MDB and it gives extra uses of uncanny dodge. For me this just meant leaving haste boost at tier 2 and maxing out damage boost to open extra action boost enhancements.

I actually just converted to Acrobat, since I don't have ITWF anyway. The extra IUD's, knockdown immunity, and passive run speed make it a great leveling PrE...

I also have the Abbot's Breeze staff, which is REALLY nice. Slicing winds procs a lot, it has Roaring so it automatically lowers enemy to-hit by 2 (does Roar guard and Toar weapon stack?), and it has telekinetic.

Could always run the Titan raid, I pulled the Chattering Ring on my first run through (2 of them dropped in the chest along with some other gear!)

I've ran that raid 50 times and still don't have one...

[78mackson]

At that level you kill everything within a second so AC isn't really a big issue, no?

EDIT: 40-50 ac works fine in desert/GH on elite. Not immune; as you are on lower level but doable with some kÃ*lling power.