1. What is Armor Class in D&D 5e?

Armor Class (AC) represents how difficult it is to land a successful attack on a character. It's determined by the base 10, modified by Dexterity and any armor or magical protections the character has.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic AC formula:

Where:

• 10 — Base AC with no armor
• DEX modifier — Character's Dexterity modifier
• Armor bonus — Bonus from worn armor or shield

Note: Some armors have maximum DEX modifiers. This calculator assumes you're using the full DEX modifier.

3. Importance of AC Calculation

Details: Accurate AC calculation is crucial for combat effectiveness. It determines whether attacks hit or miss your character.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your character's DEX modifier (can be negative) and total armor bonus (including shields). The calculator will compute your total AC.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if I'm wearing heavy armor?
A: Heavy armor typically doesn't allow DEX bonuses (except for some magical armors). Use just the armor's base AC.

Q2: How do shields factor in?
A: Add +2 to your armor bonus when using a shield (or the shield's specific bonus if magical).

Q3: What about natural armor?
A: Creatures with natural armor use different calculations. This calculator is for standard character AC.

Q4: What's a good AC value?
A: At level 1, 14-16 is decent. High-level characters often have 18-22 AC.

Q5: Do temporary bonuses count?
A: Temporary bonuses (like spells) aren't included here - add them to the final AC value.