Calculating the AC of a character involves adding up the various sources of AC. Generally, most sources stack with each other, but not among themselves (with the exception of Dodge AC). For more information see Armor Class.
There are six types of AC in NWN2: Armor, Deflection, Dodge, Natural, Shield and Unarmored. Each subtype, other than unarmored, can be a base bonus or an enhancement bonus. Base bonuses stack and tend to be granted by persistent feats, while enhancement bonuses do not stack (with the exception of Dodge which stacks to +20) and are granted by spells, equipment and spell-like feats.
Against regular attacks all the types of AC are used for defense. Against touch attacks Deflection, Dodge and Unarmored are used for defense. When caught flat footed, Armor, Deflection, Natural and Unarmored are used for defense.
Unarmored[]
- Every creature has a base 10 points of unarmored AC.
Feats[]
- A monk's AC bonus (+1 per 5 levels) and wisdom ability modifier.
- Sacred Fist AC bonus: a total of +1 at 1st level, +2 at 5th, and +3 at 10th.
- Canny Defense: Intelligence modifier up to Duelist level (does not stack with Unfettered Defense)
- Unfettered Defense: Intelligence modifier up to Invisible Blade level (does not stack with Canny Defense)
- Small stature: +1
- Combat Expertise: +3
- Improved Combat Expertise: +6
- Luck of Heroes: +1
- Armor Skin: +1
- Bone Skin: +2 with an additional +2 every four Pale Master levels
- Red Dragon Disciple AC bonus: +1 with an additional +1 bonus gained at level 4 and every 3 subsequent Red Dragon Disciple levels.
- Yuan-Ti Pureblood AC bonus: +1 racial bonus
NOTE: These are actually base dodge AC as they are lost while flat footed but do not apply to any cap:
- Canny Defense: Intelligence modifier up to Duelist level (does not stack with Unfettered Defense)
- Unfettered Defense: Intelligence modifier up to Invisible Blade level (does not stack with Canny Defense
Armor[]
Base[]
Items[]
- Padded armor: +1
- Leather armor: +2
- Studded leather armor: +3
- Hide armor: +3
- Chain shirt: +4
- Scale mail: +4
- Chainmail: +5
- Breastplate: +5
- Splint mail: +6
- Banded mail: +6
- Half plate: +7
- Full plate: +8
Enhancement[]
Items[]
- Armor: +0-20
- Bracers: +0-20
Spells[]
- Improved Mage Armor: +6 AC ( nw_s0_impmagarm.NSS )
- Mage Armor: +4 AC ( nw_s0_magearm.NSS )
- Magic Vestments: +1/4 caster levels (max +5)
Shield[]
Base[]
Items[]
- Light Shield: +1
- Heavy Shield: +2
- Tower Shield: +4
Feats[]
- Two-Weapon Defense: +1 AC Shield Bonus
- Improved Two-Weapon Defense: +2 AC Shield Bonus (Replaces the bonus from Two-Weapon Defense)
Enhancement[]
Items[]
- Shield: +0-20
Spells[]
- Shield: +4 Shield
- Shades: +4 Shield ( nw_s0_shadescaster.NSS )
- Magic Vestments: +1/4 caster levels (max +5)
Natural[]
Enhancement[]
Items[]
- Amulet: +0-20
Spells[]
- Righteous Might: +2 Natural ( nw_s0_rightmight.NSS )
- Shadow Shield: +5
- Tortoise Shell: 6 + [(Level-11)/3, round down], to a maximum of +9 ( nw_s0_tortshell.NSS )
- Spiderskin: Max +5
- Barkskin: Max +5
Feats[]
- Elephant's Hide: +7
- Barbarian Rage with Ice Troll Berserker Feat: +2 to +6 (see nw_s1_barbrage.NSS)
Deflection[]
Enhancement[]
Items[]
- Rings: +0-20
- Cloaks: +0-20
- Helms: +0-20
- Belts: +0-20
- Weapons: +0-20
Spells[]
- Protection from Alignment: +2 Deflection (Vs. Target Alignment)
- Shield Other: +1 AC for protected person
- Shield of Faith: +2 with a an additional +1 bonus for every 6 caster levels (+5 max).
- Aura versus Alignment: +4 (Vs. Target Alignment) [for the function doAura in x0_i0_spells.nss]
Feats[]
- Blessing of the Spirits: Spirit Shaman 4 on self, +2
- Warding of the Spirits: Spirit Shaman 10 on Party, +2
Dodge[]
Feats[]
- Dodge: +1 AC against attacks from current target or last attacker and does not count towards the +20 limit.
- Swashbuckler Dodge: +1/5 Swashbuckler levels against attacks from current target or last attacker and does not count towards the +20 limit.
Abilities[]
- Dexterity bonus to AC: Dexterity modifier to a maximum of the Maximum dexterity bonus granted by armor (if armor is worn). Technically this is not dodge AC and does not count towards the +20 limit. However, since the dexterity bonus is lost or applied whenever a dodge bonus is lost or applied it is grouped with them here for practical purposes.
Base[]
Feats[]
- Slippery Defense: +4 AC bonus
- Improved Defense: +1 with an additional +1 bonus gained at level 4 and every 3 subsequent Dwarven Defender levels.
Skills[]
- Tumble: Up to +1 per 10 base ranks
Enhancement[]
Items[]
- Boots: +0-20
Spells[]
- Enlarge Person: -1 ( nw_s0_enlrgeper.NSS )
- Righteous Might: -1 ( nw_s0_rightmight.NSS )
- Recitation: +2, +3 if same deity ( nx_s0_recitation.NSS )
- Reduce Person: +1
- Haste: +1
- Battletide: +1 (+2 without other haste)
Feats[]
- Barbarian Rage: -2
- Frenzy: -4 ( nw_s1_frenzy.NSS )
- Defensive Stance: Dwarven Defender +4
- Divine Shield: Charisma modifier
Songs[]
- Chorus of Heroism: +4 for party
- Inspire Defense: After level 10, ( 2 + ((Level - 5) / 5) ( nw_s2_sngindefn.NSS )