Understand how Armor Class, Dexterity, and proficiencies affect your defense in Baldur's Gate 3. Learn about Light, Medium, and Heavy armor types and their stats.
In Baldur's Gate 3, your Armor Class (AC) determines how difficult it is for enemies to hit you. An Attack Roll must meet or exceed your AC to deal damage. Your AC is primarily calculated from your Dexterity modifier and any bonus from worn armor or Natural Armor. A higher AC means you're harder to hit.
A character's base AC is 10. Different armor types provide varying AC bonuses. Padded and Leather armor offer a base AC of 11, while Plate armor can reach an AC of 18. However, armor's protective value is balanced by other factors:
- Heavier armor might cap your Dexterity modifier bonus to AC at +2.
- Heavier armor can impose Disadvantage on Stealth checks.
- Heavier armor's weight can cause Encumbrance for characters with low Strength.
- Light, Medium, and Heavy armor require specific proficiencies, which not all classes possess.
| Light Armour | Armour Class | Dexterity Limit | Stealth Rolls | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Padded | 11 | – | – | 3.6 | 70 |
| Leather | 11 | – | – | 4.5 | 120 |
| Studded Leather | 12 | – | – | 5.85 | 500 |
| Medium Armour | Armour Class | Dexterity Limit | Stealth Rolls | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hide | 12 | +2 | – | 5.4 | 60 |
| Chain Shirt | 13 | +2 | – | 9 | 130 |
| Scale Mail | 14 | +2 | Disadvantage | 12 | 200 |
| Breastplate | 14 | +2 | – | 9 | 250 |
| Half Plate | 15 | +2 | Disadvantage | 18 | 350 |
| Heavy Armour | Armour Class | Dexterity Limit | Stealth Rolls | Weight | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Mail | 14 | +0 | Disadvantage | 18 | 300 |
| Chainmail | 16 | +0 | Disadvantage | 24.8 | 400 |
| Splint | 17 | +0 | Disadvantage | 27 | 700 |
| Plate | 18 | +0 | Disadvantage | 29.3 | 1500 |
Armor proficiencies vary by class. Martial classes generally have more proficiencies than spellcasters. Wearing armor you are not proficient with results in Disadvantage on Strength and Dexterity based Ability Checks, Attack Rolls, and Saving Throws, and prevents spellcasting.
| Class | Light Armor | Medium Armor | Heavy Armor | Shield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bard | Yes | No | No | No |
| Cleric | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Druid | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Fighter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Paladin | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ranger | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rogue | Yes | No | No | No |
| Sorcerer | No | No | No | No |
| Warlock | Yes | No | No | No |
| Wizard | No | No | No | No |
The bonus Dexterity provides to AC is inversely related to the armor's base AC. Light Armor allows the full Dexterity bonus, Medium Armor caps it at +2, and Heavy Armor provides no Dexterity bonus.
For example, a Fighter with 16 Dexterity (+3) wearing Studded Leather (AC 12) would have an AC of 15 (12 + 3). If they switched to Breastplate (AC 14, +2 Max Dex), their AC would be 16 (14 + 2). With Chain Mail (AC 16), their AC would remain 16 (16 + 0 Dex).
Heavy armor, especially items like Scale Mail, Half Plate, and all Heavy Armor types, can impose Disadvantage on Stealth checks, making them unsuitable for characters focused on sneaking.
Helmets and Shields are simpler. Light Armor helmets require Light Armor Proficiency and grant a +1 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws. Medium and Heavy Armor helmets require their respective proficiencies and offer other benefits, though the source text cuts off before detailing them fully.
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