How Good is a 24 AC for a Level 4 Paladin in DD 5E?

In Dungeons Dragons 5th Edition, a 24 Armor Class (AC) is considered exceptionally high for a level 4 paladin. This article will explore why this is significant and what factors contribute to such a high AC.

General AC Expectations

For most characters, AC is an important metric for determining their survivability in combat. In DD 5E, a paladin can typically start with a base AC of 16 if they are wearing plate armor, which they can wear starting at level 1. The base AC with chain mail is 14, and if the paladin uses a shield, their AC can increase to 18.

Shield Use

If a paladin uses a shield, they can increase their AC to 18, which is a significant boost. However, the maximum AC with both a shield and plate armor is 21 (16 base AC from plate 5 from the shield).

Factors Contributing to High AC

A level 4 paladin can achieve a 24 AC through various means:

Magic Items

A paladin could achieve a 24 AC through magic items such as a 2 shield or 2 armor. These artifacts often have a significant impact on a character's survivability and effectiveness in combat.

Spells

The Shield of Faith spell grants a 2 bonus to AC for the duration of the spell. This can be particularly useful if the paladin is using chain mail or similar armor. Considering the 2 bonus from the spell and the 5 from plate armor with a shield, the paladin's AC can be pushed to 25.

Ability Scores

If the paladin has a high Dexterity score, they can benefit from certain armor types that allow for a Dexterity bonus. However, the maximum Dexterity bonus a paladin can add to AC is 2, which is limited even with a score of 18 (the maximum Dexterity score).

Comparison to Typical Opponents

In combat, level 4 paladins typically face creatures with a Challenge Rating (CR) around 1 to 3. Most of these creatures will have attack bonuses ranging from 4 to 7. With an AC of 24, many of these attacks will miss, making the paladin very resilient.

Conclusion

A 24 AC for a level 4 paladin is outstanding and would make them very difficult to hit in combat. This level of AC allows the paladin to excel in frontline combat, absorb damage for allies, and maintain a strong presence in battles. Overall, this high AC is a significant advantage in both combat and survivability.

However, achieving such a high AC at level 4 is often considered overpowered by many players and DMs. There is a strong argument that such a level of AC should be rebalanced to ensure the game remains fair and balanced for all players.

As a general rule, if a level 4 character is achieving a 24 AC without significant deviation from standard rules and character builds, there may be an issue with the game balance. It is important for DMs to ensure all characters have a reasonable chance of surviving combat, and a 24 AC for a level 4 paladin generally goes beyond what is considered standard in the game.

For optimal gameplay and fairness, it is recommended to stick to the standard rules and character builds unless you are intentionally playing a character designed to be exceptionally powerful.