Newb20

Armor Class Components

Armor Class (AC) includes ability and size adjustments, plus bonuses to defensive components. State both the AC component and the bonus type whenever an effect changes AC. The component determines whether a condition removes the bonus; its bonus type determines stacking.

AC component	Common bonus type and source
Dexterity AC	The character’s Dexterity modifier.
Armor AC	An Armor bonus from worn armor; magic armor may also grant an Enhancement bonus to Armor AC.
Deflection AC	A Deflection bonus from an effect that turns aside attacks.
Shield AC	A Shield bonus from a wielded shield; magic shields may also grant an Enhancement bonus to Shield AC.
Natural Armor AC	A Natural Armor bonus from a creature’s hide or an effect; magic may instead grant an Enhancement bonus to Natural Armor AC.
Dodge AC	A Dodge bonus from evasion, movement, or an effect that helps avoid attacks.
Luck AC	A Luck bonus that improves the chance of avoiding an attack.
Size AC	The current Size adjustment to AC in the Combat Scaling table.

Stacking AC Modifiers

Add the contributions of separate AC components to determine total AC. Different bonus types to the same component stack unless a rule below says otherwise. Bonuses to different components both contribute, even when they have the same bonus type.

• Armor: Only one suit of armor can be worn. Armor bonuses do not stack. Enhancement bonuses to Armor AC also do not stack with each other; use the highest. A distinct Circumstance bonus to Armor AC stacks.
• Deflection: Deflection bonuses to Deflection AC do not stack; use the highest. A distinct Circumstance bonus to Deflection AC stacks.
• Shield: A creature can benefit from only one wielded shield, so Shield bonuses do not stack. Enhancement bonuses to Shield AC do not stack with each other; use the highest. A distinct Circumstance bonus to Shield AC stacks with the shield’s bonuses.
• Natural Armor: Natural Armor bonuses to Natural Armor AC stack with each other. Enhancement bonuses to Natural Armor AC do not stack with each other; use the highest. A Natural Armor bonus and an Enhancement bonus to Natural Armor AC stack because they are different bonus types.
• Dodge: Dodge bonuses to Dodge AC stack, including bonuses from separate effects of the same type.
• Luck: Luck bonuses to Luck AC stack. Luck bonuses to other statistics follow the general rules in Attributes.
• Circumstance: Distinct Circumstance bonuses to the same AC component stack; repeated instances of the same effect do not stack.

For bonus types not listed above, apply the general rules in Attributes.

Losing Dodge AC

When a condition makes a character Flat-Footed or says they lose their Dexterity and Dodge bonuses, remove the entire Dexterity AC and Dodge AC components, regardless of bonus type. Retain Armor AC, Shield AC, Natural Armor AC, Deflection AC, Luck AC, and Size AC unless a specific effect says otherwise.