Dex based Magus AC

[Fencer_guy]

I am at 3rd level with him. 18 Dex. Its my first Magus so I have been going straight class (no arechtypes or dips) I was wondering though what should my AC be? Right now I have an 18 right now. We don't have any magic armor yet. I have a chain shirt. I took the Shield Arcana as my 3rd level.

is 18 good? How can I get it better?

Thanks.

PS The people who wrote the Magus Guides... Thank you very much I have been using A LOT!

[Bob Bob Bob]

The numbers I've seen quoted are 10+level is the low end of acceptable, 15+level is average, and 20+level is high. At lower levels this varies a lot more, the main reason to get a decent AC is for iterative attacks so low levels don't matter as much for them. The basics for AC are armor (+enhancements), shield (+enhancements), ring of protection, and amulet of natural armor. In that order, in fact. Ring is better than amulet because it also applies to touch AC, armor and shield are half the price of ring and amulet. You can also substitute the shield spell for a shield and mage armor for armor but at a certain point the real thing surpasses them.

[Gisher]

I agree with everything Bob said. Eventually you'll probably want to switch to mithral armor to accommodate enhancements to your dexterity. For a high dexterity magus, celestial chainmail is usually the best possible armor.

[blashimov]

That said, start most combats with the shield spell, you'll instantly jump to 22, which is quite good.

[Cap. Darling]

blashimov wrote:

That said, start most combats with the shield spell, you'll instantly jump to 22, which is quite good.

This is good advice and mirror image will also allow you to stand with the big guys. I dont like the shield arcana since it is so short and so expensive but if it works for you i am interested in hearing how.

There is in the bestiary a part called monster creation with suggestet numbers for monsters on different CRs if you look at that it will give a good idea about what you need to be able to hit, avoid, save vs and so on.