What options exist to improve a low level Sorcerer's armor class?

Question

I'm creating a character for a new D&D 5e campaign soon. We'll be starting at level 3 to reduce PC mortality, and I don't expect the campaign to run long enough for more than a couple level increases. I plan to play a Sorcerer, with a Draconic Bloodline and Bronze ancestry, using mostly electrical/lightning based magic where sensible. This allows an increased maximum hit points, +1 per level, as well as improving unarmored armor class from 10 to 13.

This DM has us generate ability scores by rolling 4d6, reroll any 1s, then take the best three, six times and arranged as desired. I arrived at Str 15, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 14, and Cha 17. The human ability increase (+1 to each ability score) in this case gives +3 AC bonus due to Dex, bringing me to AC 16.

The party, however, will be smaller than the "standard" count (two or three PCs -- my Sorcerer, likely a Ranger, and possibly a Minotaur of some Fighter flavor), so combat roles can't be divided in the usual ways. Because of this, I'm concerned about the relative fragility of a Sorcerer in combat, with limited healing and limited protection from other PCs.

As I understand it, Mage Armor won't be any help for this build, because it can't be stacked with the Draconic Bloodline armor class of 13 + Dex bonus. How else can I improve the armor class of this low level sorcerer, whether via gaining the ability to wear armor, or otherwise?

Answer 1

You have several options to increase your AC.

Spells

Shield will increase your AC by 5 for a round and it's a life saver if you suddenly get swarmed. Though if you are not careful it can quickly eat through your few spell slots.

Mage armor will set your AC to 13+Dex if you are not wearing armor. It is of no use to a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer, but it's worth listing for the sake of other sorcerers.

Honorable to mention blur and mirror image. Although neither increases your AC they both make you much harder to hit. Mirror image doesn't even require concentration.

Racial Traits

Beasthide Shifters from ERLW gain a +1 bonus to AC when they use their Shifting trait.

Githyanki from MTF have light and medium armor (but not shield) proficiency through their Martial Prodigy trait.

Githzerai from MTF can cast shield once per long rest starting at level 3 through their Githzerai Psionics trait.

Hobgoblin from VGM have light armor proficiency through their Martial Training trait. It is of little use to a Draconic Sorcerer, but it's worth listing for the sake of other sorcers.

Lizardfolk from VGM have AC equal to 13+Dex through thier Natural Armor trait. It is of no use to a Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer, but it's worth listing for the sake of other sorcerers.

Mark of Sentinel Humans from ERLW can cast shield once per long rest through their Guardian's Shield trait and add shield of faith to their spell list through their Spells of the Mark trait.

Mountain Dwarfs from PHB have light and medium armor (but not shield) proficiency through their Dwarven Armor Training trait.

Tortles from TTP have AC equal to 17 through their Natural Armor trait. That just speaks for itself.

Loxodons from GGR have AC equal to 12+Con through their Natural Armor trait. At first glance this seems less than 13+Dex, but being able to scale both your AC and HP simultaneously with Con, while disregarding Dex can make you quite tanky.

Simic Hybrids from GGR can gain a +1 bonus to AC while not wearing heavy armor at level 5 through their Natural Enhancement trait.

Warforged from ERLW have +1 bonus to AC thanks to their Integrated Protection trait.

^{For races that appear in multiple books, I only mention their first official publication.}

Armor and shield

If you want heavy armor and shield, you will have to multiclass, the typical choices being a dip into either Fighter (which has to be your first level, but also gives you the Defense Fighting Style) or Clerics of certain domains.

For medium armor and shield you have a greater variety of choices.
On one hand, you could multiclass, the typical choices being again a dip into Fighter or Cleric.
On the other hand, you could get the Moderately Armored feat at level 4. However, to take that feat you need to have proficiency in light armor, which you could acquire from your race: Githyanki for their Martial Prodigy trait, Variant Human to start with the Lightly Armored feat, Hobgoblin for their Martial Training trait, and Mountain Dwarf for their Dwarven Armor Training trait.

What to choose

Each of these options come with costs, so which you choose depends on what you want to prioritize:

• Sorcerers have few spells known, so you may not want to learn too many defensive spells, but I really recommend taking shield regardless of any other choice you make.
• None of the playable races I have mentioned will boost your charisma, with the exception of an optional +1 from Variant Human, Simic Hybrid, or Warforged.
• Taking the Medium Armor feat will leave you relatively vulnerable at level 3 and will replace your Charisma increase at level 4. Moreover, although I personally prefer the Medium Armor feat I do not think it is a good option for you because it works best if the Dex is 13, which is impossible in your case.
• Dipping into a fighter will delay all your sorcerer features, while dipping into Cleric will delay all your sorcerer features except for the number of spell slots.

In your case, because your stats are all very high and you don't have to worry about being MAD, I think that dipping Cleric with a domain that grants heavy armor is the most effective option. You could do just fine with any race, but to maximise the AC further I would pick the Warforged.

Answer 2

Consider multi-classing into a College of Valor bard. For a three-level investment, you gain Medium Armor (though that doesn't work with Draconic Bloodline) and shields. You lose some high level spells known but actually end up ahead on total spells and retain full progression. That said, keep in mind you cannot use the same Focus for both spellcastings.