Shield AC for a caster
 

I'm curious how effective a shield like "A Shimmering Orb" (15 AC, +20hp) is at reducing max hits. Ive heard shield AC is far more effective than other AC at reducing max hits. In my mind, that could be very helpful dmg reduction.

For example, you are getting quadded for 180 a hit. If one of those 4 hits only lands for 90 dmg, you are saving yourself 90 hps. Two rounds you save 180 hp. ( All hypothetical, and best best case scenario).

Now imagine a secondary item (lets say a stein) with no AC, buy a +90 hp bonus. This thing would probably sell for 5k. A shimmering orb sells for 100pp.

If you are following, it seems like caster shield AC is undervalued. I assume im missing something, or valuing AC too much. Most casters i see do not bother with shield.

I have no idea about the actual numbers/calculations ... but the short answer is that adding 15 AC to a caster is not going to make a noticeable difference.

Now, to be fair, Shaman/Clerics do get meaningful benefits from enough AC, and so stacking AC on them isn't worthless ... but, even for them, 15 AC will not mean enough of a difference that the player can observe: you'd only see it in parses.

just get buckler of insight ffs

Shimmering orb is amazing way worth it over any +int/mana item until u can get another shield item with int. even 10ac +5 int is not worth losing out on that 5 ac in that shield slot.

Surely this depends on level, which will basically indicate whether the wizard can get their mitigation AC close enough to a mob's attack.

AC worked great on my blue wizard facetanknukespamming gnolls, but did basically nothing against spectres (at which point I took up quadding).

Yeah ac starts to suck anyway for casters post 35 as their skills are pretty much capped in sync with like lvl 20s mobs.

Still a great item and could mean the difference between dying in one round to a lvl 50 mob quadding or lasting two rounds and getting a heal, mob rooted and backing off.. boils a bit down to luck but the AC makes that luck possible.