[3.5] DR/- and How to Stack It

[Thurbane]

So, I was just wondering, how high can you stack DR/- on an ECL 20 build?

There are a few sources that explicitly stack (according to Lists of Stuff (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=1412.0)), so it should be able to get boosted pretty high?

P.S. Specifically talking DR/-, and not DR/epic, DR/adamantine or anything else.

Cheers - T

[OldTrees1]

Start with the Roll With It feat
DR # Feats x2 / -

So a Dwarf Generic Warrior 20 with 2 flaws would have DR 40/-

[Jack_Simth]

Start with the Roll With It feat
DR # Feats x2 / -

So a Dwarf Generic Warrior 20 with 2 flaws would have DR 40/-
38. The feat has a prerequisite of Toughness.

[OldTrees1]

38. The feat has a prerequisite of Toughness.

Doh. I remembered to meet the 20 Con prereq but I forgot the Toughness prereq.

Still it should be hard to beat without delving into items, since every 2 levels replaced is a loss of 2 DR.

[Know(Nothing)]

The Thick-Skinned feat from Savage Species increases an existing DR by 2, so if you find a source of DR that isn't feat-based you could use that instead.

[cakellene]

Just remember, all the DR in the world is irrelevant against magic.

[OldTrees1]

The Thick-Skinned feat from Savage Species increases an existing DR by 2, so if you find a source of DR that isn't feat-based you could use that instead.

Barbarian(Berserker Strength) 1 gains DR 2/- when low on hp (less than 5hp per Barbarian level).

Human Barbarian(Berserker Strength) 1 with 2 flaws would have DR 10/- when at 5hp or less.
Dwarf Generic Warrior 1 with 2 flaws would have DR 6/-.

However for the Barbarian to raise the maximum hp for their DR, they would pass up many more bonus feats.

Human Barbarian(Berserker Strength) 6 with 2 flaws would have DR 14/- when at 30hp or less.
Human Barbarian(Berserker Strength) 1 / Generic Warrior 5 with 2 flaws would have DR 20/- when at 5hp or less.
Dwarf Generic Warrior 6 with 2 flaws would have DR 16/-.

[giggyex]

Just remember, all the DR in the world is irrelevant against magic.

DR/magic is irrelevant. DR/- isn't.

[jindra34]

DR/magic is irrelevant. DR/- isn't.

Except every bloody spell, and source of energy damage doesn't even get checked. DR just doesn't cover much that is a real threat that you want covered.

[Karnith]

DR/magic is irrelevant. DR/- isn't.
To expand on what jindra34 said, Damage Reduction is only effective against damage from weapons (and a few other niche cases, like metacreativity powers that dealing bludgeoning, slashing, or piercing damage); it offers no protection against damage from energy, spells, SLAs, supernatural abilities, etc. Per the SRD (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#damageReduction):

A creature with this special quality ignores damage from most weapons and natural attacks. Wounds heal immediately, or the weapon bounces off harmlessly (in either case, the opponent knows the attack was ineffective). The creature takes normal damage from energy attacks (even nonmagical ones), spells, spell-like abilities, and supernatural abilities. A certain kind of weapon can sometimes damage the creature normally, as noted below.
So while damage dealt by magic weapons will be reduced by DR X/-, most forms of magic will go right through it.

[Eldonauran]

Anointed Knight, Book of Exalted Deeds. You can get damage reduction 3/- with a single level (18+ Cha) or four levels (12+ Cha).

[OldTrees1]

Human Barbarian (Berserker Strength) 1 / Generic Warrior 4 / Anointed Knight 1 / Generic Warrior +14, 2 flaws

DR 27/- (3 Anointed knight 1, +2x12 Thick Skinned feats)
While at 5hp or less, DR +16/- (2 Barbarian 1, 2x7 Thick Skinned feats)
While at 5hp or less, DR 41/-

This would be a funny opponent. "Quick! Cast cure light wounds on him so that my power attacks can get through."