Effective ways to get a shield bonus to AC with a monk

[King of Nowhere]

exactly what it says in the title.
By this time, everyone else in the party can afford an animated shield for a relatively low price, and get a nice boost to AC. Can a monk get something? if I read it correctly, an animated shield still interferes with monk abilities. There is the ring of force shield, I'm not sure if it interferes with monk abilities, but it's only a meager +2. Getting a permanent shield effect as per the spell would be a +4, but susceptible to be dispelled; we don't use persistency sheanigans at our table anyway.
What else?

[daremetoidareyo]

A riding shield, an exotic saddle (A&EG), and a sentient small or tiny buddy to ride the monk into battle as a mount.

[heavyfuel]

Wand of Shield + UMD

Persistent Shield is a lv 5 spell. Should be affordable to get an item of it if you were considering an Animated Shield

A 1/day item of it should cost 22k if I got my math correct, and it follows the main rule for custom magic items which is having a similar price to existing items. A +2 animated darkwood heavy shield offers +4 Shield Bonus and no ACP for just over 16k, so paying 22k for a dispellable, non upgradable item of +4 AC bonus sould be perfectly fine (though animated shields are super cheap imo and I houserule them to be a +5 bonus instead of +2)

[RedMage125]

Doesn't a Mithril Buckler have no Armor Check Penalty? So using a +5 Mithril Buckler gets you a fairly cheap +6 Shield Bonus to AC. But since a monk is not proficient in shields, he takes the (-0) penalty to all his attack rolls.

[AnimeTheCat]

Feat intensive method, two weapon defense and improved two weapon defense.

[heavyfuel]

Doesn't a Mithril Buckler have no Armor Check Penalty? So using a +5 Mithril Buckler gets you a fairly cheap +6 Shield Bonus to AC. But since a monk is not proficient in shields, he takes the (-0) penalty to all his attack rolls.

Technically correct (and if we're using mithril, we might as well go Heavy Shield for 1 extra AC). Though there is this bit:

When wearing armor, using a shield, or carrying a medium or heavy load, a monk loses her AC bonus, as well as her fast movement and flurry of blows abilities.

[Maat Mons]

Trade all of the monk class features that say they don't work with a shield for alternative class features that don't say that?

Play some sort of monk / sorcerer / abjurant champion / enlightened fist build?

Wear armor and a shield, and don't sweat the loss of wis to AC, fast movement, and flurry of blows?

Play an unarmed-variant swordsage?

[heavyfuel]

Trade all of the monk class features that say they don't work with a shield for alternative class features that don't say that?

Well, this works by RAW, but I don't think many DMs would allow for it.

Play some sort of monk / sorcerer / abjurant champion / enlightened fist build?

Play an unarmed-variant swordsage?

These things aren't Monks. They don't answer OPs questions

[Maat Mons]

A multiclass monk is still a monk. And the last one was a joke.

Monk 17 / Sorcerer 1 / Abjurant Champion 2 allows you to cast Shield as a swift action, and gain a +6 bonus from it.

[RedMage125]

Technically correct (and if we're using mithril, we might as well go Heavy Shield for 1 extra AC). Though there is this bit:

Well, that applies to using an animated shield, then, too.

Looks like shield spell or ring of force shield is best bet.

[heavyfuel]

A multiclass monk is still a monk. And the last one was a joke.

Arguable.

A Swift Hunter Scout X/C. Cleric 1/Ranger X doesn't play like a Cleric, even if he has a single level in Cleric. This character can't solve the party's clerical needs effectively (healing HP, healing other things, buffing, removing debuffs, summoning, controlling undead, etc)

If I ask for advice for a Fighter and you say "Take 2 levels in Fighter for the Bonus feats and then 18 levels in Warblade" I won't really be playing a Fighter. I'll be playing a Warblade that dipped Fighter for Bonus Feats.

Saying "Go play another class" is dumb advice, especially for someone like King of Nowhere who clearly knows of these classes and chose not to take them.

As for it being a joke, well, it's hard to tell with writing. There are honest suggestions like that.

[Fizban]

The cheap RAW item you're probably looking for is the Drow House Insignia (Drow of the Underdark). 1/day 1st level spell with cl 5, for far less than the formula price would give out cl 5. They set the caster level at 5th because there are three different versions up to 3rd level spells, so the umbrella entry using the MiC format sets them all to cl 5, nice job *eyeroll*. There's a list of "typically" contained spells, which already includes Shield. You can easily afford to buy however many you want, just like the underpriced Healing Belt.

The alternative I would use is to get the DM to fix the monk class, the most important part of which is their lack of AC turning them into punching bags instead of dodgy kung-fu masters. I use 2 +1/2 level (+wis) for the total monk bonus, which never stacks with any form of armor or shield bonus except Bracers of Armor (or Monk's Clothes of Armor). This means their "armor" bonus starts out at leather and ends up at super ultra plate, with a standard enhancement formula item to boost it, and the wis bonus shouldn't scale past +9 or +10 pre-epic, making it go from heavy shield to +5 tower shield in value.

[Jack_Simth]

exactly what it says in the title.
By this time, everyone else in the party can afford an animated shield for a relatively low price, and get a nice boost to AC. Can a monk get something? if I read it correctly, an animated shield still interferes with monk abilities. There is the ring of force shield, I'm not sure if it interferes with monk abilities, but it's only a meager +2.

Personally, I tend to be lenient with such things with pure-classed Monks (but your mileage may vary, ask your DM). You might also ask if you can get Magic Vestments on it from a UMD'd wand (at high caster level, of course).

Getting a permanent shield effect as per the spell would be a +4, but susceptible to be dispelled; we don't use persistency sheanigans at our table anyway.
What else?

Are custom items up for consideration? Shield is a 1st level spell with a minutes/level duration. In theory, the Estimation Section says it's either spell level * caster level * 2,000 gp * duration modifier = 1 * 1 * 2,000 gp * 2 = 4,000 gp, or it's "AC bonus (other)" at bonus squared * 2,500 gp = +1 Shield AC for 2,500 gp, +2 Shield AC for 10k, +3 for 22.5k, +4 for 40k (and so on).

[Maat Mons]

A Swift Hunter Scout X/C. Cleric 1/Ranger X doesn't play like a Cleric, even if he has a single level in Cleric.

Monk 7 / Sorcerer 1 / Abjurant Champion 2 / Enlightened Fist 10 is a whopping 17 levels of monkly-goodness. Just 3 levels of dipping to get a +6 shield bonus as a swift action.

And if you don't like Enlightened Fist, take more monk levels. Or take levels in one of the many other prestige classes that gives continued advancement of Monk abilities.

I figured you may as well go Enlightened Fist, but it's not mandatory. The Sorcerer 1 / Abjurant Champion 2 dip still does it's job of ensuring you'll have a +6 shield bonus to AC even if you never wind up gaining access to 2nd-level spells.

[Zaq]

Partially charged Wand of Shield + UMD

Fixed. Pretty sure that’s how Monks are supposed to work. Pretty sure.

That’s still funny, right? I think so, at least.

[animewatcha]

Closest thing would be manople. Give up feat for proficiency if you wish to retain AC for attack with it ( otherwise, you can just not attack with it ). It's a weapon that can be treated like a shield ( and not be a shield ). +1 shield bonus to ac. Is a gauntlet you were over your hand that is a sai with 3 blades or something IIRC. Your hand cannot be used for anything whether it is carrying things within it, casting spells or using skills. So you have magic gloves ( like of the uldra ). Just wear the manople OVER it. By RAW, it isn't a shield and doesn't violate monk ac bonus. I coulda sworn there was another weapon, but couldn't find one that fit this criteria.

[Petrukio]

Wand of Shield + UMD

Another variant of this (and the one that I use for my monk): Wand of Shield (or scrolls if your DM is a stickler), a compatriot with one level or more of arcanist, bloodrager, investigator, magus, occultist, psychic, sorcerer, spiritualist, summoner, or wizard (or, yes, someone with a good chance at a DC 21 UMD check), and a Cracked Vibrant Purple Prism Ioun Stone for 2,000gp. Instant one-minute duration of Shield any time the monk wants it at the cost of one standard action. Just add casting at some point before combat - even days, weeks, or months beforehand.

[noce]

A class says "you can wear pretty much nothing", people take it and then come here asking how to wear the things they cannot wear.
Monk is not a class, is a trap. The answer is you should avoid it.

[emeraldstreak]

Shield (UMD, Dragonmarked), Force Screen (tattoos, UPD, Hidden Talent). Both of these could be made into a custom continuous item.

[emeraldstreak]

All the newbies who **** on the Monk aren't contributing. OP had a specific question.

[King of Nowhere]

The alternative I would use is to get the DM to fix the monk class, the most important part of which is their lack of AC turning them into punching bags instead of dodgy kung-fu masters. I use 2 +1/2 level (+wis) for the total monk bonus, which never stacks with any form of armor or shield bonus except Bracers of Armor (or Monk's Clothes of Armor). This means their "armor" bonus starts out at leather and ends up at super ultra plate, with a standard enhancement formula item to boost it, and the wis bonus shouldn't scale past +9 or +10 pre-epic, making it go from heavy shield to +5 tower shield in value.

We are not particularly high in optimization, and I am the best optimizer of the party - I picked a monk also to avoid overshadowing other players, though I also had a nice backstory in mind. Plus I got some goodies when we freed a godlike being and he granted us all something wish-like.
Long story short, my character is pretty effective, and does not need any boost. I could not ask for one with a straight face.
It's just that I have a bunch of extra money and I bought all the cheap items, and I was wondering if there was a way to tap into that nice potential source of AC.

So, it seems I will have to look for a custom-made item. Eventually, cause 20thousand is still not that cheap at the moment.
thanks to everyone who gave meaningful answers.

A class says "you can wear pretty much nothing", people take it and then come here asking how to wear the things they cannot wear.

Well, the druid class says you can't cast spells when in animal form, and yet there isn't a single druid who's not casting while wildshaped. Oh, and the rules say that you can't cast in antimagic field, but guess what, there are ways to do just that. And persistent spell says you have to use a slot 6 levels higher, but a lot of people do it for free.
in this game, "you can't do x" simply means "you have to find a circuitous route"; possibly spend a feat or buy a specific item.

Monk is not a class, is a trap. The answer is you should avoid it.

I am having plenty of fun playing monk, and would not trade it with anything else, thanks.

[ThatMoonGuy]

I don't know what's your table's opinion on Pathfinder material, specially 3party Pathfinder material but Monk of the Silver Fist can get shield bonus to AC when wearing a gauntlet (even a rope gauntlet).

[Silly Name]

Couldn't you ask the DM to not interpret the clause about using shields in a less stringent way? Yes, one could make the RAW argument that an Animated Shield would interfere with the Monk's abilities, but I think an argument can be made that RAI one could ignore that.

If that is a no, keep in mind that Animated Shields are susceptible to dispels, too, so getting a Permanent Shield spell isn't strictly worse. I am also pretty sure that a Ring of Force Shield shouldn't interfere with your monk features.

Does the bonus have to be of the Shield type? Since the Monk's armor bonus is untyped, you can add pretty much anything on it. Amulet of Natural Armor, Bracers of Armor and Ring of Protection don't give you a shield bonus, but they still increase your AC, and I would say a Ring of Protection is better than any shield since deflection bonuses apply to touch attacks as well.

[daremetoidareyo]

There is an exotic weapon that gives a shield bonus. I'm like 99% sure of it.

These might violate the prohibition on using a shield due to RAW. Manople from sandstorm. also dwarf buckler axe and gnome tortoise blade from races of stone.

This is absolutely RAW allowed: Sang Kauw from OA.

[MaxiDuRaritry]

Monk 1 or 2 / psion or ardent X with force screen and inertial armor would get you more AC than you can shake a monk at.

[Xasten]

Well, that applies to using an animated shield, then, too.

Looks like shield spell or ring of force shield is best bet.

Even the ring of force shield functions like a shield, so no go.

[Silly Name]

Even the ring of force shield functions like a shield, so no go.

No, the difference is that the description of Animated Shield explicitely calls out that you incur the normal penalties for using a shield even if your shield is floating half a foot from you and you aren't physically carrying it. Thus, a case can be made that an Animated Shield would interfere with the "no carrying shields" clause of the Monk's Armor Bonus feature.

The Ring of Force Shield creates a weightless, encumbrance-free Wall of Force which grants a +2 AC bonus to the wearer. It can be wielded by the wearer as if it were a shield, but it clearly doesn't follows the normal rules for shields.

[RedMage125]

Even the ring of force shield functions like a shield, so no go.

Using a ring that creates an entirely weightless field of force that "functions like a shield" is not "using a shield". It is "using a ring".

Meanwhile, using a shield with the Animated property is still using a shield.

[mabriss lethe]

Not exactly what you want, since it isn't a shield bonus, and a bit cheesy, but a +5 Defending shuriken is rather inexpensive. (Iirc, defending doesn't have a melee only limitation, though the srd inexplicably calls it out as a sword in the description.)

[Thurbane]

In addition to what's already been mentioned:

• Gnome Battle Cloak (exotic shield, RoS p.155): "not really a shield" - make of that what you will; although later in the description says "retrieved and readied just like other shields". Probably not going to count.
• Phrenic (template): force screen 1/day.
• Twin Sword Style (regional feat, PGtF p.46): +2 shield bonus against one opponent.