Is mage armor worth it 5e

Last UpdatedMarch 5, 2024

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nomo311. Mar 18, 2022 · 5E Classes That Can Learn the Mage Armor Spell. Jun 15, 2022 · However, at 20 Dexterity, the Mage Armor spell would give us 18 AC before adding a shield, beating both standard options unless either is +2 or better. Mage Armor at will is just basically an AC of 13+Dex; it's akin to an unarmored defense, but Apr 10, 2016 · Yes, Mage Armour and a shield stack. From my point of view Mage Armor is far superior to Shield. Draconic Sorc is 13+Dex, or Mage Armour is 13+Dex, you can't use both calculations. 101-50,000. Mirror image is a second level spell that lasts for one minute, both disadvantages compared to Mage Armor. Jun 28, 2012, 01:18 pm. There are plenty of other invocations that can get you stuff quite 120 armor isn't much. Feb 10, 2018 · +1 armor is a rare magic item: Because of 5e's bounded accuracy system, +1 armor is actually pretty significant as a magic item. Yes, this would work. Classes: sorcerer, wizard. Spell Lists: Sorcerer, Wizard. Anything you would want to cast on yourself to keep from getting hit needs to be able to reliably survive when you do get hit for it to be worth it. You can only have one Base AC, so they do not stack — if you have both active you must choose one Base AC or the other, usually whichever is better, and cannot combine them in any way. Mage armor also sets a way to determine your AC. Nov 4, 2022 · You manifest scales and claws reminiscent of your draconic ancestors. Components: V, S, M (A link of a metal chain) Duration: 8 hours. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving Mage armor gives you almost as much armor (3 vs 5) and lasts for 8 hours, meaning casting it once will likely help you through multiple encounters. This 1st level spell is also popular among players, and is really a must-have in every caster’s arsenal. Mage armor specifies that it works on a creature who isn’t wearing armor. That's not a bonus to AC, it's an alternative way to determine your AC. Mage Armor provides an armor bonus. Nov 14, 2023 · The exploration of spells similar to Armor of Agathys 5e highlights the rich tapestry of defensive and retaliatory magic available in D&D 5e. Cost in Gold Pieces. even then, it could be useful if you ever have to escort a commoner through somewhere dangerous. You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor, and a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends. The effect grants a +2 enhancement bonus to the creature’s existing natural armor bonus. Feb 15, 2023 · The Best Light Armor in 5E. •. That way you save on spells prepared/known for other things, but you still get the benefit of Jan 2, 2024 · Armor of Agathys (AoA) is part defense spell and part damage spell. The spell enhances a wizard’s Armor Class, providing additional protection. Range: Touch. A shield is not body armour, and so it can be used at the same time as Mage Armour, and it doesn't cause Mage Armour to go away. magical plates -> 2 damage reduction from heavy armors. 8 extra hp per encounter if you recast until you get the maximum, or 6. As per the rules of AC calculations they do not stack - you get to pick which one to use. 1 Level dip into a class that lets you use it. The target’s base AC becomes 13 + its Dexterity modifier. The real solution is getting medium armor (for which you have proficiency!). For example, armor made by the drow might fit elves only. They're still getting hit by the big monster, they are not a tank. This part is wrong, nature, tempest, and war also grant you heavy armor proficiency when you multiclass into them. Allow to cast mage armor at will. Apr 6, 2019 · Mage armor gives you an AC calculation method of 13 + Dex mod. DnD 5e Eldritch Invocation. Jul 7, 2017 · The spell ends if the target dons armor or if you dismiss the spell as an action. Jul 1, 2018 · For reference, here are the item/spell quotes: Bracers of Defense: While wearing these bracers, you gain a +2 bonus to AC if you are wearing no armor and using no shield. " You can only cast Mage Armor on yourself (small yet notable mention. 144 on looting armor. The cost of a +1 Armor is listed as 1,500gp. (with 16 Dex that's the same as standard chain mail, and 20 Dex the same as standard plate armor) , and lasts for 8 hours without a need to keep concentration. Highly dependent from game to game, but if the characters have ways to procure specific scrolls, or for one PC to make them, it is easy to get away with not preparing mage armor and instead using scrolls to gain the effect instead. But then I've burned 2 spell slots on this its also concentration so it might not even last long at all. Then, I have unarmored proficiency, which adds another +3, for a total of +7 AC. Assuming the average Dexterity of 12 and casts mage armor every day. That’s assuming you can If you magic jar yourself into a form with an AC equal to or better than what mage armour provides then yes. Feb 19, 2024 · Magic Missile is great for dealing guaranteed damage to some targets, Silvery Barbs is fantastic defensive magic which works on a different axis than Arcane Deflection, Mage Armor will give a +3 to AC for most of the game at the minor cost of 1 spell slot, and Sleep can end an encounter by itself if positioned correctly. Feb 16, 2024 · However it might be worth noting that they can still use a shield 5e as sage advice really helped clear that up. Proficiency. The Defense fighting style option states: While Sep 27, 2022 · If your Dexterity score is 15 or lower, then elven chain will provide more protection than mage armor. " You can apply Mage Armor to other (willing, unarmored) creatures to set their base AC to 13 + DEX. It doesn't work like that. Amulet of the Devout. Light, paralyze, other utility spells, plus some passive resists and absorb. However, if you play strategically, Mage 5e can be used later! Feb 21, 2024 · Mage Armor 5e is a powerful D&D spell that boosts a wizard’s defense. This article will cover 15 things that players need to know about Mage armor in 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons, including important rules like AC bonuses, duration, and more. You essentially get free mage armor at level 1. (Which for most clothing is only like +3AC) The main benefit between the two is Mage Armor lasts until long rest, whereas Mirror Image only lasts 10 turns. Mage Armor 5E is a 1st level abjuration spell, which is natively available to Sorcerers and Wizards. Jul 25, 2022 · But there are some essential rules you need to know about this iconic D&D spell. Nag your DM into finding or making medium armor made from non-metal. Jul 17, 2022 · How Good is 5e Mage Armor, is it worth it? 5e Armor is a beloved spell in D&D, especially for those who have been playing for a long time. Gluttony wrote: At extremely high levels I occasionally like to use empowered Mage Armor for a +6 bonus. So if someone get's the drop on you, you might very well get one-shotted before you get the chance to cast your spell. You can't find non-magical plate, but you can easily purchase some and have it sized to you. So, as a Magic Initiate choice, I wouldn't recommend it. e. You can choose between them, but there's no way to combine them. The armour that the Mage Armour spell mentions is body armour, like plate or a breastplate. It lets you add +1 to Str or Dex (Dex being the obvious choice for you) and gives medium armor AND shield proficiency. Armor of Agathys 'gets good'. Just helps survive against the minions. The Arcane Ward class feature of the Abjuration Wizard does not specify that the abjuration spell in question has to come from a Wizard spell, nor does it mention spell slots, simply the spell's level, so as long as it's not a cantrip, if you find a way to cast an abjuration spell of 1st level or higher at will (such as by casting mage armor via the Armor of Shadows Whereas Mage Armor requires you to wear no armor, only sets your AC to 13. Intents & purposes. Note that it does not stack with unarmored defence—you get whichever is better. Draconic Resilience for the Dragon Sorcerer provides scales that grant an AC of 13+Dex modifier. CHA save don’t come up particularly often, but when they do they tend to be nasty. also it scales with shield which you should prepare as well, there's definitely noticeable differences between 13, 16, 18 and 21 AC at higher levels. Components: V, S, M (a piece of cured leather) You touch a willing creature who isn’t wearing armor, and a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends. So we're looking at 17+, depending on how Dec 14, 2017 · Pick up the Mage Armor Invocation at 2nd level, then once you reach 4th level, I think Moderately Armored Feat wouldn't do harm to you (at that point, you can replace the mage armor invocation with something else, if you want to). If one of the two—then Mage Armor. Your Spell Save DC and Spell Attack Bonus each increase by 2. But for Armor of Agathys, upscaling increases quadratically. Spells. Because Variant Humans get to choose a feat at 1st-level, and because feats are necessary for a lot of 5e The 15 spells known has me wondering which of Mage Armor or Shield will be more useful overall and whether it's worth taking both from the start. Armour bonus (one stacks with shields, one stacks with armour). • 7 yr. It also doesn't use up a spell slot to maintain your mage armor, which is a huge benefit - especially with the limited slots a Warlock has. So that means all three of us have the option to either wear studded leather (12+dex AC) or have me cast mage armor for 13+dex. Arcane Grimoire. For a melee fight, you need consistent defense. Weapons and armor used by monsters are rarely in good enough condition to sell -PHB pg. If I am unarmored, and wear Mage Armor, i should get a +1 to my AC, and a maximum dex bonus of +5. You gain the following benefits: Increase your Strength, Constitution, or Charisma score by 1, up to a maximum of 20. Wizards have access to 2 very similar spells: Shield and Mage Armor Both provide you with AC +4 Bonus, but Mage Armor has Range touch (i. This means of 13 + Dex is better than 17, you can choose to use the Mage Armor instead of your Tortle Defense. AoA provides temporary hit points for the caster but also deals damage to a melee attacker. Jun 3, 2015 · Additionally, parts of your skin are covered by a thin sheen of dragon-like scales. shield is probably the better of the two, but it's more situational and eats up more resources Jan 11, 2020 · Mage Armor is really bad as a dedication spell. MI is better if you want a spell for when you're in an "Oh shit!" situation and really cannot afford tanking a hit. Mage Armor and Sleep are go to 1st level wizard spells for a reason. 5 if you rule that your character doesn't have knowledge of the strength of the currently cast false life spell. Lastly, keep in mind that if you're using other items that only bestow benefits to an unarmored bearer or abilities that require light armor or no armor, then elven chain may not be your ideal option. Enduring Spellbook. Mage Armor. See full list on explorednd. For example, plate armor in the PHB is listed as 1,500gp. keep in mind that many encounters will have filler enemies that are quite possibly in the CR 1 to 5 range You do X damage at the level it's supposed to be cast at and X + n*Y where Y is the extra damage per level and n is the level. The overlooked teamplay of Mage Armor. Cost: We estimate the Robes of the Archmagi could cost in the vicinity of 40,000 gold pieces. Mage Armor (PHB, p256) You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor, and a protective magical force Mage armor is definitely better for you. heavy armour master makes most normal attacks useless, the -5 to damage for normal attacks helps decently. The target's base AC becomes 13 + its Dexterity modifier. Magic Missile Resist (on shield only) Mage Armour uses a Focus, whereas Shield can be cast without spell components (can be a big deal). For a warlock this is pretty decent ability, especially if they aren't wearing armor, since to a warlock a spell slot is a precious commodity better suited for ending a fight quickly As such, a wizard having access to it isn't as big of The advantage of Mage armor is the 8 hour duration and the fact it is only level 1. Only those proficient in the armor’s use know how to wear it effectively, however. 7. Jan 22, 2023 · Magic Item. “And” is rough. Apr 13, 2017 · Mage Armor says a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends ends if the target dons armor or This spell does not give you armor—it gives you a protective magical force—so it has no effect on these abilities. The target’s base AC becomes 15 + its Dexterity Jul 5, 2015 · Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer. If the story suggests a good reason for an item to fit only creatures of a certain size or shape, you can rule that it doesn't adjust. That'd be +4 in total. Abjuration is stronger defensively, War Mage is a bit more of an offense/defense balance. Jan 29, 2020 · 1st level - mage armor and shield 2nd level - mirror image. • 1 yr. It provides their Sorcerers with an additional layer of protection. So a Dex mod of +5 means Mage Armor is better, as you will have AC 18. It makes the most sense to give it the static 16 without concentration and lasting for a minute, similar issues with stoneskin in 5e as well. So shields are allowed but any other piece of armor sadly not. This is very helpful in cases of dispel magic or other means that may end the spell before you'd like it to end. ago. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC equals 13 + your Dexterity modifier. WIS: Can help with WIS saves and Perception. It's definitely still very useful. A Cleric Domain that gives it is probably best because it will contribute to your spell progression. Given that most characters will only ever have a few magic items, a +1 armor will either be very hard to get at lower levels, or represent a significant fraction of a character's magic item wealth. Mage Armor gets obsoleted by magic items eventually. Depends on how you play. Magical armor resizes to fit the wearer so it's a non-issue. A wizards’ AC will be at 14. Jul 3, 2015 · Mage armor grants a protective forcefield & your AC becomes 13+Dex modifier. Those spell slots are important and you don't get very many of them. Spell Level: 1. The Best Medium Armor in 5E. If you are going for a heavy armor build, DEX can be mostly ignored. Mage Armour can be cast on others, but Shield is self-only. Given that padded armor is terrible, it’s not really in the discussion to begin with. Jun 28, 2012 · Otherwise, I more or less agree with james maissen's solution. Mage armor is a great spell, for what it is. The second way of getting a feat in 5e is by choosing the Variant Human race. If either Draconic Resilience or Mage Armor stated you could add a flat +3 bonus to your AC, they would stack. For the moment however, scale mail’s 14+2 beats studded leather’s 12+3. I also used a standard array for ac using only the spell mage armor and Dexterity. . at best its equivalent to +1 studded leather armor and unless they have stupidly high DEX, medium armor is probably the better option in the long run. The only drawback is that you can no longer benefit from the spell mage armor (sets AC to 13) or equipment like bracers of defense (+2 AC) if you're wearing armor. #6. I will say that the level 14 abjuration ability is very strong, but that only matters if you’re in the rare game that will get to level 14 and it’s a game with plenty of spell casters. Mechanically, it brings the target’s AC up to a less expensive medium armor choice. Description. Medium armor is in a weird place given the Improved Mage Armor. School: Abjuration. But casting shield will boost to 18 which is legitimate. You have this: Normal: AC = 10 + Dex. Both are alternate AC calculations. Mage Armour or not you won't last long against attacks. It requires a vocal, somatic, and material component, with the latter being some cured leather. That's 192. Spells like Mage Armor, Shield, Fire Shield, and Hellish Rebuke provide players with a range of options for protecting themselves and striking back at their foes, each with its own unique flavor and Mage Armor and the Robes of the Archmagi both provide an alternative way to calculate your Base AC (instead of the default 10 + Dex Base AC everyone gets). ) Casting Mage Armor with a 1st level spell slot hardly matters after you pass level 5 or so, but having one less Invocation will always hurt a Warlock. The difference between 10 and 13 seems minimal and that i'm likely going to get hit no matter what. Mage armor requires you to have no armor equipped, which defeats the purpose of trying to wear heavy armor. Mage Armor: SET AC = 13+Dex. It stabilizes their sorcerer’s force and enhances the course of action. Studded leather is 12+Dex. There is a slight advantage to the mage armor. One will be lucky enough to survive, or the party will have advanced in level and you will be able to make a higher-level wizard. That is the only way you can cast it - but you can cast it at will. CON: More hit points and better CON saves make the wizard less squishy. Mage armor: You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor, and a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends. Armor of Shadows is just the ability to cast Mage Armor at will without spending a spell slot. Nov 10, 2022 · Wild Magic Sorcerer 5e Class Progression 1st Level. I'd only personally use it as an Abjuration Wizard. If not, then I'd always have it prepared. The target's base AC becomes 13 + its Nov 23, 2022 · Something about inky black edgy dark armor speaks to the inner edgelord in me; when I want a spooky stabby dark bastard, I want to wreathe them in an Armor of Shadows. Jul 24, 2019 · cast mage armor on yourself. Your Armor of Agathys is down and you've dealt 5 cold damage total. mage armor is a "might as well" pick to me unless you picked a race like hobgoblin, mountain dwarf, lizardfolk, or githyanki that give you other armor options. Mage Armor only appears on the sorcerer and wizard spell lists, leaving it available for just a few classes and archetypes: Bard (Magical Secrets) Fighter (Eldritch Knight) Rogue (Arcane Trickster) Sorcerer; Warlock (self only, using Armor of Shadows) Wizard Mage armor is 13+Dex. Duration: 8 hours. A necklace that grants +1, +2, or +3 bonus to a cleric or paladin’s spell save DC and spell attacks, depending on rarity. Jul 5, 2022 · Usable By: Sorcerer, Wizard. Your shell provides you a base AC of 17 (your Dexterity modifier doesn't affect this number). Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor. That means your starting AC can match that of a fighter, or be even better if your CON modifier is out of this world. Mage Armor gives you an AC of 10 + DEX + 3, whereas studded leather armor gives you an AC of 10 + DEX + 2. That's all fine and dandy. Not really. The only exception to this is Dodge bonuses. The mage armor perk boosts gives clothes an armor rating, but it still has to be cast. No. If you ever get any sort of armor proficiency, shield will benefit you far more than +1 AC for 8 hours, but I agree with the others that the consistent defense is far stronger for you. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects. You only need to use it when you are reasonably sure it will actually do some good. While you aren't wearing armor, you can calculate your AC as 13 + your Dexterity modifier. i can remember some fights where i took like only rather weak hits and could ignore healing. Mage Armour acts as a suit of armour, so it doesn't work with body armour. Jul 2, 2020 · The Mage Armor spell grants you an AC Calculation of 13 + Dex mod. I don't think there's anything wrong with offering Greater Mage Armor instead of elven chain, but it would have to be at most 1 AC higher, that's plenty difference. Dec 5, 2013 · 13. even at higher levels many enemies won't have a +12 to hit so mage armor is still going to block attacks. it is not overly strong, but it is not weak either. This sets it apart from other spells, such as Shield and Mage Armor. You touch a willing creature who isn’t wearing armor, and a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends. You can't stack AC calculations, you have to pick one. Yes, as alteration is more than just defensive spells. Hit Dice: d6 hit dice, which is the lowest one out there. If you are going to take a defensive spell take Shield. Just had this discussion with my group: Mage Armor isn't a "Self" range spell. Basically, mage armor leaves no room for the second stat for Unarmored Defense so you would not be able to apply the second stat. Components and casting time are essential considerations for using Mage Armor. However, you are restricting the player from ever using that spell slot for damage or control (as long as mage armor is prepared). However Shield prof is another matter. The max armour rating vanilla armour spells with mage armour will give you is 500 with Dragonhide (and you need 90 alteration to get it), It's a lot less than what regular armour is capable of with perks, upgrades and fortify armour enchants, even without any exploits, regular armour is better. Saves: CON saves are excellent because they can boost your concentration checks. You get an extra +1 to AC compared to leather armor at a relatively low price. Of course this is only 15 AC + your dex modifier, +2 if you also rock a shield (doesn't count as armor but requires shield proficiency). Plus, armor is already a concern on wizards, and like I said, Armor of Shadows provides. com Yeah, don’t take mage armor if you’re making a draconic bloodline sorcerer, which I consider to be the better of the two options in the PHB. Armor Proficiency: Anyone can put on a suit of armor or strap a Shield to an arm. Your scales harden. 4 th-level abjuration. Casting it at lower levels is pretty underwhelming, but at higher levels its great for survival and far more reliable and consistent against melee attackers. With it you will have an AC of 14, which is close to average for a level 4 character in my opinion. The only thing it does not stack with is other armor bonuses, such as those found in actual armor or Bracers of Armor. ). pellinore. Scenario A is casting mage armor in the morning and having AC 13 throughout the day. Pick whichever one you like better. Human, dwarf, or gith can get you either medium armor or light armor and shield, then two feats get you the rest of the way without needing multiclassing. The fact that your Dex mod is +3 is just an odd coincidence; if your Dex mod was +0, mage armor would still give you an AC of 13 (before considering any AC bonuses). To counter the possible duplicate: I am asking about the Aug 26, 2014 · If you look at the D20 version of Barkskin: Barkskin toughens a creature’s skin. Source: PHB, page 256. You can use a shield and still gain this benefit. At level 1 an enemy hits you once for, say, 5 damage. Mage Armor lasts 8 hours which for all intensive purposes is "a full day. At early levels with few spell slots, mage armor is more efficient. Nov 5, 2023 · If you aren’t wearing armor, your base Armor Class is 15 + your Dexterity modifier. This enhancement bonus increases by 1 for every three caster levels above 3rd, to a maximum of +5 at caster level 12th. Casting Time: 1 action. A first-level spell slot is "worth" significantly more than a 750-gp wand of mage armor at any level. Lets say my dex mod is +3. Note that the target can wear a shield and still gain Mage Armor’s effect. 4. It is important to note that the spell only activates on a hit from a melee attack. Lets just say if there some kind of battlemage class, is it worth to use heavy armor and alteration magic putting perks in both skill trees or only…. Is it worth it for me to cast mage armor on all of us every day for the +1 AC or should we just go with studded leather and save the spell slots? I think it's probably worth casting mage armor but it feels like a close Light Armor or even heavy armor, because armor acts as a constant buff. Reply. In order to buy +1 plate armor would the cost be 3,000gp (plate armor cost plus premium cost for +1 armor) or does +1 armor cost 1,500gp just as plate armor does? Assume I do not already own plate armor. Mechanically, however, we’re left with an underwhelming option: Mage Armor at will. They can modify a floor-model within a day. honestly, i think letting the druid have mage armor 1/day will be fine. When it comes to the best light armor, studded leader is the clear favorite. Rare exceptions exist. youll get medium armor and action surge and second wind, the former will allow you to double fireball or hold person and then hit the target with an attack spell to auto crit. Armor of Shadows. Spending what quickly becomes hours to recharge your shield with casting and recasting alarm as a ritual spell will not be a luxury all of the time. This means if we assume, they fight a hard monster on average, fighting them at level 2 would have a +3 to hit, at level 10, a +8 to hit, and a +12 to hit at level 20. INT: This is the most important stat for the wizard, pump this as high as you can. Medium armor isn’t worth it as medium armor is objectively the worst armor type in the entire game short of a monks unarmored defense. Being able to battery up your shield will greatly increase survivability. either way, i personally think 2 levels of fighter is more valuable than a feat to wear medium armor. The spell ends if the target dons armor or if you dismiss the spell as an action. You will still end up with a wizard, just not the exact same one you started with. However, as another poster has pointed out, that invocation is largely wasted on a warlock because you already have light armor proficiency. Barkskin is another option, but requires concentration. Also add 40 more from lesser ward. Components: V, S, M (a piece of cured leather) Duration: 8 hours. It takes an action to cast, allowing the caster to touch one creature who isn’t wearing any armor and set their AC to 13 + Dex modifier. Jun 8, 2015 · Jun 8, 2015. " It's true that the target of mage armor must be unarmored, but mage armor gives you a new way to calculate your AC (13 + your Dexterity modifier) and is therefore incompatible with Unarmored Defense or any other feature that provides an AC calculation. You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor, and a protective Mar 5, 2020 · Most wizards use mage armor to pump their AC, which stacks with DEX. I can reach that without any perks within an hour of playing the game. A feat is worth more than one AC, and is worth more than an uncommon non-attunement Magic item (Magic +1 Studded Leather). 1ntestine. Unless otherwise stated, the only thing that bonuses do not stack with is bonuses of the same type (armor, enhancement, etc. Award. It actually has a range of "Touch. . A tome of magical knowledge that grants +1, +2, or +3 bonus to wizard spell save DC and spell attacks, depending Sep 28, 2023 · There are a number of ways to pick up feats in 5e. The first and most obvious is, when your character gets an ASI, you can forgo the ASI to choose a feat. Flexibly (potential 20% of their damage) for a whole 4% damage reduction increase seems not unreasonable. you can cast it on other party members) and Duration 1 hour/level, while Shield has Range personal and duration 1 min. Mage Armor remains an extremely potent spell even at level 20 Only if by level 20 the wizard still hasn't had access to Elven Chain. Mage armor with a good dex score gets you some decent numbers - 16 ac is possible pretty early if you make dex you're secondary ability score. it's definitely worth it to take both. Don’t miss this mage armor 5e shield. 2-Wizard 1: Arcane Recovery Spellcasting 1st level-Find Familiar-Fog Cloud-Sleep-Any other 3: Now we’re a Wizard for Oct 3, 2022 · Make another wizard. Even a maxed 17 AC is defeated by maxed light armor and is worse than both mage armor and heavy armor. Moving on to AC bonuses The Defense fighting style requires armor. Aug 15, 2023 · How Does Mage Armor Work in 5e? Mage Armor changes the target’s AC calculation to (13 + Dexterity modifier) from (10 + Dexterity modifier) as long as they aren’t wearing armor. Obviously these stack as Mage Armor is a spell for sorcerers, but what does Mage Armor grant to a draconic sorcerer? +3AC seems to be the obvious ruling to me. I'd assume you would have to cast mage armor after activating the shield and when you retrieve the shield you lose the mage armor, effectively reducing mage armor's time durability to a single combat. Mage Armour isn't worth it in general. Later when you can burn slots without worrying as much, shield might prove more valuable. Feb 21, 2021 · This is a good combo. The difference between 13 and 16 AC (assuming 16 dex) isn't much but the gap between 18 and 21 AC (from shield) is quite a bit bigger, and still noticeable in tier 4. Jan 22, 2023 · How Good is Mage Armor. Trading your best slot in order to not need to invest in armour isn't ideal, since as a caster, it's not like you're investing into a weapon anyway and can afford it comfortably. While wearing Mage Armor, you use your unarmored proficiency to calculate your AC. Lord stone for 50 armor, oakflesh for 40 armor and 31 from steel armor, 17 from steel helmet, 7 from leather bracers and 7 from leather boots with a total armor of 152 at level 1. For a full caster, it's borderline considerable. Unarmored Defense: SET AC = 10 + Dex + Stat. Plate does need exact measurements. For most characters this isn't an exceptionally big boon but for Warlocks this can actually Oct 6, 2022 · Natural Armor. On the other hand, mage armor gives an AC of 13+DEX Mod. Originally, I was planning to not take Mage Armor and keep my distance while relying on Shield as an "oh shit" button and surge trigger. Proficiencies: No armor proficiencies which hurts your dismal Get light armor and instead get Fiendish Vigor, which grants you false life (1d4+4 temporary hp) at will. Mage Armor 5e – or simply the Mage Armor spell in D&D 5th edition – is an easy and long-lasting spell that helps protect otherwise unarmored characters. So, the differences are: Duration. Duration and limitations determine the spell’s effective usage in different scenarios. lordrevan1984. /level. Wondrous Item, common Aug 25, 2018 · So mage armor would supersede Unarmored Defense if it offered an increase. So your net gain is only +1 AC. You can't wear light, medium, or heavy armor, but if you are using a shield, you can apply the shield's bonus as normal. The fighter in your party might have like 22 AC at level 10 with some nice magic armor or spell buffs, while the level 10 wizard has 5th level spells, meaning upcast mage armor gives 15+dex so they're probably at a 17 or 18 AC. jy at yi lu hw zn pf zo eg vg