Mage Armour

Mage Armour is a level 1 abjuration spell. This spell allows spellcasters to surround an unarmoured creature (including themselves if they're unarmoured) with magical protection.

Description

Surround an unarmoured creature in a protective magical force. Its  Armour Class increases to 13 + its Dexterity modifier.

The target can't be wearing Armour.

Properties

Cost

Action + Level 1 Spell Slot

Details

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

At higher levels

Casting this spell at a higher level grants no additional benefit.

Condition: Mage Armour

 Mage Armour

Duration: Until Long rest

• Base  Armour Class is 13.

How to learn

Classes:

• Class Level 1: Sorcerer, and Wizard

• Class Level 3: Arcane Trickster, and Eldritch Knight

Feats:

•  Magic Initiate: Sorcerer
•  Magic Initiate: Wizard

Granted by the following items:

• Moon Devotion Robe

Notes

• Also granted to Warlocks who choose the Eldritch Invocation  Armour of Shadows at level 2+. This version of the spell can only target self, and doesn't expend Spell Slots.
• You can cast this spell on all party members then dismiss the caster from the party and this buff will persist.
  • If cast by a Wizard, this spell must remain Prepared by the party member who cast it; removing Mage Armour from the caster's Prepared Spells list will immediately remove the buff from all party members whom the caster applied it to. If applied by using (not scribing) a scroll, the caster does not need to keep this spell Prepared to maintain the buff.
• If a party member who has Mage Armour equips a piece of Armour, the buff will be removed. Mage Armour will not be reapplied when unequipping that Armour; it will need to be cast on them once more.
• The normal base  Armour Class is 10 + Dexterity modifier, while this changes it to 13 + Dexterity modifier.
  • You will still get bonuses from other sources that don't change your base armour class like +1 AC robes, Bracers of Defence,  Shield of Faith, etc.
• Gloves and Helmets marked as  Light,  Medium or  Heavy Armour count as armour, and will prevent Mage Armour from working.
• Mage Armour works while wearing a  Shield.
•  Mage Armour,  Draconic Resilience,  Unarmoured Defence (Barbarian),  Unarmoured Defence (Monk) and  Barkskin all change your base armour class and therefore do not stack.
  • If you have multiple of these you will only get the benefit of the one that gives the most  Armour Class.
• Mage Armour can work while in  Wild Shape as long as you have no armour equipped in any slot before transforming.
  • This effect only works on forms with a base  Armour Class of less than 13.
• Mage Armour does not count as wearing armour for things like  Unarmoured Movement,  Become the Bulwark and  Defence.
• The incantation for Mage Armour is mactē virtutē, Latin for "with great virtue".

External Links

• Mage armor on the Forgotten Realms Wiki