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.

Prerequisite: 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.

Mage Armour

Duration: Until Long rest

Base Armour Class is 13.

Classes:

Class Level 1: Sorcerer, and Wizard

Class Level 3: Arcane Trickster, and Eldritch Knight

Feats:

Granted by the following items:

Moon Devotion Robe

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 does 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".