Mage Armor

A
Support

Mage Armor is a Support spell. Support spells strengthen, protect, or buff allies.

See all Support spells →
 spell that surrounds a willing unarmored creature with protective force, raising its defense until it wears armor.

2024 Rules
Level & School
1st-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Touch
Components
V, S, M (a piece of cured leather)
Duration
8 hours
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2024)

You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor. Until the spell ends, the target's base AC becomes 13 plus its Dexterity modifier. The spell ends early if the target dons armor.

2014 Rules
Level & School
1st-level abjuration
Casting Time
Action
Range
Touch
Components
V, S, M (a piece of cured leather)
Duration
8 hours
Classes
Sorcerer, Wizard
Source
Player's Handbook (2014)

You touch a willing creature who isn't wearing armor, and a protective magical force surrounds it until the spell ends. The target's base AC becomes 13 + its Dexterity modifier. The spell ends if the target dons armor or if you dismiss the spell as an action.

Mage Armor 5.5e 2024 vs. 5e 2014 edition differences

Mage Armor no longer lets you dismiss it early as an action. In 2024, it ends only if the target dons armor or the duration runs out.

How popular is Mage Armor in 5e?

Mage Armor is the #7 most popular level 1 spell (of 82) and the #3 most picked level 1 Wizard spell (of 45).

Among level 1 spells, Mage Armor ranks just below Magic Missile and just above Thunderwave in popularity.

Read about how this popularity data is calculated.

Spells similar to Mage Armor