Mage 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 popularity
How popular is Mage Armor? It is one of the most popular spells in the game, and is often chosen over other options when available. This spell is a proven favourite among spellcasters.
- #3 picked level 1 Sorcerer spell
- #3 picked level 1 Wizard spell
- Top 5% of all 5e spells
- Top 10% of all level 1 spells
Read about how this popularity data is calculated.
Spells similar to Mage Armor
Barkskin 2nd-level transmutation
Both touch a creature and establish a lasting minimum Armor Class without requiring concentration.
Players prefer Barkskin over Mage Armor
Shield 1st-level abjuration
It is a 1st-level Abjuration spell on the same class lists that directly improves a wizard or sorcerer's Armor Class.
Players prefer Shield over Mage Armor
Warding Bond 2nd-level abjuration
Like Mage Armor, it is a touch-range Abjuration that grants a durable defensive benefit to a single ally.
Players prefer Warding Bond over Mage Armor
Protection from Energy 3rd-level abjuration
It provides a long-lasting defensive enhancement to one touched creature and shares Mage Armor's Abjuration school.
Players prefer Mage Armor over Protection from Energy
Blur 2nd-level illusion
Both are defensive spells commonly used by arcane casters to make one creature harder to hit during combat.
Players prefer Mage Armor over Blur
Stoneskin 4th-level transmutation
This touch-based defensive buff protects one creature for an extended duration, though it reduces weapon damage rather than raising AC.
Players prefer Mage Armor over Stoneskin