Can I Use Mage Armour On Myself? A Comprehensive Guide
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Yes, you absolutely can use Mage Armour on yourself! In the world of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) 5th Edition, Mage Armour is a 1st-level Abjuration spell designed to protect the caster. It is a self-targeted spell, making you, the caster, the recipient of its beneficial effects. Let’s delve deeper into the intricacies of this essential spell and answer some common questions.
Understanding Mage Armour
Mage Armour is a staple for characters who lack natural armour proficiency, particularly spellcasters like Wizards, Sorcerers, and some Warlocks. It provides a significant boost to your defence, making you less vulnerable in combat.
What Does Mage Armour Do?
The Mage Armour spell creates a magical force field around the caster, which protects them from physical attacks. Specifically, it sets the caster’s Armour Class (AC) to 13 + Dexterity modifier. This is a substantial improvement for characters who might otherwise be stuck with an AC of 10 (base) plus their Dexterity modifier.
Who Can Benefit Most from Mage Armour?
- Wizards: Typically lacking armour proficiencies, Wizards rely heavily on spells like Mage Armour for defence.
- Sorcerers: Similar to Wizards, Sorcerers often have low natural AC and benefit significantly from the spell.
- Warlocks (especially those who forgo Pact of the Blade): Warlocks who prioritize spellcasting over melee combat find Mage Armour a valuable asset.
- Monks (circumstantially): Monks with low Wisdom scores might opt for Mage Armour over their Unarmoured Defence.
- Rogues (circumstantially): Rogues with poor armour due to choices made in character creation, or multiclass builds may opt for it.
Components and Casting Time
Casting Mage Armour requires both a verbal (V) and a somatic (S) component. This means you need to speak the incantation and perform specific hand gestures. The casting time is 1 action, making it relatively quick to cast in combat.
Duration and Concentration
Mage Armour has a duration of 8 hours. Importantly, it does not require concentration. This is a crucial advantage as you can cast Mage Armour at the beginning of the day and benefit from its protection for a significant period without worrying about losing it due to taking damage or casting other concentration spells.
FAQs About Mage Armour
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about Mage Armour to further clarify its usage and limitations:
1. Can I cast Mage Armour on another person?
No. The spell description explicitly states that you affect yourself with the spell. You cannot target another creature with Mage Armour.
2. If I already have a high AC, is Mage Armour useful?
It depends. If your existing AC is already higher than 13 + your Dexterity modifier, then Mage Armour won’t provide any benefit. It only sets your AC to that value; it doesn’t add to your existing AC.
3. What happens if I wear armour while Mage Armour is active?
Wearing armour while Mage Armour is active does not stack. Your AC will be determined by whichever calculation provides the highest AC, not both. Generally, wearing armour will override the spell’s effect if the armour’s AC is higher than 13 + your Dexterity modifier.
4. Does Mage Armour protect against all types of attacks?
Mage Armour provides protection against physical attacks, as it affects your Armour Class. This means it helps you avoid being hit by weapon attacks, natural attacks (like a claw or bite), and other similar physical threats. However, it does not provide protection against spells that don’t require an attack roll, such as Fireball or Lightning Bolt. Those require saving throws instead.
5. Can Mage Armour be dispelled?
Yes. Like most magical effects, Mage Armour can be dispelled by spells like Dispel Magic.
6. Does Mage Armour stack with other spells that improve AC, such as Shield of Faith?
No, it doesn’t stack in the way you might hope. Mage Armour sets a base AC of 13 + Dex modifier. Spells like Shield of Faith grant a bonus to AC (+2 in that case). So, the Shield of Faith bonus would stack with Mage Armour, but Mage Armour won’t stack with other similar spells that set a different base AC.
7. Can a multiclass character benefit from Mage Armour?
Absolutely! Any character with access to the Mage Armour spell can benefit from it, regardless of their class combination. A multiclass character who lacks armour proficiency but has access to wizard spells, for instance, might find Mage Armour invaluable.
8. How does Mage Armour interact with Unarmoured Defence features (Monk, Barbarian)?
The Unarmoured Defence features of Monks and Barbarians calculate AC differently (typically based on Dexterity and Wisdom/Constitution). Similar to wearing armour, if your Unarmoured Defence calculation results in a higher AC than 13 + your Dexterity modifier, the Unarmoured Defence AC takes precedence. You choose whichever provides the better AC.
9. Can I cast Mage Armour while surprised?
You can cast Mage Armour while surprised if you haven’t yet taken your turn in the combat. The surprised condition prevents you from taking actions and moving on your first turn. If you survive until your first turn, you can then cast Mage Armour.
10. What happens if my Dexterity modifier changes after I cast Mage Armour?
The AC provided by Mage Armour is recalculated based on your current Dexterity modifier. So, if your Dexterity modifier increases or decreases after you cast the spell, your AC will adjust accordingly.
11. Does Mage Armour provide any resistance to damage?
No. Mage Armour only affects your Armour Class, making it harder for enemies to hit you. It does not provide any resistance to damage types like fire, cold, or lightning.
12. If I’m polymorphed into a creature with natural armour, does Mage Armour still apply?
When you are polymorphed, you gain the statistics of the new form, which may include natural armour. The same rules apply: whichever provides the better AC applies, whether it is the natural armour of the new form or 13 + your Dexterity modifier from the spell. If the natural armour of the form is superior, Mage Armour is effectively negated during the transformation.
13. Can I upcast Mage Armour for a better effect?
No. Mage Armour cannot be upcast. There are no listed benefits for casting it using a higher-level spell slot.
14. Does Mage Armour work in areas where magic is suppressed (like an Antimagic Field)?
No. Antimagic Fields and similar effects suppress the function of magic, so Mage Armour would be temporarily negated while within such an area. Your AC would revert to your base AC (10) + your Dexterity modifier (or your Unarmoured Defence calculation, if applicable).
15. Does Mage Armour provide advantage on Dexterity saving throws?
No. Mage Armour only affects your Armour Class. It doesn’t grant any advantage on saving throws of any kind.