Can Mage Armor be Used with Armor?

The answer to whether Mage Armor can be used with armor is straightforward: No, Mage Armor cannot be used with armor because the spell ends if the target dons armor or if the caster dismisses the spell as an action. The Mage Armor spell provides a protective magical force that surrounds the target, setting its base AC to 13 + its Dexterity modifier, but it does not stack with worn armor.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does Mage Armor Stack with Natural Armor?

Mage Armor can be used with natural armor, but only one AC calculation can apply at a time, and Mage Armor changes the calculation to 13+DEX, making it beneficial if the creature’s natural armor doesn’t provide a higher AC.

2. What Does Mage Armor Add to AC?

Mage Armor adds a base AC of 13 + the target’s Dexterity modifier, providing a protective magical force that surrounds the target until the spell ends.

3. Can You Use Mage Armor and Bracers of Defense Together?

Yes, Mage Armor and Bracers of Defense do stack because Bracers of Defense give a +2 bonus to AC, which is a different type of bonus that can be combined with Mage Armor.

4. Does Mage Armor Stack with Shield?

Yes, bonuses of different types stack, so Mage Armor and Shield will stack, but a Shield spell won’t stack with the shield bonus offered by a shield.

5. Can Mage Armor be Used with Leather Armor?

No, Mage Armor cannot be used with leather armor because the spell ends if the target dons armor, and leather armor is considered worn armor.

6. Does Mage Armor Stack with Mage Armor?

No, Mage Armor does not stack with itself, and only one Mage Armor can affect a single creature at a time.

7. How Much AC does Mage Armor Give?

Mage Armor gives a base AC of 13 + the target’s Dexterity modifier, providing a protective magical force that surrounds the target until the spell ends.

8. Is Mage Armor Invisible?

Yes, Mage Armor is invisible but can be felt, and it is described as an invisible but tangible field of force that surrounds the subject.

9. Can You Cast Mage Armor More than Once?

Yes, there is no reason you cannot cast Mage Armor more than once on different targets, assuming you have the available spell slots, since it is not a concentration spell.

10. Does Mage Armor Add to Touch AC?

No, Mage Armor does not apply to touch AC except against incorporeal touch attacks, as it is an armor bonus and armor bonuses do not apply to touch AC.

11. Does Mage Armor Apply to Polymorph?

Yes, any spell that can boost armor will work, and Mage Armor will carry over after polymorph because polymorph doesn’t block any ongoing spell effects.

12. Can You Use Mage Armor with Robe of the Archmagi?

No, Mage Armor and Robe of the Archmagi do not stack because you can only have one Base AC, and you must choose one Base AC or the other.

13. Does Mage Armor Stack with Staff of Defense?

Yes, Mage Armor and Staff of Defense do stack, and the passive +1 AC from the staff will also stack with Mage Armor and Shield.

14. Can You Wear Heavy Armor as a Mage?

As a mage, wearing heavy armor might be problematic due to weight and carrying capacity, which does not increase with level, making it a less desirable option.

15. Does Mage Armor Affect Wild Shape?

Yes, Mage Armor affects wild shape, and if you get it through the warlock invocation, you also get access to Armor of Agathys, which is a beneficial spell in wild shape, as spells last their duration and wild shape doesn’t have a special effect that ends spells.