Armor & Shields

Light, medium and heavy armor, shields, AC rules and armor mastery.

Equipment Armor & Shields

Armor & Shields

D&D worlds are a vast tapestry made up of many different cultures, each with its own technology level. For this reason, adventurers have access to a variety of armor types, ranging from leather armor to chain mail to costly plate armor, with several other kinds of arm or in between. The Armor table collects the most commonly available types of arm or found in the game and separates them into three categories: light armor, medium armor, and heavy armor. Many warriors supplement their arm or with a shield.

Armor Types

Light Armor: Offers good mobility but minimal protection. Includes padded, laminated wood, leather, lacquered, and studded leather.
Medium Armor: Offers moderate protection and mobility. Includes hide, chain shirt, scale mail, banded, and breastplate.
Heavy Armor: Offers maximum protection but severely hinders movement. Includes ringmail, chainmail, splint, and plate.

Armor Class (AC): Your AC determines how difficult it is for enemies to hit you. It is calculated by adding your base AC (determined by your armor type) to your DEX modifier (if wearing light or medium armor).

Armor Proficiency: Only characters proficient in a type of armor can wear it effectively. Proficiency grants you advantage on ability checks, saving throws, and attack rolls involving STR or DEX while wearing that armor.

Shields: Shields increase your AC by 2 but can hinder your ability to use weapons or perform certain actions. You can only benefit from one shield at a time.

Armor Weight: Heavy armor is significantly heavier than light or medium armor, which can affect your movement speed and other abilities.

Stealth: Some armor types (like heavy armor) impose disadvantage on DEX (Stealth) checks.

Additional Considerations

Magic Armor: Some armor is enchanted with magical properties that can provide additional benefits, such as resistance to certain damage types or the ability to cast spells.
Custom Armor: You can create custom armor by combining different materials or adding modifications.

Armor	Cost	Armor Class (AC)	Strength	Stealth	Weight
Light Armor
Padded	5 gp	11 + DEX Modifier	—	Disadvantage	8 lb.
Laminated Wood	10 gp	11 + DEX Modifier	—	—	10 lb.
Leather	10 gp	11 + DEX Modifier	—	—	10 lb.
Lacquered	30 gp	12 + DEX Modifier	—	—-	15 lb.
Studded leather	45 gp	13 + DEX Modifier	—	—	13 lb.
Medium Armor
Hide	10 gp	12 + DEX Modifier (Max 2)	—	—	12 lb.
Chain shirt	50 gp	13 + DEX Modifier (Max 2)	—	—	20 lb.
Scale mail	50 gp	14 + DEX Modifier (Max 2)	—	Disadvantage	45 lb.
Breastplate	400 gp	14 + DEX Modifier (Max 2)	—	—	20 lb.
Banded	550 gp	15 + DEX Modifier (Max 2)	—	Disadvantage	35 lb.
Half plate	750 gp	15 + DEX Modifier (Max 2)	—	Disadvantage	40 lb.
Heavy Armor
Ring mail	30 gp	14	—	Disadvantage	40 lb.
Chain mail	75 gp	16	STR 13	Disadvantage	55 lb.
Splint	200 gp	17	STR 15	Disadvantage	60 lb.
Plate	1,500 gp	18	STR 15	Disadvantage	65 lb.
Shield
Round	10 gp	+2	—	—	6 lb.
Buckler	50 gp	+2, has the Thrown weapon property 10/30 ft dealing 1D4 Bludgeoning damage	—	—	3 lb.
Aspis	200 gp	+2, or Plus 3 AC and plus one to hit if used with a Lance while mounted	STR 13	—	10 lb.
Kite	200 gp	+3	STR 13	Disadvantage	16 lb.
Tower	300 gp	+3, gives you and those in a line behind you Half Cover (You do not benefit from the AC bonus of the Half Cover)	STR 15	Disadvantage	30 lb.
Great	750 gp	+4, Two-Handed	STR 17	Disadvantage	100 lb.
Heater	125 gp	+2, Throw weapon property 10/20 ft dealing 1D6 Bludgeoning damage	STR 13	—	12 lb.
Parise	175 gp	+2, can be propped up using a special extendable tripod that can be deployed as an action to provide Half Cover.	—	—	10 lb.
Spiked	225 gp	+2, creatures that make melee attacks that are dealt by appendages such as claws or an Unarmed Strike take 1D4 Piercing damage.	STR 13	Disadvantage	25 lb.
Thrusting	300 gp	+2, a -3 Martial Weapon that deals 1D6 Slashing damage.	STR 15	Disadvantage	30 lb.

Armor Mastery

The following are the groups of armor that follow the armor mastery category. Having an armor mastery allows you to use the mastered armor’s feature in the category.

Light Armor
Padded	Silent Armor: You have advantage on Stealth checks.
Laminated Wood	Flexible Armor: Reduces fall damage by your DEX modifier (Minimum 1).
Leather	Nimble Armor: +1 bonus to DEX saving throws.
Lacquered Armor	Versatile Armor: Provides + 1 AC if both your STR and DEX Scores are 12 or Higher.
Studded Leather	Concealable Property: DC 10 + DEX modifier (Minimum 1) + Proficiency Bonus to detect wearing if disguised.

Medium
Hide	Quiet and Warm Armor: +1 Bonus to Stealth checks, Reduces Cold damage by 2.
Chain Shirt	Low Specific Damage Negation: Reduces Piercing and Slashing damage by 1.
Scale Mail	Nimble Armor: +1 bonus to DEX saving throws.
Breastplate	Vital Protection: Reduces damage from critical hits by 4.
Banded Armor	Versatile Armor: Provides +1 AC if both your STR and DEX Scores are 13 or Higher.
Half Plate	Low Damage Negation: Reduces all non magical damage by 1.

Heavy
Ring Mail	Low Specific Damage Negation: Reduces Piercing and Slashing damage by 1.
Chain Mail	High Specific Damage Negation: Reduces Piercing and Slashing damage by 2.
Splint	Versatile Armor: Provides + 1 AC if both your STR and DEX Scores are 14 or Higher.
Plate	High Damage Negation: Reduces all non magical damage by 2.