Faith And Mage Armor: Stacking Shields For Ultimate Protection

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, players often wonder if the spells Mage Armor and Shield of Faith stack. The answer is yes, as these spells provide different types of bonuses to Armour Class (AC). Mage Armor sets a base AC, while Shield of Faith increases it. Multiple sources of setting base AC do not stack, but all sources of increasing AC do. This means that a player can benefit from both spells, improving their character's defensive capabilities.

Shield of Faith and Mage Armor stack with other AC bonuses

In the game Dungeons & Dragons, the spells Mage Armor and Shield of Faith can be stacked together to increase a player's Armor Class (AC). This is because Mage Armor sets a base AC, while Shield of Faith increases AC. Multiple sources that set base AC do not stack, but all sources that increase AC do.

Mage Armor sets a target's base AC to 13 + their dexterity modifier (Dex). The Shield spell gives a +5 bonus to AC. If both are cast on the same target, their AC becomes 18 + Dex.

The Shield of Faith spell also stacks with a normal shield. This is because Shield of Faith gives a deflection bonus to AC, while a shield gives a shield bonus. Different types of bonuses to AC stack.

Multiple castings of the same spell do not stack

For example, if a player character casts Shield of Faith on themselves, and then another member of the party casts the same spell on them, the effects of the spell do not stack, and only the effects of the initial casting will be in play. The second casting has no additional benefit and is essentially wasted.

This rule is in place to maintain balance within the game and prevent certain spells from becoming overly powerful. It encourages players to diversify their spell selection and strategy, rather than relying on the same spell repeatedly.

It's important to clarify that this rule specifically pertains to the same spell being cast multiple times. Players can still benefit from combining different spells, provided they are compatible and the game master allows it. This means that a character could benefit from both Shield of Faith and Mage Armor simultaneously since these are distinct spells with unique effects, even though both provide an AC bonus.

So, while multiple castings of the same spell do not stack, players can still strategically combine different spells to enhance their characters' abilities and create powerful synergies.

A shield is not armour, so it can be used with Mage Armor

In the game Dungeons & Dragons, a shield is not considered armour. Shields are wielded, not worn, and are carried in one hand. Wielding a shield increases your armour class by 2. You can only benefit from one shield at a time.

Mage Armour is a spell that allows you to use a shield because it doesn't say anything about forbidding shields. The spell sets your base armour class, while a shield increases it. Therefore, the effects of Mage Armour and a shield stack.

The Shield of Faith spell also stacks with Mage Armour. The Shield of Faith spell increases your armour class and has a duration of 10 minutes.

However, the Shield spell does not stack with Mage Armour. The Shield spell gives a shield bonus, while Mage Armour sets a base armour class.

Mage Armor sets a base AC, while Shield of Faith increases AC

In the game of Dungeons & Dragons, the spells Mage Armor and Shield of Faith can be used together to increase a player's Armour Class (AC). AC is a measure of how well-protected a character is from taking damage from attacks.

Mage Armor sets a base AC of 13, which is then modified by the character's Dexterity score. This is a useful spell for wizards, who typically have low AC. Shield of Faith, meanwhile, increases a character's AC by 2. These two spells can be used together, or "stacked", to create a powerful combination. This is because the spells affect AC in different ways: Mage Armor sets a base AC, while Shield of Faith increases it. Multiple sources that set base AC do not stack, but all sources that increase AC do.

In addition to these two spells, players can further increase their AC by equipping a physical shield, which also stacks with Mage Armor. This is because the shield is considered a different source of AC increase.

By stacking Mage Armor, Shield of Faith, and a physical shield, a player can greatly increase their character's defensive capabilities, making them a formidable opponent in combat situations.

The Shield spell is a reaction without concentration

The Shield spell is a reactionary spell that does not require concentration. This means that it can be cast in response to a specific trigger, and the caster does not need to maintain focus on it for it to remain active.

In the context of stacking with Mage Armor, the Shield spell can be used as part of a combination to increase Armor Class (AC). While Mage Armor provides an armor bonus to AC, the Shield spell grants a shield bonus, and these two types of bonuses do not stack. However, the Shield of Faith spell, which provides a deflection bonus to AC, can be used alongside Mage Armor, as these bonuses are different and can be combined.

The Shield spell's lack of concentration requirement is advantageous as it allows the caster to maintain focus on other spells that require concentration. This flexibility can be strategically beneficial, especially when combined with other spells or abilities that enhance AC, such as Mage Armor or Shield of Faith.

By utilizing the unique characteristics of the Shield spell, players can create powerful defensive combinations. For example, a player could cast Mage Armor, which has a longer duration, followed by Shield of Faith, and then reactively use the Shield spell when needed. This sequence of spells provides a substantial boost to AC without requiring concentration on the part of the caster, allowing them to maintain focus on other concentration-dependent abilities or spells.

Frequently asked questions