Armor
| Name | Cost | Defense | Soak | Strength | Stealth | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leather | ||||||
| Leather | 10 sp | 12 + Dex | — | — | — | 5 kg |
| Hide | ||||||
| Hide | 25 sp | 13 + Dex (max 4) | — | — | — | 6 kg |
| Chain | ||||||
| Chain hauberk | 75 sp | 14 + Dex (max 3) | — | — | — | 8 kg |
| Chain mail | 150 sp | 16 | 1 | Str 1 | Disadvantage | 23 kg |
| Scale | ||||||
| Scale hauberk | 400 sp | 15 + Dex (max 2) | — | — | — | 9 kg |
| Scale mail | 800 sp | 17 | 1 | Str 2 | Disadvantage | 25 kg |
| Plate | ||||||
| Half plate | 750 sp | 16 + Dex (max 2) | — | Str 1 | Disadvantage | 18 kg |
| Plate | 1,500 sp | 18 | 1 | Str 2 | Disadvantage | 27 kg |
| Shield | ||||||
| Shield | 10 sp | +2 | — | — | — | 3 kg |
Fantasy 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 armor in between. The Armor table collects the most commonly available types of armor found in the game. Many warriors supplement their armor with a shield.
The Armor table shows the cost, weight, and other properties of the common types of armor worn in fantasy gaming worlds.
Armor Aptitude. Anyone can put on a suit of armor or strap a shield to an arm. Only those capable in the armor’s use know how to wear it effectively, however. If you wear armor that you are capable with, add half your Aptitude Bonus (min 1) to the armor formula. If you wear armor or a shield that you lack capability with, you have disadvantage on any skill check or saving throw that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can’t cast spells. Your class gives you capability with certain types of armor.
Defense. Armor protects its wearer from attacks. The armor (and shield) you wear determines your Defense.
Soak. Armor protects its wearer from attacks. Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage that you take is reduced by the amount listed. If you have resistance or vulnerability to one of the damage types, reduce the damage by the Soak amount before halving or doubling the damage.
Strength Requirements. Heavier armor interferes with the wearer’s ability to move quickly, stealthily, and freely. If the Armor table shows “Str 1” or “Str 2” in the Strength column for an armor type, the armor reduces the wearer’s speed by 2 meters unless the wearer has a Strength equal to or higher than the listed Strength.
Stealth. If the Armor table shows “Disadvantage” in the Stealth column, the wearer has disadvantage on Stealth checks.
Armor types
Leather
Leather. The breastplate and shoulder protectors of this armor are made of leather that has been stiffened by being boiled in oil. The rest of the armor is made of softer and more flexible materials.
Hide
Hide. Made from animal hide and giant lizard scales over a shirt of interwoven cords, these chest and shoulder coverings protect without restricting mobility.
Chain
Chain hauberk. Made of interlocking metal rings, a chain hauberk is worn between layers of clothing or leather. This armor offers modest protection to the wearer’s upper body and allows the sound of the rings rubbing against one another to be muffled by outer layers. You can purchase the other parts of this armor to make chain mail. Subtract this armor’s cost to purchase chain mail.
Chain mail. Made of interlocking metal rings, chain mail includes a layer of quilted fabric worn underneath the mail to prevent chafing and to cushion the impact of blows. The suit includes gauntlets.
Scale
Scale hauberk. Made of overlapping metal plates, a scale hauberk is worn between layers of clothing or leather. This armor offers modest protection to the wearer’s upper body and allows the sound of the plates rubbing against one another to be muffled by outer layers. You can purchase the other parts of this armor to make scale mail. Subtract this armor’s cost to purchase scale mail.
Scale mail. Made of interlocking metal plates, scale mail includes a layer of quilted fabric worn underneath the mail to prevent chafing and to cushion the impact of blows. The suit includes gauntlets.
Plate
Half plate. Half plate consists of shaped metal plates that cover most of the wearer’s upper body. It does not include leg protection beyond simple greaves that are attached with leather straps. You can purchase the other parts of this armor to make plate. Subtract this armor’s cost to purchase plate.
Plate. Plate consists of shaped, interlocking metal plates to cover the entire body. A suit of plate includes gauntlets, heavy leather boots, a visored helmet, and thick layers of padding underneath the armor. Buckles and straps distribute the weight over the body.
Shield
Shield. A shield is made from wood or metal and is carried in one hand. You can benefit from only one shield at a time. Wielding a shield increases your Defense by 2.
Special materials
| Name | Extra cost | Cost multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Adamantine | 300 | 4 |
| Bone | — | 0.5 |
| Mithral | 150 | 2 |
Armors can be made of different materials.
Adamantine. Metal armor can be made with adamantine, one of the hardest substances in existence. While you’re wearing it, the armor has Soak 1, or its Soak value increases by 1, and any critical hit against you becomes a normal hit. A suit of adamantine armor weighs 50% more than normal.
Bone. Bone can be used in place of wood and steel. Other animal-based materials like horn, shell, and ivory can also be used. Bone armor is fragile and breaks after 3 critical hits against you.
Mithral. Metal armors can be made with mithral which is a light, flexible metal. A mithral chain hauberk or scale hauberk can be worn under normal clothes. If the armor normally imposes disadvantage on Stealth checks or has a Strength requirement, the mithral version of the armor doesn’t. A suit of mithral armor weighs half as much as normal.
Getting into and out of armor
Donning and doffing armor
| Category | Don | Doff |
|---|---|---|
| Leather | 1 minute | 30 seconds |
| Hide | 1 minute | 30 seconds |
| Chain | 5 minutes | 1 minute |
| Scale | 5 minutes | 1 minute |
| Plate | 10 minutes | 5 minutes |
| Shield | two actions | an action |
The time it takes to don or doff a type of armor or a shield is shown in the Donning and Doffing Armor table.
Don. This is the time it takes to put on the item. You benefit from its Defense only if you take the full time to don it.
Doff. This is the time it takes to take off the item. If you have help removing armor, reduce this time by half.