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 armor in between. The Armor table collects the most commonly available types of armor found in the game and separates them into three categories: light armor, medium armor, and heavy armor. Many warriors supplement their armor with a shield.
The Armor table shows the cost, weight, and other properties of the common types o f armor worn in the worlds of D&D.
Armor Proficiency. Anyone can put on a suit of armor or strap a shield to an arm. Only those proficient in the armor’s use know how to wear it effectively, however. Your class gives you proficiency with certain types of armor. If you wear armor that you lack proficiency with, you have disadvantage on any ability check, saving throw, or attack roll that involves Strength or Dexterity, and you can’t cast spells.
Armor Class (AC). Armor protects its wearer from attacks. The armor (and shield) you wear determines your base Armor Class.
Heavy Armor. Heavier armor interferes with the wearer’s ability to move quickly, stealthily, and freely. If the Armor table shows “Str 13” or “Str 15” in the Strength column for an armor type, the armor reduces the wearer’s speed by 10 feet unless the wearer has a Strength score equal to or higher than the listed score.
Stealth. If the Armor table shows “Disadvantage” in the Stealth column, the wearer has disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.
Shields. A shield is made from wood or metal and is carried in one hand. Wielding a shield increases your Armor Class by 2, unless you are wearing heavy armor, in which case it increases your Armor Class by 1. You can benefit from only one shield at a time.
Light Armor
Made from supple and thin materials, light armor favors agile adventurers since it offers some protection without sacrificing mobility. If you wear light armor, you add your Dexterity modifier to the base number from your armor type to determine your Armor Class.
Light armor focuses on protecting the torso to maximize mobility in the limbs. Adding arm and leg protection significantly increases the amount of protection available, but this bumps it up into the medium armor category of mobility restriction
Padded. A quilted garment consisting of many layers of fabric. An alternative with the same statistics is a buff coat consisting of thick untanned leather.
Mail Shirt. A light mail tunic covering the torso and hips.
Hardened Leather. Torso protection consisting of thick strips or sheets of hardened leather. Styles include lamellar, woven strips, or shaped cuirasses. Offers similar protection to the mail shirt without the noise.
Brigandine. A coat of plates sewn onto a textile facing. Moderately heavy chest armor that offers decent protection against blows to the chest while still allowing full mobility. Note: from the exterior, this armor looks like a studded jerkin, which is where the term “studded armor” comes from in popular fantasy. But the actual protection is provided by metal plates.
Exotic. Armor fashioned of light and unusually strong fibers or scales. These materials are rare and not easily available, and may rely on trade secrets known only to a few craftsmen or cultures. Examples of exotic armor include drow spidersilk armor and armors created from tough monster hides.
Medium Armor
Medium armor offers more protection than light armor, but it also impairs movement more. If you wear medium armor, you add your Dexterity modifier, to a maximum of +2, to the base number from your armor type to determine your Armor Class.
Mail Hauberk. Full-length mail armor with arms. Covers the whole body down to the knees with flexible protection.
Scale Armor. Overlapping metal scales sewn to a cloth backing. Offers excellent flexibility, but blows can penetrate.
Coat of Plates. Brigandine, but including protection for the arms and legs, plus a helmet.
Lamellar. Layered metal plates designed to provide good protection against slashing blows while maintaining flexibility. covering the chest, shoulders, and arms. Includes greaves and a helmet.
Breastplate. Plate cuirass, greaves, and bracers over a padded gambeson, plus an open helmet. Offers good protection without compromising mobility, but leaves the joints exposed and vulnerable.
Half Plate. A shaped metal chest plate with arm protection, tassets, and mail joints but minimal leg protection. Includes a 3/4 helmet with an avontail or gorget. To be light enough to remain the medium armor category, the plates need to be designed and fitted as carefully as masterwork full plate.
Heavy Armor
Of all the armor categories, heavy armor offers the best protection. These suits of armor cover the entire body and are designed to stop a wide range of attacks. Only proficient warriors can manage their weight and bulk.
If you wear medium armor, you add your Dexterity modifier, to a maximum of +0, to the base number from your armor type to determine your Armor Class.
Heavy Mail.
Coat of Plates. A mail hauberk layered with a flexible tunic consisting of lapped metal plates sewn into a cloth or leather covering. Includes a 3/4 helmet with an avontail and splinted gauntlets.
Partial Plate. A front chest plate over full-body mail with shaped plates to cover the front of the arms, legs, and shoulders. Includes a full helmet with an avontail.
Full Plate. Plate consists of a full set of shaped, interlocking metal plates to cover the entire body. Mail gussets protect the joints and gaps in the armor and the head is protected with a closed helmet and plate gorget.
Masterwork Full Plate. An exquisitely designed and fitted suite of plate armor with flutes to divert blows and nearly all joints fully protected by articulated plate. Includes a full helmet and gorget.
Helmets
Many of the heavier armors include helmets for protection. Helmets are an essential piece of protection, but the most protective versions may hamper an adventurer’s ability to see and hear.
All medium armors include an open helmet. When you are not wearing a helmet with these armors, reduce your base AC by 1, to a minimum of 14.
All heavy armors include a full helmet, and typically include an operable visor. When you are not wearing a helmet with these armors, reduce your base AC by 2, to a minimum of 15. When you are wearing a helmet with the visor open, reduce your AC by 1, to a minimum of 16. While wearing a helmet with the visor closed, you have a minor disadvantage on perception checks.
Armor Descriptions
The types of armor listed in this chapter are intended as general classifications, not as prescriptions when designing armor. Each description provides a representative sample of the level of protection and weight for each category of armor, but these are not intended to be prescriptive sets. It quite common for mercenaries and adventurers to mix and match pieces of armor when assembling a kit. For all categories other than the fitted armors (half plate, full plate, and masterwork plate), players can scavenge pieces of armor from fallen foes to cobble together armor or upgrade their own where it makes sense. For example, layering a brigandine coat over a mail hauberk along with some scavenged bracers and pauldrons could reach the level of protection of scale armor or a coat of plates. Just keep in mind that the more pieces involved, the heavier the armor becomes, so heavily layered armor will more likely be heavy armor than medium.
Light Armor
| Type | Cost | Armor Class (AC) | Stealth Disadvantage |
| Padded | Cheap | 12 + Dex modifier | |
| Chain shirt | Cheap | 13 + Dex modifier | Minor |
| Hardened leather | 40 gp | 13 + Dex modifier | |
| Brigandine | 75 gp | 14 + Dex modifier | Minor |
| Exotic | 750 gp | 14 + Dex modifier |
Medium Armor
| Type | Cost | Armor Class (AC) | Stealth Disadvantage |
| Mail Hauberk | Cheap | 14 + Dex modifier (max 2) | Minor |
| Scale | 75 gp | 15 + Dex modifier (max 2) | Moderate |
| Breastplate | 200 gp | 15 + Dex modifier (max 2) | Minor |
| Half Plate | 300 gp | 16 + Dex modifier (max 2) | Moderate |
| Masterwork Half Plate | 900 gp* | 17 + Dex modifier (max 2) | Moderate |
Heavy Armor
| Type | Cost | Armor Class (AC) | Stealth Disadvantage |
| Heavy Mail | 15 | Moderate | |
| Coat of Plates | 150 gp | 17 | Moderate |
| Partial Plate | 350 gp | 18 | Moderate |
| Full Plate | 500 gp* | 19 | Major |
| Masterwork Plate | 1,500 gp* | 20 | Major |
Selling Armor
Used armor can typically be sold to interested merchants (such as quartermasters) for half of the listed price. Tailored armors that must be refitted to their wearer (Light Plate, Half Plate, Full Plate, and Masterwork Plate) can be resold for only 1/3 of the list price.