Does mage armor stack with draconic resilience?

Does Mage Armor Stack with Draconic Resilience?

In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, players often seek to optimize their characters’ defenses to ensure they can withstand even the most formidable attacks. Two abilities that can provide significant protection are Mage Armor and Draconic Resilience. But do these two abilities stack, or do they work independently? In this article, we’ll delve into the details of both abilities and explore the answer to this question.

Mage Armor

Mage Armor is a spell that grants the caster’s armor class (AC) a bonus equal to their Charisma modifier (minimum +1). This means that a 1st-level sorcerer with a Charisma score of 16 would gain a bonus of +2 to their AC. The spell lasts for 8 hours and can be cast at will.

Draconic Resilience

Draconic Resilience is a Sorcerer subclass feature that grants the Sorcerer’s armor class (AC) a bonus equal to their Charisma modifier (minimum +1). This means that a 1st-level Sorcerer with a Charisma score of 16 would gain a bonus of +2 to their AC. The bonus applies to all armor classes, not just the Sorcerer’s own armor.

Do They Stack?

So, do Mage Armor and Draconic Resilience stack, or do they work independently? The answer lies in the wording of the two abilities.

Mage Armor

The text of Mage Armor states that it grants a bonus to the caster’s armor class (AC) equal to their Charisma modifier (minimum +1). This implies that Mage Armor is intended to be a standalone ability that provides a bonus to the caster’s AC.

Draconic Resilience

The text of Draconic Resilience states that it grants a bonus to the Sorcerer’s armor class (AC) equal to their Charisma modifier (minimum +1). This implies that Draconic Resilience is intended to be a standalone ability that provides a bonus to the Sorcerer’s AC.

Conclusion

Based on the wording of the two abilities, it appears that Mage Armor and Draconic Resilience do not stack. Each ability is designed to provide a bonus to the caster’s armor class (AC) independently, rather than stacking with each other.

When to Use Each Ability

So, when should you use Mage Armor and when should you use Draconic Resilience? Here are some guidelines:

• Use Mage Armor when you want to provide a temporary boost to your armor class (AC) for a short period of time. This can be useful for situations where you need to take a few extra hits before you can get behind cover or escape.
• Use Draconic Resilience when you want to provide a permanent bonus to your armor class (AC). This can be useful for situations where you need to be able to withstand a lot of damage over an extended period of time.

Comparison of the Two Abilities

Here’s a comparison of the two abilities:

In conclusion, Mage Armor and Draconic Resilience are two separate abilities that provide bonuses to the caster’s armor class (AC). While they can both be useful in different situations, they do not stack with each other.