The 10 Best Armor For Sorcerers in D&D 5e [Ranked]

The world of D&D lets adventurers pick and choose between various armors, shields, and defensive trinkets.

However, some armors stand out above the rest, fitting an adventurer’s background, build, flavor and simply giving more useful stats to that character.

In the case of Sorcerers, their backstories and playstyles mainly have them wear rings, robes, bracers, necklaces, and specially modified armor.

Sorcerers might not be the most powerful spellcasters, but their natural affinity for spellcasting and metamagic empower their abilities, especially their offensive and defensive spells.

Sorcerer Armor Proficiency

• None

Best Armor for the Sorcerer in 5e

10. Ring of Protection

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Ring

Description

You will gain a +1 bonus to your AC and saving throws while you are wearing this ring.

Explanation

A Ring of Protection is an easy-to-find AC bonus for Sorcerers looking to become more tanky.

It works for almost any playstyle, and since it isn’t that rare, DMs often reward their players with it in the early game.

Note: I recommend combining it with the Cloak of Protection for a nice +2 bonus to AC and saves, which will keep you alive for quite some time. Just watch out; both pieces require attunement!

9. Amulet of Health

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Your Constitution score rises to 19 while wearing this amulet. It will have no effect on you if your Constitution is at 19 or higher before wearing it.

Explanation

Sorcerers don’t usually put points into Constitution, and with Amulet of Health setting it to 19, you don’t have to spend any extra points on it.

However, if you want 20 Constitution for some reason, it’ll only be useful until you’ve hit 20 Constitution.

8. Necklace of Fireballs

Rarity – Rare

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

This necklace has 1d6 + 3 beads that are hanging from it. Using an action lets you detach a bead and then throw it up to 60 feet away. When the bead lands, it detonates as a 3rd-level Fireball spell (save DC 15).

You may hurl multiple beads or even the whole necklace by using one action. Doing so increases the level of Fireball by 1 for each bead beyond the first one.

Explanation

Fireball is well known as one of the most efficient offensive spells in D&D, being more than worth it for spellcasters to use.

Sorcerers already learn and use Fireball, but saving a spell slot and even having the ability to upcast it with the number of beads thrown makes it much more economical than simply casting it.

7. Elven Chain

Rarity – Rare

Item Type – Armor (chain shirt)

Description

You will gain a +1 bonus to your AC while wearing this armor. You’re considered proficient with this armor, even if you lack proficiency with medium armor.

Explanation

Elven Chain is a lot like Barrier Tattoo, but it doesn’t require any attunement.

Even though the bonus to AC isn’t as huge as with Barrier Tattoo, this can be a very good addition to your character’s build if you’re in need of AC.

6. Illusionist’s Bracers

Rarity – Very Rare (requiring attunement by a spellcaster)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

The bracers were initially created to enable a powerful illusionist of House Dimir to make multiple Minor Illusions simultaneously, though its power extends beyond illusions.

Wearing the bracers and casting a Cantrip lets you use a bonus action to cast the same Cantrip a second time.

Explanation

Cantrips are an essential backup resource for spellcasters who use all their spell slots, which means they’re usually weaker than most spells.

However, with the Illusionist’s Bracers, the ability to cast a Cantrip twice increases their potency, allowing them to compete with higher-level spells.

5. Ring of Spell Storing

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Ring

Description

Spells cast into the ring are stored (up to 5 levels worth of spells are able to be stored in the ring at one time), holding them until the attuned wearer decides to use them.  

When the ring is found, it can contain 1d6 -1 levels of stored spells (chosen by the DM).

Any creature is able to cast a spell of 1st to 5th level into the ring by simply touching it as the spell is cast. Doing this makes the spell have no effect other than being stored in the ring.

However, if the ring cannot hold the spell, it will be expended without effect. The level of the spell slot used to cast the spell will determine how much space it takes up.

Wearing the ring lets you cast any spell stored within it. The spell will use the slot level, spell attack bonus, spell save DC, and spellcasting ability of the original caster but is otherwise treated as a normal cast spell.

A spell cast from the ring is no longer stored within it, freeing up space in the ring.

Explanation

The Ring of Spell Storing has a lot of uses, but the best way to use it would be to pump it with defensive spells to increase your durability.

Spells like Absorb Elements or Shield work exceptionally well when put into a Ring of Spell Storing.

4. Dragon Mask

Rarity – Legendary (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Each dragon mask is Legendary, reshaping to fit the wearer’s face. Wearing and being attuned to a dragon mask gives the following benefits:

Damage Absorption – Gain resistance against the mask’s damage type. Already having resistance to that type gives you immunity instead. Already having immunity to that type means you regain a number of HP equal to the damage dealt by that type, and you take no damage.

Draconic Majesty – Wearing no armor lets you add your Charisma bonus to your AC.

Dragon Beath – Having a breath weapon requiring rest to recharge, you will gain a recharge of 6.

Dragon Sight – Gain darkvision of 60 feet, or an additional 60 feet if you already have darkvision. Once every day, you may gain blindsight to 30 feet for 5 minutes.

Dragon Tongue – You can understand and speak Draconic. Gain advantage on any Charisma check made against dragons that share the mask’s color.

Legendary Resistance (1/Day) – Failing a saving throw lets you choose to succeed instead.

Different Masks

• Black Dragon Mask
• Blue Dragon Mask
• Green Dragon Mask
• Red Dragon Mask
• White Dragon Mask

Explanation

The Dragon Mask rewards high-Charisma characters like the Sorcerer, providing them with crazy benefits.

It solves many problems Sorcerers have, such as low AC and lack of resistance to damage types.

You even have some subtle flavor with the different colors of each Dragon Mask.

3. Cloak of Displacement

Rarity – Rare (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing this cloak projects an illusion that makes it look like you’re standing in a place close to your actual location, giving creatures disadvantage on attack rolls against you.

Taking damage will stop this function until the start of your next turn. This property is also suppressed while you are restrained, incapacitated, or unable to move.

Explanation

The Cloak of Displacement is considered to be one of the best defensive items for any character in D&D.

Giving creatures who want to attack you disadvantage is amazing, but try to take care of enemies who can damage you without having to expend an attack roll.

Sorcerers try to avoid taking damage (as most spellcasters do), and the Cloak of Displacement helps with that. 

It also allows you to have a lower HP, as it works so well that it becomes pretty difficult to take damage if you know how the cloak works.

2. Winged Boots

Rarity – Uncommon (requiring attunement)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

Wearing these boots gives you a flying speed equal to your walking speed. The boots can be used to fly for up to 4 hours, all at once, or used in several short flights using a minimum of 1 minute from the duration.

If you’re flying when the duration expires, you’ll descend at 30 feet per round until you’ve landed. The boots will regain 2 hours of flying capacity for every 12 hours they aren’t being used.

Explanation

Winged Boots are too powerful for their rarity, and being able to pick up an item that makes the Fly spell obsolete is worth it.

The boots also don’t have a weight cap and can let you fly for up to 4 hours, which is much longer than the Fly spell and doesn’t require Concentration or a spell slot.

1. Robe of the Archmagi

Rarity – Legendary (requiring attunement by a Wizard, Warlock, or Sorcerer)

Item Type – Wondrous item

Description

The color of the robe corresponds with the alignment for which the item was created. White for good, gray for neutral, and black for evil. You cannot attune to a robe of the archmagi that doesn’t match your alignment.

Gain the following benefits while wearing the robe:

• Not wearing armor makes your base AC 15 + your Dexterity modifier
• Gain advantage on saving throws against spells as well as other magical effects
• Your spell attack bonus and save DC both increase by 2

Explanation

The Robe of the Archmagi might be a Legendary item. Still, since it combines the benefits of a Mantle of Spell Resistance, Barrier Tattoo, and a Very Rare spellcasting focus, it’s worth the struggle.

It even adds some flavor to it, as you can only wear the robe fitting your alignment, opening paths for corrupting a good character or vice versa.

Final Thoughts

For the most part, each class in D&D has its most used or beloved armor that is both iconic and functional.

Though some of these armors might not be the best D&D armor overall, they remain the best option for that character at the moment.

A good example would be the choice between a ring that gives you free spells or extra protection. The one is better if you’re focused solely on casting spells, and the other is better if you’re closer to the frontline or don’t want to risk being damaged.

In the end, whether you decide to take a conventional or unconventional armor, as long as you like it and it fits your playstyle, you should roll with it!