Well, depends on whether you think an animated armor is a 'manufactured metal object' (it's manufactured and metal, but may not be an object). If no, it's an invalid target for the spell. If yes, any creature that comes in contact with the animated armor will suffer the effects of heat metal, but the armor itself will be unaffected (the heat metal spell does not damage the object it's cast on, it damages things that touch the object it's cast on).
Heat metal should work fine on Animated armor though the final decision rests with your DM.
Animated armor is a creature but it is also made out of a manufactured object. MM "Ponderous but persistent, this magical guardian is almost always a suit of plate armor."
A suit of plate armor is a manufactured metal object.
From heat metal: "Choose a manufactured metal object, such as a metal weapon or a suit of heavy or medium metal armor, that you can see within range."
As long as the Animated armor is considered a valid target for heat metal then it should take damage. The stat block does not say that it is immune to heat or fire damage. Fire bolt would damage animated armor, fireball would damage animated armor, flaming sphere would harm animated armor ... there is no reason why heat metal should not also damage animated armor. Consider also that a humanoid wearing plate armor would not be able to take it off within the time frame of the spell either and are forced to take damage. Animated armor is no different.
Finally, if you check the stat block for helmed horror which is essentially the same as animated armor (also a medium construct made from metal armor) but more powerful.
"Spell Immunity. The helmed horror is immune to three spells chosen by its creator. Typical immunities include fireball, heat metal, and lightning bolt."
If the caster does not choose a spell immunity to heat metal for the helmed horror then the implication is that the helmed horror would be expected to take damage from it. If a helmed horror without immunity takes damage then Animated Armor could also reasonably be expected to take damage from heat metal also.
Well, depends on whether you think an animated armor is a 'manufactured metal object' (it's manufactured and metal, but may not be an object). If no, it's an invalid target for the spell. If yes, any creature that comes in contact with the animated armor will suffer the effects of heat metal, but the armor itself will be unaffected (the heat metal spell does not damage the object it's cast on, it damages things that touch the object it's cast on).
True. However, a creature is always in contact with itself so if the armor heats up, the creature takes damage because it is made from the armor and also heating up.
If animated armor would take damage from firebolt or other fire dependent spells then one might reasonably expect it would take damage from heat metal as well. However, in the end, it is up to the DM to decide.
To be strict about it, the animated armor is a creature, not an object. So, it would be eligible as the target of heat metal.
But I can see why a DM would rule otherwise.
I agree. Can Animated armor be both a creature and an object in terms of spell targeting? Or is it ONLY a creature OR an object? Does the heat metal spell refer to "manufactured metal object" in the D&D sense or does it refer to it in common English language usage? The rules are supposed to be read in English and not legalistically but that makes this example ambiguous since in plain usage Animated armor is still a manufactured metal object .. it just has additional abilities to move around and take some actions.
However, answering that depends on whether you think that creatures can be objects or not. The same goes for the Animate objects spell. I could take 8 daggers and animate them, or a couple of suits of armor for that matter. They don't have immunity to fire damage, they are certainly valid targets for a number of spells that do fire damage, are they a valid target for heat metal?
Personally, I lean towards them being valid targets since it would seem to make sense and fits the natural reading of the rule. However, that relies on allowing some creatures to be simultaneously objects which may or may not be RAW (there don't seem to be any official clarifications or errata).
Well, depends on whether you think an animated armor is a 'manufactured metal object' (it's manufactured and metal, but may not be an object). If no, it's an invalid target for the spell. If yes, any creature that comes in contact with the animated armor will suffer the effects of heat metal, but the armor itself will be unaffected (the heat metal spell does not damage the object it's cast on, it damages things that touch the object it's cast on).
True. However, a creature is always in contact with itself so if the armor heats up, the creature takes damage because it is made from the armor and also heating up.
If animated armor would take damage from firebolt or other fire dependent spells then one might reasonably expect it would take damage from heat metal as well. However, in the end, it is up to the DM to decide.
If heat metal was able to damage the object it was cast on, it would destroy them in 1-2 rounds (a medium durable object has typical HP 18). As destroying armor and weapons is not one of the listed properties of heat metal, the logical conclusion is that it does not damage the item it is cast on.
Heat metal is enough to do damage to any creature in contact with the metal, but does not say it damages the metal itself. It is possible the caster just gave the Animated Armor the ability to deal 2d8 extra fire damage on a hit.
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To be strict about it, the animated armor is a creature, not an object. So, it would not be eligible as the target of heat metal.
But I can see why a DM would rule otherwise.
Well, depends on whether you think an animated armor is a 'manufactured metal object' (it's manufactured and metal, but may not be an object). If no, it's an invalid target for the spell. If yes, any creature that comes in contact with the animated armor will suffer the effects of heat metal, but the armor itself will be unaffected (the heat metal spell does not damage the object it's cast on, it damages things that touch the object it's cast on).
Heat metal should work fine on Animated armor though the final decision rests with your DM.
Animated armor is a creature but it is also made out of a manufactured object. MM "Ponderous but persistent, this magical guardian is almost always a suit of plate armor."
A suit of plate armor is a manufactured metal object.
From heat metal: "Choose a manufactured metal object, such as a metal weapon or a suit of heavy or medium metal armor, that you can see within range."
As long as the Animated armor is considered a valid target for heat metal then it should take damage. The stat block does not say that it is immune to heat or fire damage. Fire bolt would damage animated armor, fireball would damage animated armor, flaming sphere would harm animated armor ... there is no reason why heat metal should not also damage animated armor. Consider also that a humanoid wearing plate armor would not be able to take it off within the time frame of the spell either and are forced to take damage. Animated armor is no different.
Finally, if you check the stat block for helmed horror which is essentially the same as animated armor (also a medium construct made from metal armor) but more powerful.
"Spell Immunity. The helmed horror is immune to three spells chosen by its creator. Typical immunities include fireball, heat metal, and lightning bolt."
If the caster does not choose a spell immunity to heat metal for the helmed horror then the implication is that the helmed horror would be expected to take damage from it. If a helmed horror without immunity takes damage then Animated Armor could also reasonably be expected to take damage from heat metal also.
True. However, a creature is always in contact with itself so if the armor heats up, the creature takes damage because it is made from the armor and also heating up.
If animated armor would take damage from firebolt or other fire dependent spells then one might reasonably expect it would take damage from heat metal as well. However, in the end, it is up to the DM to decide.
I agree. Can Animated armor be both a creature and an object in terms of spell targeting? Or is it ONLY a creature OR an object? Does the heat metal spell refer to "manufactured metal object" in the D&D sense or does it refer to it in common English language usage? The rules are supposed to be read in English and not legalistically but that makes this example ambiguous since in plain usage Animated armor is still a manufactured metal object .. it just has additional abilities to move around and take some actions.
However, answering that depends on whether you think that creatures can be objects or not. The same goes for the Animate objects spell. I could take 8 daggers and animate them, or a couple of suits of armor for that matter. They don't have immunity to fire damage, they are certainly valid targets for a number of spells that do fire damage, are they a valid target for heat metal?
Personally, I lean towards them being valid targets since it would seem to make sense and fits the natural reading of the rule. However, that relies on allowing some creatures to be simultaneously objects which may or may not be RAW (there don't seem to be any official clarifications or errata).
If heat metal was able to damage the object it was cast on, it would destroy them in 1-2 rounds (a medium durable object has typical HP 18). As destroying armor and weapons is not one of the listed properties of heat metal, the logical conclusion is that it does not damage the item it is cast on.
Heat metal is enough to do damage to any creature in contact with the metal, but does not say it damages the metal itself.
It is possible the caster just gave the Animated Armor the ability to deal 2d8 extra fire damage on a hit.