I'd like to purchase the Adamantine Armor as a magic item, but I'm not sure how this works. My character is already wearing full plate armor, so would the cost of purchasing Adamantine Armor be akin to a sort of upgrade to my existing amour? Or does it mean I would have to purchase full plate armour again with Adamantine Armor magic already 'woven' into it? I'm guessing the cost of the latter option would be significantly more than an upgrade cost!
Does anyone know what the cost could be based on how it works?
I'd like to purchase the Adamantine Armor as a magic item, but I'm not sure how this works. My character is already wearing full plate armor, so would the cost of purchasing Adamantine Armor be akin to a sort of upgrade to my existing amour? Or does it mean I would have to purchase full plate armour again with Adamantine Armor magic already 'woven' into it? I'm guessing the cost of the latter option would be significantly more than an upgrade cost!
Does anyone know what the cost could be based on how it works?
Thanks for any help on clarifying this.
The short answer is... you're just going to have to ask your DM. It's a distinct magic item, not an upgrade applied to existing armor, and the availability/cost of magic items is entirely up to your DM to determine. You can browse the suggested guidelines on pricing magic items from either the Dungeon Master's Guide or Xanathar's Guide to Everything for ideas, yet none of that is binding. Your DM truly does have complete control over it.
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You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
IIRC, the DMG has Adamantine Armor listed as a 500gp upgrade to Medium and Heavy armors. You might use that number as an anchor for what it would cost to upgrade your current armor.
Well, the whole point of an adamantine armor is that it's made out of adamantine instead of, say steel and/or iron. You can't really "upgrade" a steel armour to be made from another material without making a new set of armour in said material. The cost example is what it would cost to buy an upgraded version (ie, made from the different material) of the armour in question.
In short, if you want a set of armour made from a different material than the armour you are currently, wearing, you would have to buy a new set of armou rmade from the material you want, yes.
There is also Mizzium Armor. It does not expressly state it is made from Adamantinium but in addition to having the benefit of Adamantinum (crits->normal hits), it also reduces damage on a succesful Strength or Con. Save from 1/2 to none.
Well, the whole point of an adamantine armor is that it's made out of adamantine instead of, say steel and/or iron. You can't really "upgrade" a steel armour to be made from another material without making a new set of armour in said material. The cost example is what it would cost to buy an upgraded version (ie, made from the different material) of the armour in question.
In short, if you want a set of armour made from a different material than the armour you are currently, wearing, you would have to buy a new set of armou rmade from the material you want, yes.
I don't believe that's quite accurate. Adamantium is in-lore, quite difficult to work with and part of the Adamantine Armor description from what I recall is taking it and using it to reinforce parts of existing armors instead of creating new armors wholesale out of the stuff.
Well, the whole point of an adamantine armor is that it's made out of adamantine instead of, say steel and/or iron. You can't really "upgrade" a steel armour to be made from another material without making a new set of armour in said material. The cost example is what it would cost to buy an upgraded version (ie, made from the different material) of the armour in question.
In short, if you want a set of armour made from a different material than the armour you are currently, wearing, you would have to buy a new set of armou rmade from the material you want, yes.
I don't believe that's quite accurate. Adamantium is in-lore, quite difficult to work with and part of the Adamantine Armor description from what I recall is taking it and using it to reinforce parts of existing armors instead of creating new armors wholesale out of the stuff.
The +500 gp is for an adamantine weapon. I would think a suit of armor would cost more.
Yup. Especially since a normal suit of plate costs 1500 gp. Since the most expensive melee weapon is the greatsword at 50gp and the additional cost for an adamantine greatsword is ten times the base cost, it would be reasonable for an adamantine plate to cost between 15 000 and 20 000 gp.
> it would be reasonable for an adamantine plate to cost between 15 000 and 20 000 gp.
Just from a smell test, this seems like an unreasonable amount to charge for a nonmagic piece of armor.
Not really. It is, sizewise, a smaller increase than if you would to buy an adamantine Longsword and the effect is very much comparable to a strong magic item.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I think he was referring to a piece of mundane armor made from adamantine ore, not specifically to the magic item that is also called adamantine armor.
I think he was referring to a piece of mundane armor made from adamantine ore, not specifically to the magic item that is also called adamantine armor.
I'm sure they were, yet the point is that such a thing doesn't really exist in 5e outside of homebrew. A set of armor made with adamantine ore is the magic item Adamantine Armor.
[edit] If you want to infer a reason why the armor is explicitly a magic item, look at the lore and description itself. Adamantine is so hard to work with that they have to use magic in the smithing process.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Well here's me eating my hat. Apparently Adamantine armor is indeed quitemagical and quite rare. Per the DMG, here are magic item charts it shows up in:
Table G dlOO Magic Item 01-11 Weapon, +2 12-14 Figurine of wondrous power (roll d8) 1 Bronze griffon 2 Ebony fly 3 Golden lions 4 Ivory goats 5 Marble elephant 6-7 Onyx dog 8 Serpentine owl 15 Adamantine armor (breastplate) 16 Adamantine armor (splint) 17 Amulet of health
Table H dlOO Magic Item 01-10 Weapon, +3 11-12 Amulet of the planes 13-14 Carpet of flying 15-16 Crystal ball (very rare version) 17-18 Ring of regeneration 19....54 53-54 Wand of the war mage, +3 55 Adamantine armor (half plate) 56 Adamantine armor (plate) 57 Animated shield
It seems 15,000-20,000 gold is within the ballpark of these items?
Ah, I see what you're saying. I read "This suit of armor is reinforced with adamantine, one of the hardest substances in existence. While you're wearing it, any critical hit against you becomes a normal hit." as Mohs scale hardness as opposed to being hard to work with. I get where you're coming from though.
As for homebrew, I can't speak to that. I was just talking about a material exists in the game and crafting, which is a process that is outlined in the rules.
However, I also must concede the point that the distinction is academic anyway because if you were to make non-magical armor out of adamantine, it would have no distinguishable functional advantage over regular steel armor as near as I can tell. You could surmise it would be harder, but exactly how that would play out in the mechanics are not defined anywhere I can tell. The properties ascribed to adamantine in the crafting sense all pertain weapons. Kind of like how you might conceivably make a weapon out of mitral, but I don't see where it would behave differently than a steel weapon? Now there you DO have some fertile ground for a solid homebrew discussion in a different thread.
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"Not all those who wander are lost"
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Hi everyone.
I'd like to purchase the Adamantine Armor as a magic item, but I'm not sure how this works. My character is already wearing full plate armor, so would the cost of purchasing Adamantine Armor be akin to a sort of upgrade to my existing amour? Or does it mean I would have to purchase full plate armour again with Adamantine Armor magic already 'woven' into it? I'm guessing the cost of the latter option would be significantly more than an upgrade cost!
Does anyone know what the cost could be based on how it works?
Thanks for any help on clarifying this.
The short answer is... you're just going to have to ask your DM. It's a distinct magic item, not an upgrade applied to existing armor, and the availability/cost of magic items is entirely up to your DM to determine. You can browse the suggested guidelines on pricing magic items from either the Dungeon Master's Guide or Xanathar's Guide to Everything for ideas, yet none of that is binding. Your DM truly does have complete control over it.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Ah ok, that makes sense. Thanks I'll ask tonight - game night! :)
IIRC, the DMG has Adamantine Armor listed as a 500gp upgrade to Medium and Heavy armors. You might use that number as an anchor for what it would cost to upgrade your current armor.
https://linktr.ee/DungeonsForHire
Well, the whole point of an adamantine armor is that it's made out of adamantine instead of, say steel and/or iron. You can't really "upgrade" a steel armour to be made from another material without making a new set of armour in said material. The cost example is what it would cost to buy an upgraded version (ie, made from the different material) of the armour in question.
In short, if you want a set of armour made from a different material than the armour you are currently, wearing, you would have to buy a new set of armou rmade from the material you want, yes.
There is also Mizzium Armor. It does not expressly state it is made from Adamantinium but in addition to having the benefit of Adamantinum (crits->normal hits), it also reduces damage on a succesful Strength or Con. Save from 1/2 to none.
From Ravnica.
I don't believe that's quite accurate. Adamantium is in-lore, quite difficult to work with and part of the Adamantine Armor description from what I recall is taking it and using it to reinforce parts of existing armors instead of creating new armors wholesale out of the stuff.
https://linktr.ee/DungeonsForHire
The +500 gp is for an adamantine weapon. I would think a suit of armor would cost more.
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That would be up to the DM, then.
Yup. Especially since a normal suit of plate costs 1500 gp. Since the most expensive melee weapon is the greatsword at 50gp and the additional cost for an adamantine greatsword is ten times the base cost, it would be reasonable for an adamantine plate to cost between 15 000 and 20 000 gp.
> it would be reasonable for an adamantine plate to cost between 15 000 and 20 000 gp.
Just from a smell test, this seems like an unreasonable amount to charge for a nonmagic piece of armor.
https://linktr.ee/DungeonsForHire
Not really. It is, sizewise, a smaller increase than if you would to buy an adamantine Longsword and the effect is very much comparable to a strong magic item.
Adamantine Armor is a magic item in 5e ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
I think he was referring to a piece of mundane armor made from adamantine ore, not specifically to the magic item that is also called adamantine armor.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I'm sure they were, yet the point is that such a thing doesn't really exist in 5e outside of homebrew. A set of armor made with adamantine ore is the magic item Adamantine Armor.
[edit] If you want to infer a reason why the armor is explicitly a magic item, look at the lore and description itself. Adamantine is so hard to work with that they have to use magic in the smithing process.
You don't know what fear is until you've witnessed a drunk bird divebombing you while carrying a screaming Kobold throwing fire anywhere and everywhere.
Well here's me eating my hat. Apparently Adamantine armor is indeed quite magical and quite rare. Per the DMG, here are magic item charts it shows up in:
Table G
dlOO Magic Item
01-11 Weapon, +2
12-14 Figurine of wondrous power (roll d8)
1 Bronze griffon
2 Ebony fly
3 Golden lions
4 Ivory goats
5 Marble elephant
6-7 Onyx dog
8 Serpentine owl
15 Adamantine armor (breastplate)
16 Adamantine armor (splint)
17 Amulet of health
Table H
dlOO Magic Item
01-10 Weapon, +3
11-12 Amulet of the planes
13-14 Carpet of flying
15-16 Crystal ball (very rare version)
17-18 Ring of regeneration
19....54
53-54 Wand of the war mage, +3
55 Adamantine armor (half plate)
56 Adamantine armor (plate)
57 Animated shield
It seems 15,000-20,000 gold is within the ballpark of these items?
https://linktr.ee/DungeonsForHire
Ah, I see what you're saying. I read "This suit of armor is reinforced with adamantine, one of the hardest substances in existence. While you're wearing it, any critical hit against you becomes a normal hit." as Mohs scale hardness as opposed to being hard to work with. I get where you're coming from though.
As for homebrew, I can't speak to that. I was just talking about a material exists in the game and crafting, which is a process that is outlined in the rules.
However, I also must concede the point that the distinction is academic anyway because if you were to make non-magical armor out of adamantine, it would have no distinguishable functional advantage over regular steel armor as near as I can tell. You could surmise it would be harder, but exactly how that would play out in the mechanics are not defined anywhere I can tell. The properties ascribed to adamantine in the crafting sense all pertain weapons. Kind of like how you might conceivably make a weapon out of mitral, but I don't see where it would behave differently than a steel weapon? Now there you DO have some fertile ground for a solid homebrew discussion in a different thread.
"Not all those who wander are lost"