Level
Cantrip
Casting Time
1 Reaction *
Range/Area
Self
Components
V
Duration
Instantaneous
School
Abjuration
Attack/Save
None
Damage/Effect
You cast a magical protection to surround you that absorbs, and therefore deflects, a tiny portion of damage of an attack made from a weapon, spell or ability. The type of damage this protection can absorb is dependent of the character’s level (see below). The amount of damage absorbs (damage you can ignore from taking) is your proficiency modifier. This cantrip can be cast when you are hit and just before damage to be taken is rolled.
Leveling: At later levels, the magic protection can absorb more types of damage (see below, protection stacks by level).
Level 1: Slashing, Bludgeoning and Piercing only
Level 5: also Cold, Fire, Lightning and Thunder
Level 11: also Acid, Radiant and Necrotic
Level 17: also Force, and Psychic
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Posted Dec 8, 2018I honestly don't like Blade Ward. It takes an action to cast and is useful to only normal types of damage. The other problem is because it take 1 action to cast, you can't attack that round which just makes you a sitting target who still receives damage. In addition, the benefits of this spell don't stack.
My replacement allows a character to attack and it's defense is only good against one attack per round. In addition, the benefits improve as you level up without becoming too powerful. Remember, as a reaction, you have to give up other reaction abilities and it is good only against a single attack (so a fighter who gets more then one attack will still get to damage this caster just less so).
I also think it retains its usefulness with different damage resistance and note as a cantrip that is cast as a reaction, shocking grasp ability prevents this cantrip from being cast.