Howardyn's Absorbing Aegis

A shimmering barrier of protective energy envelops you. The barrier has a number of charges equal to your spellcasting ability modifier (minimum 1). Whenever you are hit by a melee or ranged attack, you can use your reaction to expend one of the barrier’s charges:

• Reduce the damage from that attack by 2d10 + your spellcasting ability modifier.
• You then gain that many temporary hit points. Alternatively, you may choose a creature within 30 feet of you (including yourself) to receive those temporary hit points instead.

If you already have temporary hit points from this spell, any new total replaces (rather than adds to) the previous total, if it is higher. Once all charges are expended, the spell ends.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 5th level or higher, increase the damage reduction by 1d10 for each slot level above 4th.