Casting in Armor

[thorr-kan]

"Because of the mental focus and precise gestures required for spellcasting, you must be proficient with the armor you are wearing to cast a spell. You are otherwise too distracted and physically hampered by your armor for
spellcasting."

Straight forward enough: if your spellcasting class is proficient in the armor, you can cast in it. ForEx: warlock is proficient in light and can cast in it; cleric is proficient in light and medium and can cast in it.

But what if you multiclass, say from warlock to sorcerer? Can you cast your sorcerer spells while lightly armored?

[AttilatheYeon]

"Because of the mental focus and precise gestures required for spellcasting, you must be proficient with the armor you are wearing to cast a spell. You are otherwise too distracted and physically hampered by your armor for
spellcasting."

Straight forward enough: if your spellcasting class is proficient in the armor, you can cast in it. ForEx: warlock is proficient in light and can cast in it; cleric is proficient in light and medium and can cast in it.

But what if you multiclass, say from warlock to sorcerer? Can you cast your sorcerer spells while lightly armored?

It's not "your spellcasting class is proficient in the armor" it's if you are. Pally-sorc MC can cast sorc spells in any armor they are proficient in.

Hope this helps.

[thorr-kan]

It's not "your spellcasting class is proficient in the armor" it's if you are. Pally-sorc MC can cast sorc spells in any armor they are proficient in.

Hope this helps.

That's a good point. The quote *doesn't* specify which class grants proficiency, just that you're proficient.

[OrbanSirgen]

You don't lose proficiencies by multiclassing... A fighter/druid might not be able to use their fancy platemail anymore, but that's a druid code thing against metal armor and not an issue of proficiency... They would still be proficient with heavy armor...

[Greywander]

This is why cleric and fighter are popular dips for wizards (among the other perks gained from each class): you get to be a wizard in medium or heavy armor, with a shield. It's a big boost to AC, which is welcome on a squishy wizard. If multiclassing isn't an option, you might see a mountain dwarf wizard in medium armor (no shield, though). The only thing that matters is that you have proficiency with that armor, it doesn't matter where that proficiency came from or what spellcasting class you are.

[MrCharlie]

To build on this, encumbrance is also rarely a serious concern-Travel paces don't change if you are encumbered, and as long as you either use the armor STR requirement rule or don't push past 10X strength you can get away with wearing plate mail on an 8 STR wizard with only a minor speed penalty. This isn't nothing, but wizards rarely rely on superb mobility anyway, and have spells for that if needed.

[thorr-kan]

Thanks, everybody.