Medium Armor Recipes

Medium armor gives you more defense than light armor without fully sacrificing mobility. It’s ideal for adventurers who want a balance between speed and toughness. You still get to add some of your Dexterity bonus to your AC, up to +2, while gaining stronger protection overall.

Scale mail is made of overlapping metal plates, like fish scales, sewn onto a backing of leather or cloth. It provides solid protection but can be noisy and stiff, making it a less subtle option for those trying to stay light on their feet.

Scale Mail

Armor (medium)

This armor consists of a coat and leggings (and perhaps a separate skirt) of leather covered with overlapping pieces of metal, much like the scales of a fish. The suit includes gauntlets.

Stealth. The wearer has disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. 

AC: 14 + Dex modifier (max 2)

Stealth: Disadvantage

Weight: 45

A breastplate is a fitted metal chest guard that protects the torso while leaving the arms and legs free. It offers good defense with minimal restriction, making it a favored choice for warriors who prioritize speed as much as safety.

Breastplate

Armor (medium)

This armor consists of a fitted metal chest piece worn over supple leather. It protects the torso and vital organs while leaving the arms and legs relatively free, offering solid defense without heavy encumbrance.

AC: 14 + Dex modifier (max 2)

Weight: 20

Hide armor is pieced together from thick furs and animal pelts, offering rough but serviceable protection. It’s often worn by barbarians, druids, or others who live close to nature and prefer natural materials to metal.

Hide Armor

Armor (medium)

This crude armor consists of thick furs and pelts. It is commonly worn by barbarian tribes, evil humanoids, and other folk who lack access to the tools and materials needed to create better armor.

AC: 12 +Dex modifier (max 2)

Weight: 12

Half plate includes a metal breastplate with additional armor pieces on the shoulders, thighs, and shins. Though not as bulky as full plate, it provides strong protection with noticeable weight and noise, making stealth difficult.

Half Plate

Armor (medium)

Half plate consists of shaped metal plates that cover most of the wearer's body. It does not include leg protection beyond simple greaves that are attached with leather straps.

Stealth. The wearer has disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks. 

AC: 15 + Dex modifier (max 2)

Stealth: Disadvantage

Weight: 40

A chain shirt consists of interlocking metal rings worn beneath regular clothing or a tunic. It offers decent protection to the vital areas while keeping the arms and legs free for movement. Ideal for those who need some defense without full armor coverage.

Chain Shirt

Armor (medium)

Made of interlocking metal rings, a chain shirt is worn between layers of clothing or leather. This armor offers modest protection to the wearer's upper body and allows the sound of the rings rubbing against one another to be muffled by outer layers.

AC: 13 + Dex modifier (max 2)

Weight: 20