4
\$\begingroup\$

I want a complete list of every 3.5e-legal type of armor and shield published by Wizards of the Coast, or in Dragon or Dungeon magazine. (To be clear, I mean base type of armor or shield, not every possible material or magical enhancement they might receive.) I have the Crystal Keep index, which is great, but I have known the Crystal Keep indices to be missing things in the past, so I don’t feel confident that its list of armors and shields is complete, either.

Obviously, this is an enormous amount of material to comb through, but I don’t expect the amount of material actually on the list to be all that large: Crystal Keep’s list of armors and shields through October 1, 2007 contains about 50 separate entries,¹ and I expect that it’s almost complete, so a thorough list won’t be much larger. Furthermore, almost all of the entries come from Player’s Handbook or Races of Stone, which I know about, so the list doesn’t need to contain those. (Really, a list of sources that add new armors or shields not mentioned in the Crystal Keep index would be sufficient for my purposes, but that feels a little too specific for a Stack question.)

  1. The index actually has about 100 entries, but there are a ton of repeats just in different standard materials, e.g. the heavy shield appears 5 times, in bronze, darkwood, mithral, wood, and steel).
Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
0

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
9
\$\begingroup\$

This is a lot of material. A key to abbreviations can be found in this answer. Although some of the armors below are created from special materials (e.g. the mithral chain shirt), the game saw fit to provide those armors with their own statistics separately. Sometimes these statistics were in addition to providing how those statistics were derived (e.g. the special material mithral (DMG 284)) and sometimes not (e.g. the shadow silk armors (TM 155)).

Unique armors compatible with the feat Armor Proficiency (light) (PH 89), from lowest armor bonus to highest

  • mud armor (Rac 157) (0 gp; 8 lbs.)
  • wicker (AE 15, 17) (1 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • padded (PH 123, 125) (5 gp; 10 lbs.)
  • retarius armor (Dragon Compendium Volume 1 116) (10 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • samnite armor (Dragon Compendium Volume 1 116) (10 gp; 10 lbs.)
  • dueling cloak (Dragon #335 77) (15 gp; 3 lbs.)
  • silk swathes (Sa 99) (400 gp; 6 lbs.)
  • thistledown padded (RW 168) (405 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • leafweave padded (RW 168) (745 gp; 8 lbs.)
  • bondleaf wrap (AE 14, 15) (1,000 gp; 2 lbs.)
  • shadow silk padded (TM 155) (1,500 gp; 2.5 lbs.)
  • bark (Dragon #319 42) (5 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • leather (PH 123, 125) (10 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • cord (Sto 106) (15 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • thracian armor (Dragon Compendium Volume 1 116) (15 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • chitin armor (SX 136) (20 gp; 10 lbs.)
  • vine (SX 136) (80 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • chameleon leather (SK 148) (360 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • leafweave (ECS 120) (750 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • leafweave leather (RW 168) (750 gp; 9 lbs.)
  • feather cloak (Sa 99) (1,000 gp; 3 lbs.)
  • nightscale (Und 66) (1,000 gp; 3 lbs.)
  • shadow silk leather (TM 155) (1,750 gp; 4 lbs.)
  • wood (Dragon #319 42, 43) (15 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • bone (Dragon #319 42) (20 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • ashigaru armor (OA 75, 76) (25 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • studded leather (PH 123, 126) (25 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • leather scale (Dragon #319 42, 43) (35 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • secutor armor (Dragon Compendium Volume 1 116) (40 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • hooked armor (PlH 69, 70) (65 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • chitine web (Und 66) (75 gp; 10 lbs.)
  • sharkskin (Sto 106) (85 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • twisted silk (Dragon #348 87) (400 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • gnome workman’s leather (Realms Personalities Web column "Nadul DaRoni") (450 gp; 18 lbs.)
  • wildwood chain shirt (RW 168) (500 gp; 19 lbs.)
  • studded impact (MoE 138–9) (765 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • shadow silk hide (TM 155) (2,500 gp; 5.5 lbs.)
  • sectioned armor (fully reduced) (PlH 69, 70) (3,000 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • silk armor (Dragon Compendium Volume 1 116) (5,000 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • chain shirt (PH 123, 124) (100 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • resin suit (FF 110) (250 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • dreamhide (SX 136) (700 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • mithral chain shirt (RW 168) (1,100 gp; 12.5 lbs.)
  • mithral shirt (DMG 220) (1,100 gp; 10 lbs.)
  • mithral scale mail (RW 168) (4,050 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • moon-ivy (AE 15, 16) (16,000 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • darkleaf breastplate (ECS 120) (2,450 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • elven chain (DMG 220) (4,150 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • mithral chain mail (RW 168) (4,150 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • mithral breastplate (RW 168) (4,200 gp 15 lbs.)

Unique armors compatible with the feat Armor Proficiency (medium) (PH 89), from lowest armor bonus to highest

  • hide (PH 123) (15 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • shell (Sto 106) (25 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • thunderhide armor (SK 148) (25 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • tentacled hide (Und 66, 67) (315 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • wildwood scale mail (RW 168) (400 gp; 22.5 lbs.)
  • leafweave hide (RW 168) (755 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • grimorian hide armor (Dragon #274 101) (15 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • brigandine (AE 14, 15) (30 gp; 40 lbs.)
  • dhenuka (OA 75, 76) (30 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • partial armor (OA 76, 77) (50 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • scale mail (PH 123) (50 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • chitin (Sto 106) (75 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • ring (AE 15, 17) (75 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • beaded armor (Polyhedron #159 32) (80 gp; 27 lbs.)
  • bronze breastplate (Dragon #319 42) (200 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • scorpion breastplate (SX 136) (300 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • wildwood chainmail (RW 168) (600 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • wildwood breastplate (RW 168) (700 gp; 22.5 lbs.)
  • chain mail (PH 123) (150 gp; 40 lbs.)
  • lamellar (AE 15) (150 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • shell armor (Mys 78) (150 gp; 40 lbs.)
  • breastplate (PH 123) (200 gp; 30 lbs.
  • lead-lined breastplate (Dragon #348 87) (200 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • Thurkasian breastplate (Gh 42) (250 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • chitin breastplate (RDr 121–2) (700 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • serpentscale mail (SK 148) (800 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • chain impact (MoE 138–9) (1,290 gp; 40 lbs.)
  • sectioned armor (partially reduced) (PlH 69, 70) (3,000 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • adamatine breastplate (DMG 219) (10,200 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • darkleaf banded mail (ECS 120) (3,250 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • mithral splint mail (RW 168) (9,200 gp; 22.5 lbs.)
  • mithral banded mail (RW 168) (9,250 gp; 17.5 lbs.)
  • living coral (Sto 106) (16,000 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • mithral half-plate (RW 168) (9,600 gp; 25 lbs.)
  • mithral full plate (RW 168) (10,500 gp; 25 lbs.)

Unique armors compatible with the feat Armor Proficiency (heavy) (PH 89), from lowest armor bonus to highest

  • chitin (Dragon #319 42, 43) (100 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • giant patchwork (SX 136) (100 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • stonemail (Und 66, 67) (180 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • splint mail (PH 123, 126) (200 gp; 45 lbs.)
  • coral (AE 15) (225 gp; 40 lbs.)
  • banded mail (PH 123, 124) (250 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • bronze half-plate (Dragon #319 42) (600 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • stone plate (RS 158) (750 gp; 35 lbs.)
  • half-plate (PH 123, 125) (600 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • great armor (OA 75, 76) (1,000 gp; 45 lbs.)
  • chitin half-plate (RDr 121–2) (1,500 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • war chitin (SX 136) (1,500 gp; 40 lbs.)
  • half-plate impact (MoE 138–9) (2,450 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • full plate (PH 123, 124) (1,500 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • feeler plate (Und 66) (2,500 gp; 65 lbs.)
  • sectioned armor (full) (PlH 69, 70) (3,000 gp; 60 lbs.)
  • chitin full plate (RDr 121–2) (3,300 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • dragonhide plate (DMG 220) (3,300 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • dwarven plate (DMG 220) (16,500 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • dwarven stone (AE 15, 17) (1,750 gp; 80 lbs.)
  • dendritic crystal (Rac 157–8) (2,000 gp; 60 lbs.)
  • heavy plate (RS 155, 158) (2,000 gp; 100 lbs.)
  • mechanus gear (PlH 69, 70) (1,750 gp; 75 lbs.)
  • thaalud stone armor (An 108) (2,800 gp; 180 lbs.)

Unique light, medium, then heavy exotic armors, each from lowest armor bonus to highest, compatible with the feat Exotic Armor Proficiency (SSL 149)

Exotic Light Armors

  • gnome twist cloth (RS 158, 159) (150 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • spidersilk armor (Und 66, SSL 149) (750 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • mammoth leather (RS 157, 158) (45 gp; 30 lbs.)

Exotic Medium Armors

  • interlocking scale (RS 156–7, 158) (250 gp; 30 lbs.)
  • tumbler’s breastpate (RS 158–9) (450 gp; 30 lbs.)

Exotic Heavy Armors

  • interlocking plate (RS 155–6, 158) (1,750 gp; 50 lbs.)
  • battle plate (RS 155, 158) (2,500 gp; 125 lbs.)
  • mountain plate (RS 157, 158) (3,250 gp; 225 lbs.)

By way of trivia, the feat Exotic Armor Proficiency originally appeared in Underdark (Oct. 2003) (25) where it wasn't a fighter bonus feat, then in Races of Stone (Aug. 2004) (139) where it was a fighter bonus feat, then in Shadowdale: The Scouring of the Land (July 2007) where it was, once more and finally, not a fighter bonus feat. I can almost guarantee that your game will not be harmed if you house rule that the Exotic Armor Proficiency feat is a fighter bonus feat, though. Also, so you know, the feat Dwarven Armor Proficiency (RS 138) covers battle plate, interlocking plate, interlocking scale, and mountain plate; it is a fighter bonus feat.

Unique shields compatible with the feat Shield Proficiency (PH 100), from lowest shield bonus to AC to highest

  • kappa shell (OA 76) (30 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • buckler (PH 123, 124) (15 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • dastana (AE 15) (25 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • diamond shield (DrF 136) (20 gp; 6 lbs.)
  • grasping shield (Rac 157, 158) (50 gp; 11 lbs.)
  • light bronze shield (Dragon #319 42, 43) (9 gp; 6 lbs.)
  • light steel shield (PH 123, 125) (9 gp; 6 lbs.)
  • light wooden shield (PH 123, 125) (3 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • stiletto shield (AE 15, 17) (30 gp; 10 lbs.)
  • tessen (OA 76, 77) (12 gp; 1 lb.)
  • beetle buckler (Dragon #319 32–3) (6,600 gp; 5 lbs.)
  • heavy bronze shield (Dragon #319 42, 43) (20 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • heavy steel shield (PH 123, 125) (20 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • heavy wooden shield (PH 123, 125) (7 gp; 10 lbs.)
  • hide shield (Sa 99) (50 gp; 30 lbs.)

Unique shields compatible with the feat Tower Shield Proficiency (PH 100) alphabetically

  • chitin tower shield (RDr 121–2) (360 gp; 45 lbs.)
  • steel tower shield (RS 158) (75 gp; 100 lbs.)
  • tower shield (PH 123) (30 gp; 45 lbs.)

Unique shields, each from lowest shield bonus to AC to highest, compatible with the feat Exotic Shield Proficiency (RS 139)

  • gnome battle cloak (RS 158) (5 gp; 1 lb.)
  • gauntlet shield (RS 158) (50 gp; 20 lbs.)
  • rider’s shield (RS 158) (75 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • extreme wooden shield (RS 157–8) (10 gp; 15 lbs.)
  • extreme steel shield (RS 157–8) (30 gp; 25 lbs.)
Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
5
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ Amazing, perfect, and appreciated. \$\endgroup\$
    – KRyan
    Apr 3 at 18:21
  • \$\begingroup\$ I don't feel so strange anymore that I dissected the complete 5e MM. :D \$\endgroup\$
    – Anagkai
    Apr 3 at 20:57
  • \$\begingroup\$ Rather strange that the mithral breastplate is strictly better than the chainmail, but the difference in price is a mere 50 GP. \$\endgroup\$
    – J. Mini
    Apr 4 at 8:12
  • \$\begingroup\$ @J.Mini In many cases, you'll find that if you can pay just a little more you can get something strictly better—especially at the low end. (Or is that a subtle way of saying that there's an error in my list?) \$\endgroup\$
    – Hey I Can Chan
    Apr 4 at 14:10
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ The only “error” I’ve found in your list so far is really an error on Wizards of the Coast’s part: Arms & Equipment Guide lists the dastana under “Shields,” even though it grants an armor bonus, requires Armor Proficiency (light), and is a reprint of the Oriental Adventures item that was listed under “Shields and Other Additions.” But its presence under shields in your list is, of course, strictly accurate per what they published, so the error does not lie with you. Everything else I’ve checked has been flawless. \$\endgroup\$
    – KRyan
    Apr 4 at 20:43

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .