Explain the "shield" spell to an idiot please.

[Don Cool]

Thank you in advance for your insight, may you roll high.

[Bad Brad]

I believe (but don't quote me) that it grants you a reaction to the next attack with a bonus to your armor class and it only works for one attack.

[Don Cool]

Originally posted by Bad Brad:

I believe (but don't quote me) that it grants you a reaction to the next attack with a bonus to your armor class and it only works for one attack.

... and then the spell goes away? or does it stay for the next turn?

[Angry Trash]

Originally posted by Bad Brad:

I believe (but don't quote me) that it grants you a reaction to the next attack with a bonus to your armor class and it only works for one attack.

It is until your next turn, not for a single attack. If you spend your reaction you have +5 AC until you act again.

[Sentient_Toaster]

It

(0) requires a first-level spell slot or greater (with no benefit from upcasting, other than being harder to counterspell etc)
(1) uses your reaction, when you are hit by an attack or targeted by Magic Missile
(2) gives you +5 AC (including to that attack) and negates magic missiles,
(3) and lasts until the start of your next turn.

[Don Cool]

Originally posted by Angry Trash:

Originally posted by Bad Brad:

I believe (but don't quote me) that it grants you a reaction to the next attack with a bonus to your armor class and it only works for one attack.

It is until your next turn, not for a single attack. If you spend your reaction you have +5 AC until you act again.

So, that´s like having a permanent 5 ac if you don´t use other reactions ?

[sevensided]

If you are attacked, and the attack will hit, but only beat your ac by a margin of four or less, you can use your reaction to cast shield to increase your AC by five. This will make the attack miss, and also raise your AC by five till the start of your next turn.

If you are attacked, and the attack misses, or the attack roll beats your AC by 5 or more, the game will not ask you if you want to cast shield, as it will have no effect.

Casting it requires that you have at least 1 lvl 1 (or higher) spell slot, access to the spell, and your reaction available. If you have previously used your reaction on , say, an attack of opportunity or a counterspell, before your turn comes around again, you will not be able to cast shield.

[Phero]

Do the enemies ever even use magic missiles?

[Don Cool]

Originally posted by sevensided:

If you are attacked, and the attack will hit, but only beat your ac by a margin of four or less, you can use your reaction to cast shield to increase your AC by five. This will make the attack miss, and also raise your AC by five till the start of your next turn.

If you are attacked, and the attack misses, or the attack roll beats your AC by 5 or more, the game will not ask you if you want to cast shield, as it will have no effect.

Casting it requires that you have at least 1 lvl 1 (or higher) spell slot, access to the spell, and your reaction available. If you have previously used your reaction on , say, an attack of opportunity or a counterspell, before your turn comes around again, you will not be able to cast shield.

Thank you, does the spell then fade once used or does it stay put so you can use it again?

[Settings]

Shields are like these things you get behind to block something that could hurt you if it hit you.

[sevensided]

Originally posted by Don:

Originally posted by sevensided:

If you are attacked, and the attack will hit, but only beat your ac by a margin of four or less, you can use your reaction to cast shield to increase your AC by five. This will make the attack miss, and also raise your AC by five till the start of your next turn.

If you are attacked, and the attack misses, or the attack roll beats your AC by 5 or more, the game will not ask you if you want to cast shield, as it will have no effect.

Casting it requires that you have at least 1 lvl 1 (or higher) spell slot, access to the spell, and your reaction available. If you have previously used your reaction on , say, an attack of opportunity or a counterspell, before your turn comes around again, you will not be able to cast shield.

Thank you, does the spell then fade once used or does it stay put so you can use it again?

Each time you your turn comes around, shield will expire, and it will need to be cast again if needed, when the circumstances arise, using another spell slot (and the reaction).

[Myth Alric]

Originally posted by Phero:

Do the enemies ever even use magic missiles?

Occasionally, but not that often.

[Don Cool]

Originally posted by sevensided:

Originally posted by Don:

Thank you, does the spell then fade once used or does it stay put so you can use it again?

Each time you your turn comes around, shield will expire, and it will need to be cast again if needed, when the circumstances arise, using another spell slot (and the reaction).

Aaah, okay, otherwise it would be OP, thank you.

[sevensided]

Originally posted by Don:

Originally posted by sevensided:

Each time you your turn comes around, shield will expire, and it will need to be cast again if needed, when the circumstances arise, using another spell slot (and the reaction).

Aaah, okay, otherwise it would be OP, thank you.

It is, to be sure, an excellent spell.

Also, I should add, if someone cast magic missile at you, the game will ask if you want to cast shield , following the same circumstances I already described. As shield will block magic missile completely.

[lalala]

Originally posted by Don:

Thank you in advance for your insight, may you roll high.

you have resources, like action and bonus action. There is another one, reaction (sometimes purple icon shown). Reaction can be used when someone disengage melee (by default used automatically to attack the enemy). Some reactions are not automatic - its configurable. When someone is about to hit you and you did not use up your reaction in that turn, you get asked if you want to cast the shield spell. You also get shown what the enemy rolled, so you see that you get hit and if the +5 AC will help you avoid it.

note: the shield will last for the round so if multiple enemies attack you, you only use up one spell slot for that. Shield is quite powerful against a lot of enemies that target AC and not some other save throws... or some heavy hitting boss.