Armor of Agathys
A protective magical force surrounds you, manifesting as a spectral frost that covers you and your gear. You gain 5 temporary hit points for the duration. If a creature hits you with a melee attack while you have these hit points, the creature takes 5 cold damage.
At a Glance
Level
1st
School
Abjuration
Casting Time
1 action
Range
Self
Duration
1 hour
Concentration
No
How Armor of Agathys Works
| Casting Time | 1 action |
|---|---|
| Range | Self |
| Components | V, S, M (a cup of water) |
| Duration | 1 hour |
Available to:
Damage
5 cold (when hit in melee)
At Higher Levels
When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, both the temporary hit points and the cold damage increase by 5 for each slot level above 1st.
Common Mistakes
Common Mistake
Forgetting the damage only triggers on melee attacks, not ranged
Common Mistake
Thinking the damage continues after the temp HP are gone - it doesn't
Common Mistake
Not realizing this scales incredibly well at higher levels
Common Mistake
Forgetting it lasts 1 hour without concentration
DM Tips
DM Tip
One of the best warlock defensive spells, especially at higher levels
DM Tip
At 5th level (using a 3rd-level slot), grants 15 temp HP and deals 15 damage per hit
DM Tip
Encourages enemies to use ranged attacks instead of melee
DM Tip
The cold damage is automatic - no save or attack roll needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & Further Reading
- Armor of Agathys — D&D 5e Wikidot — Full SRD text
- Armor of Agathys — Roll20 Compendium — Structured reference
- Armor of Agathys — D&D Beyond — Official digital reference