You might not think much about cloaks and capes but they can be an important part of any Dungeons & Dragons (DND) character.
Here is what you need to know about DND and cloaks:
Cloaks are a type of clothing in Dungeons and Dragons that offer players a wide range of benefits. They can provide protection against the elements, disguise, stealth, resistance to damage, magical enhancements, and character aesthetics. Cloaks are accessible, cheap, and available to any character.
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about DND and cloaks.
What Is a Cloak in DND?
A cloak is a type of garment that hangs from the shoulders and covers the body. It’s typically worn outdoors or in colder climates to keep a person warm.
Cloaks play an important role for many fantasy characters in DND.
Whether you’re thinking about iconic wizards or stealthy rogues, the cloak is a great choice for anyone who wants to get an edge on their opponents. If you’re looking for a little extra protection or just want to look cool, there’s a cloak for you.
There are all sorts of different cloaks out there, and each one has its own unique properties.
In Dungeons & Dragons, there are three main types of cloaks: capes, robes, and shawls.
Cloaks are typically made of silk and cotton but can be fashioned out of other materials. The clasp of a cloak (that holds it together and on a character’s body) can be made of bronze or other tougher metal.
What Is a Cloak Used for In DND?
Cloaks are an essential piece of gear for any adventurer in Dungeons and Dragons. They offer a wide range of benefits, from concealment to protection against the elements.
Here are four of the most popular uses for cloaks in the game:
- Protection: Cloaks can provide much-needed protection against environmental hazards like cold weather or precipitation. They can also offer some degree of protection in combat, depending on the material they’re made of.
- Concealment: Cloaks can be used to help characters blend in with their surroundings or hide their identity. A character wearing a cloak is less likely to be noticed, making it easier to sneak around undetected.
- Magic Items: Many cloaks are enchanted with powerful magic spells. These spells can grant the wearer additional abilities, like increased speed or strength.
- Roleplaying: Cloaks can also be used as a way to show off a character’s personality and style. A brightly colored cloak might indicate that the character is bold and daring, while a more subdued cloak might suggest that the character is more reserved. No matter what style of play you prefer, there’s a cloak that’s perfect for your character.
Let’s take a closer look at a few magical cloaks.
The Cloak of Arachnida, for example, makes you spider-like and allows you to travel up, down, and across the ceiling.
Additionally, you will be resistant to poison and able to pass through webs.
This cloak increases the size of your web by two times when you cast the web spell.
Another magical cloak is the Cloak of Displacement.
It allows you to conceal your exact location. You will appear to be near but not exactly where you are standing when wearing this cloak. However, the illusion is broken if you get injured.
In addition to offering limited protection from attacks and weather, the Cloak of Protection offers limited magical protection from magic.
Like the Ring of Protection, it has magical protection and enchantments.
It is possible to wear both at the same time.
If you wear a Cloak of Bat, you can fly as long as it is dimly lit or dark.
Flying up to 40 feet is possible by holding both edges of the cloak tightly and gripping them with both hands. The speed of your flight is immediately lost if you let go of the cloak’s edges or move into the light.
Also, you can transform into a bat in dim light or darkness.
When you are a bat, you retain all your intelligence, wisdom, and charisma scores as if you were still in your humanoid form. This magical hooded cloak can only be worn once every 24 hours.
Here is a good video about the best cloak for a medieval adventurer in Dungeons & Dragons:
How Much Is a Cloak in DND?
A cloak in Dungeons and Dragons can cost anywhere from 5 to 100 gold pieces.
The price of a cloak depends on the materials it is made from and the quality of the craftsmanship. Cloaks made from expensive materials like silk or fur will cost more than cloaks made from less expensive materials like wool or cotton.
A standard traveler’s cloak made of silk with a cotton lining can be purchased for as much as 50 gold pieces.
In most cases, enchanted cloaks cannot be bought.
The price could be exceptionally high even if you’re able to purchase them. Depending on the cloak’s magical abilities, the price can range anywhere from 51 gold pieces to over 50,000 gold pieces (gp).
Better find a dragon’s treasure horde to afford one of those!
Here are a few examples of cloaks and their cost:
- Common cloaks cost around 50-100 gp.
- Uncommon ones like the Cloaks of Elvenkind, Protection, Manta Ray, Robes of Useful Items, Serpents, and Nature’s Mantle can cost from 101-500 gp.
- Rare cloaks like the Piwafwi of Fire Resistance, Cape of the Mountebank, Mantle of Spell Resistance, the Robes of Eyes and Summer, Cloaks of Displacement, Bat, and Hell Hound are usually priced at 501-500 gp.
- Very Rare cloaks like those of the Cloak of Arachnida, Robe of Scintillating Colors, and the Robe of Stars can reach up to 50,000 gp.
What Would a Wizard’s Cloak AC Be?
A wizard’s cloak would have an AC of 10 + the wizard’s Dexterity modifier.
This is because cloaks are classified as clothing in DND.
Clothing has a base AC of 10, and the Dex bonus represents the fact that cloaks are loose-fitting and easy to move in.
Some magical cloaks, such as the cloak of mage’s armor, offer additional AC bonuses.
Which Adventures Give You “To Wear the Cloak” Reward in DND?
In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, many players dream of finding magical cloaks.
While cloaks are not the most powerful magical item, they can give the wearer a potent advantage in gameplay. In addition, cloaks are often associated with adventurers and heroes, making them a coveted item for many players.
So, which premade adventures give you the “to wear the cloak” reward in Dungeons & Dragons?
While I haven’t played these, I hear you can get cloaks in them:
- The Lost City of Omu
- The Tomb of Annihilation
- Curse of Strahd
If you’re looking for a magical cloak, be sure to check out these adventures.
You can also use DND homebrew to create your own “to wear a cloak” adventure for your party.
For example, the party stumbles upon a magical cache of cloaks while exploring ancient ruins. The cloaks are blessed with the power of flight, and the party quickly finds themselves in possession of some of the most powerful magic in the land.
They must put these new powers to the test as they must fly across an inhospitable swampland to reach their goal.
Along the way, they are beset by flying creatures and other perils, but the cloaks give them the power to fight back and triumph. In the end, the party is able to use the cloaks to reach their destination safely, and they return them to their rightful owner.
These magical cloaks provide a great opportunity for players to explore new territory and battle foes in creative ways.
What Slot Do Cape and Cloak Use on a Character Sheet?
In Dungeons and Dragons, cloaks and capes occupy the “Clothing” slot on a character sheet.
This is different from armor, which occupies the “Armor” slot.
Cloaks and capes provide benefits like resistance to cold, light damage, and increased concealment, but they do not provide the same level of protection as armor.
Why Is the Cloak of Invisibility So Much Better Than the Ring?
Magic items vary in power.
Both the Cloak of Invisibility and the Ring of Invisibility are both potent sites in DND.
In my opinion, the Ring is better because it does not come with a time limit. You can use the ring to turn your character invisible as many times per day as you want without using spell slots.
However, the ring stops working if you attack or cast a spell.
That’s a major disadvantage if you want to turn invisible during a combat encounter. The cloak, on the other hand, allows you to fight, perform magic, or take any other action (except removing the hood) while remaining hidden from sight.
Therefore, the Cloak of Invisibility is better than the Ring of Invisibility in combat situations.
What Destroys a Cloak of Invisibility in DND?
A cloak of invisibility can be destroyed by a number of things, such as lava or acid.
Additionally, the cloak can be removed by force, either by being ripped off or by being removed with a dispel magic spell.
Lava: The cloak of invisibility can be destroyed or made inaccessible by plunging it into lava. When exposed to lava, the cloak will either disintegrate or be unreachable by most player characters.
Acid: The cloak of invisibility is also susceptible to acid. When exposed to acid, the cloak will dissolve and be destroyed.
Removed By Force: One of the most practical ways to get rid of an invisibility cloak is to have the player arrested and thrown into prison. The authorities can then easily steal the cloak.
Dispel Magic: A Dispel Magic spell will make an invisible character visible again. While the spell does not technically “destroy” the cloak, it does temporarily remove the invisible feature.
You could also:
- Use a Wish Spell to destroy the cloak
- Transport the cloak to another plane of existence
- Ask a deity to destroy the cloak
How To Make a Cloak of Invisibility DND
There are a few ways to make a cloak of invisibility in Dungeons and Dragons.
One way is to find a spellcaster who can cast the invisibility spell or blink spell, and have them cast it on a piece of cloth.
Another way to make a cloak of invisibility is if you can find one of the Epic cloaks of displacement, which also has a similar effect as a regular cloak of invisibility.
A Cloak of Invisibility can also be customized by Dungeon Masters in-game.
It is explicitly stated in the crafting rules that one crafter will work eight hours a day. In order to reduce the amount of time needed, you can recruit more crafters or magical crafters.
A Dungeon Master (DM) may allow a speed-up check to speed up the crafting process, although the crafting rules do not usually require any ability checks.
How Heavy Is a Cloak in DND?
A cloak in Dungeons and Dragons is a piece of clothing that can weigh anywhere from 1 to 8 pounds.
The weight of a cloak depends on the materials from which it is made.
Cloaks made from heavier materials like wool or leather will weigh more than cloaks made from lighter materials like silk or cotton.
Here are some general DND cloak weights:
- Cloaks made of cotton can range from 1 to 2 pounds.
- Wool cloaks are about 3 to 4 pounds.
- Fur cloaks vary from 6 to 8 pounds.
- For leather cloaks, it would depend on what type of leather and the length of the cloak.
If you wear two cloaks, the weight increases but you might feel uncomfortable and restricted in your movement.
Do Cloaks Count As Armor?
No, cloaks do not count as armor.
Cloaks are classified as clothing and go in the clothing slot on a character sheet. Cloaks can hide you and keep you warm on chilly nights but they do not provide the same protection as armor.
Even light armor is usually thicker and more sturdy than most cloaks.
Only magical cloaks with protection and armor class (AC) bonuses can be lumped in with armor.
Final Thoughts: DND and Cloaks
There are all sorts of cloaks and capes in Dungeons & Dragons.
You’ll need to choose the right cloak or cape for your character based on their class, abilities, and style of play.
Related posts:
- DND & Unconsciousness: 11 Things You Need To Know
- Piton in D&D (Complete Guide for Beginners)
- DND Leviathan: Stats, Mechanics, and Ultimate Guide
Sources
Dungeon Master’s Guide (Wizards of the Coast)
Xanathar’s Guide to Everything