Get Your Shield On

If your table has replaced the shield spell with deflect from Spells That Don't Suck (included in Appendix 1), it's suggested you add the following sentence to Battle Ward:

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"In addition, when you cast the deflect spell, its maximum AC is increased by 3."

Blades That Go Boom?

There are a few cantrips that involve making a weapon attack (sometimes called bladetrips, or SCAGtrips after the book where they first appeared). Knight-Abjurers can make reasonable use of them, but the spells are intrinsically hard to balance, so the subclass isn't written with an expectation that a player uses them.

Blade Shell

Abjuration cantrip (ferromancy)

• Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: 30 feet
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 1 round

You encase yourself in metal fragments, creating a shield that will shatter against your foes. The next time you are targeted with a melee attack (hit or miss), the shield bursts, dealing 2d4 piercing damage to the attacker. If the shell has not burst by the start of your next turn, it fades harmlessly.

This spell's damage increases by 2d4 when you reach 5th level (4d4), 11th level (6d4), and 17th level (8d4).

Deflect

1st-level abjuration

• Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when you are hit by an attack or targeted by the magic missile spell
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 1 round
• Replaces: Shield

A transparent sphere of arcane force appears, averting incoming attacks. Until the start of your next turn, you have a +5 bonus to AC, to a maximum of 21 AC, including against the triggering attack, and you take no damage from magic missile.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the bonus to AC (and the maximum AC) increases by 1 for every two slot levels above 1st (for example, when cast with a 5th level spell slot, you have a +7 bonus to AC, to a maximum of 23 AC).

Force Barrier

2nd-level abjuration

• Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: Self
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute

You summon a shimmering wall of force around yourself, sapping the momentum of incoming blows. You gain resistance to force damage and to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage. While you are concentrating on this spell, your speed is halved, and you can't take reactions.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 3rd level or higher, the penalty to your speed is reduced by 5 feet for each slot level above 2nd.

Instant Guardian

3nd-level abjuration

• Classes: Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 action
• Range: Self (30-foot radius)
• Components: V, S
• Duration: 1 minute

You thin the fabric of space around you, giving yourself the ability to protect nearby allies. As a reaction when a creature within 30 feet would be hit with an attack, you can teleport to a 5-foot space adjacent to it and become the target of the attack. Then, if the attacker is within 5 feet of you, you can make one weapon attack against it.

Turning Ward

2nd-level abjuration

• Classes: Sorcerer, Wizard
• Casting Time: 1 minute
• Range: Touch
• Components: V, S
• Duration: Concentration, up to 1 hour

You construct a maze of magic around another creature you touch, making it difficult for enemies to reach. Until the spell ends, any creature who targets the warded creature with an attack or a harmful spell must first make an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, the creature must target you instead, or another creature of its choice if it can't target you. If it doesn't choose a new target, it loses the attack or spell. The warded creature gains no protection from area effects.

When the target makes an attack or casts a spell that affects a hostile creature, that creature gains immunity to the spell. A creature also becomes immune to the spell if it succeeds on the saving throw.

v0.2

• Fixed a few typos and added one cantrip (Blade Shell)

v0.1

• Initial Draft!