Dungeons & Dragons Animated Armor Miniature

This is a highly detailed miniature of an Animated Armor.

This model was created by MZ4250 who makes amazingly accurate models of the Monster Manual creatures and provided by Commercial License.

Animated Armor in Dungeons & Dragons is a classic type of construct—an enchanted suit of armor brought to life through magical means. It typically appears as a full set of plate or chain armor that moves and fights on its own, without any living occupant inside. These constructs are often used as guardians or sentinels, placed in important locations like ancient ruins, tombs, or wizard towers to protect valuable treasures or secrets from intruders. Their origins are usually tied to powerful magic, often the work of wizards or clerics who infuse the armor with an animating force.

In terms of appearance, Animated Armor looks like an empty suit of armor that moves autonomously, often clanking and echoing with mechanical or ghostly sounds. Despite lacking a living body, it can wield weapons, raise shields, and execute combat maneuvers just as a human soldier would. This gives it a frightening, uncanny quality, as it moves with purpose and precision but shows no signs of life or emotion. In many campaigns, this eerie characteristic makes Animated Armor an atmospheric enemy or obstacle.

Mechanically, in Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Animated Armor is a monster stat block found in the Monster Manual. It is a Medium construct with no intelligence, acting purely on instinct or the commands of its creator. It typically has decent Armor Class due to its solid metal plating, making it resistant to physical damage, though it often lacks magical defenses. Its attacks usually consist of blunt strikes with its gauntleted fists or a weapon it carries, dealing moderate damage. The construct is immune to many conditions like being charmed or frightened, emphasizing its nature as a soulless, relentless protector.

Animated Armor often serves as a low- to mid-level challenge for adventurers, offering a fight that tests tactical thinking rather than raw damage output. Players need to consider how to bypass or disable these constructs, which can be difficult without magic or specific tactics since Animated Armor does not tire or hesitate. In many stories, they embody the themes of ancient guardianship, magical control over the inanimate, and the lingering presence of past powers, adding depth and flavor to the setting.