Armor

A hero with 2 Armor

Armor is a form of secondary Health available only to heroes, gained through certain spells, Hero Powers and minions. Damage taken will always be deducted from Armor before Health. Only when a character has 0 Armor will they lose Health from a damaging attack. Armor can effectively extend a hero's Health far beyond the 30 points otherwise allowed. All regular heroes enter play with 0 Armor, although bosses and Tavern Brawl heroes often start with some Armor.

Sources of Armor include the warrior Hero Power Armor Up!, the druid Hero Power Shapeshift, the mage Secret Ice Barrier and the warrior minion Armorsmith. Some cards have more novel relationships with Armor, such as Shield Slam, which uses a warrior's Armor to deal damage to a target minion.

When present, Armor is shown on the centre right of the hero, just above the Health icon, set against a silver, unbroken shield.

Armor is most strongly associated with the warrior class, followed by the druid class.

Notes

• Armor is persistent, and will last until removed through damage. Unlike Health, Armor cannot be affected by enchantments, and there is currently only one card which sets a hero's armor total, Reckless Flurry, which sets the armor total of the caster of the spell to 0.

• Like Health, Armor will not prevent or mitigate any effects other than damage.

• Like Health and Attack, Armor has a maximum value of 2,147,483,647. Effects that would cause the player to gain Armor past this maximum will reduce the player's Armor to 0 and the Armor icon will break, just as if the hero had been damaged enough to remove all Armor. Amounts as high as 2,080,472,162 Armor have been recorded in-game. This can be done with Earthen Scales or Alley Armorsmith and Divine Spirit - Inner Fire combo, or use the Linecracker and Earthen Scales combo to achieve such a high amount of armor. Gahz'rilla can theoretically achieve the same goal, but it has yet been done.

• Damage taken while protected by Armor still counts as taking damage for game purposes. For example, a Water Elemental will Freeze any hero it damages even if the hero loses only Armor from the attack. Likewise, Floating Watcher's triggered effect will activate from the controlling hero taking damage on their turn even if they only lose Armor.

• Armor does not prevent a hero from dying if such hero also had zero or less health, this can be achieved through playing Crystallizer when the controlling hero is at 5 or less health, at the end of the Battlecry, the controlling hero would then receive a defeat despite being able to take 5 more points of damage.

• While damage dealt to a hero will always remove Armor before removing Health, spells or effects can set the Health to a specific, lower-than-current value even if the hero has Armor. Cards with such effects include Alexstrasza and High Priest Thekal.

Known bugs

• It was possible to have 0 Health but 12 Armor as a substitute.

Although it was hard to replicate, it made the player experiencing that in a glitched state where it cannot be interacted by any means of an effect.

Random effects denied the player, and minions couldn't be directed to attack the player in that glitched state, because they became unresponsive until they directed to attack a valid target like minions.

This issue is hotfixed by now.

Sources of Armor

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Armor Up!	None	Hero Power		Warrior	2			Hero Power Gain 2 Armor.
Blast Shield	None	Hero Power		Warrior	2			Hero Power Gain 7 Armor. Swaps each turn.
Dire Shapeshift	None	Hero Power		Druid	2			Hero Power Gain 2 Armor and +2 Attack this turn.
Shapeshift	None	Hero Power		Druid	2			Hero Power +1 Attack this turn. +1 Armor.
Tank Up!	None	Hero Power		Warrior	2			Hero Power Gain 4 Armor.
Claw	Free	Spell		Druid	1			Give your hero +2 Attack this turn and 2 Armor. The claw decides who will stay and who will go.
Shield Block	Free	Spell		Warrior	3			Gain 5 Armor. Draw a card. Shields were invented because Face Block is USELESS.
Eternium Rover	Common	Minion	Mech	Warrior	1	1	3	Whenever this minion takes damage, gain 2 Armor. He's all beeps and smiles but you're just a walking pile of armor to him.
Vicious Scraphound	Common	Minion	Mech	Warrior	2	2	3	Whenever this minion deals damage, gain that much Armor. It begs for scraps.
Weapons Project	Common	Spell		Warrior	2			Each player equips a 2/3 Weapon and gains 6 Armor. Harrison Jones was kicked off this project.
Ferocious Howl	Common	Spell		Druid	3			Draw a card. Gain +1 Armor for each card in your hand. Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Ice Barrier	Common	Spell		Mage	3			Secret: When your hero is attacked, gain 8 Armor. This is Rank 1. Rank 2 is Chocolate Milk Barrier.
Dr. Boom's Scheme	Common	Spell		Warrior	4			Gain 1 Armor. (Upgrades each turn!) "We did it! We blew up the vault!" "You mean the vault door?" "Oh. The doooor..."
Half-Time Scavenger	Common	Minion	General	Any	4	3	5	Stealth Overkill: Gain 3 Armor. One player's trash is another's “Best In Slot”.
Armored Goon	Common	Minion	General	Warrior	6	6	7	Whenever your hero attacks, gain 5 Armor. Armored except for non-critical areas, such as the head, torso, fists and thighs.
Armorsmith	Rare	Minion	General	Warrior	2	1	4	Whenever a friendly minion takes damage, gain 1 Armor. She accepts guild funds for repairs!
Bite	Rare	Spell		Druid	4			Give your hero +4 Attack this turn. Gain 4 Armor. Chew your food!
Emberscale Drake	Rare	Minion	Dragon	Warrior	5	5	5	Battlecry: If you're holding a Dragon, gain 5 Armor. The third little dragon made his armor out of adamantite.
Crystallizer	Epic	Minion	General	Any	1	1	3	Battlecry: Deal 5 damage to your hero. Gain 5 Armor. This elf's winning the arms race.
Gurubashi Offering	Epic	Minion	General	Any	1	0	2	At the start of your turn, destroy this and gain 8 Armor. For a limited time, loa blessings are on a pray-one-get-two deal (on selected sacrifices only).
Ice Cream Peddler	Epic	Minion	General	Any	4	3	5	Battlecry: If you control a Frozen minion, gain 8 Armor. I scream, you scream, we all scream when we see a Freeze Mage.
High Priest Thekal	Legendary	Minion	General	Paladin	3	3	4	Battlecry: Convert all but 1 of your hero's Health into Armor. "…and then I beat him with 1 Health!"
Hagatha the Witch	Legendary	Hero card		Shaman	8			Battlecry: Deal 3 damage to all minions. Curse-bringer, tree-twister, mother of wretched things…Hanzo main.
Dr. Boom, Mad Genius	Legendary	Hero card		Warrior	9			Battlecry: For the rest of the game, your Mechs have Rush. "Of course I've gone mad with power. Ever try going mad without it?"
Zul'jin	Legendary	Hero card		Hunter	10			Battlecry: Cast all spells you've played this game (targets chosen randomly). If you can dodge an axe, you can dodge a ball.
Showing all 25 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Kazakus Potion	None	Spell			1
Plague Lord	None	Hero Power		Druid	2			Hero Power Choose One - +3 Attack this turn; or Gain 3 Armor.
Kazakus Potion	None	Spell			5
Kazakus Potion	None	Spell			10
Arcane Artificer	Common	Minion	Elemental	Mage	1	1	2	Whenever you cast a spell, gain Armor equal to its Cost. Ethereal armor dissipates in 6 hours which can cause extreme awkwardness for first time buyers.
Barkskin	Common	Spell		Druid	1			Give a minion +3 Health. Gain 3 Armor. Make like a tree... and gain armor.
Iron Hide	Common	Spell		Warrior	1			Gain 5 Armor. Week 6. I remain covered head to toe with scales. They do not yet realize that I am not a dinosaur.
Drywhisker Armorer	Common	Minion	General	Warrior	2	2	2	Battlecry: For each enemy minion, gain 2 Armor. Kobolds use anything for armor: Pots, pans, garbage cans... even other kobolds.
Plated Beetle	Common	Minion	Beast	Any	2	2	3	Deathrattle: Gain 3 Armor. "Ok, your party has defeated the beetle." "I put it on my head." "What?" "I put it on my head. Like a hat."
Bash	Common	Spell		Warrior	3			Deal 3 damage. Gain 3 Armor. You might think bashing doesn't take a lot of practice. It doesn't.
Feral Rage	Common	Spell		Druid	3			Choose One - Give your hero +4 Attack this turn; or Gain 8 Armor. Let's be honest. One option is a lot ragier than the other.
Gnash	Common	Spell		Druid	3			Give your hero +3 Attack this turn. Gain 3 Armor. It's rude to gnash with your mouth open.
Oaken Summons	Common	Spell		Druid	4			Gain 6 Armor. Recruit a minion that costs (4) or less. The Guild used oak tress until they all turned to ash.
Ironforge Portal	Common	Spell		Warrior	5			Gain 4 Armor. Summon a random 4-Cost minion. Come to beautiful Ironforge! Where irons are forged and the forges are iron!
Runed Shield	Common	Spell		Warrior	6			Gain 5 Armor. Summon a 5/5 Golem.
Serrated Shield	Common	Spell		Warrior	6			Gain 5 Armor. Deal 5 damage.
Spiked Shield	Common	Spell		Warrior	6			Gain 5 Armor. Equip a 5/2 weapon.
Tower Shield +10	Common	Spell		Warrior	6			Gain 5 Armor. Gain 10 more Armor.
Unidentified Shield	Common	Spell		Warrior	6			Gain 5 Armor. Gains a bonus effect in your hand. The kobold stared at the bundle for a long time. "Ah hah!" he said. "It's a shield."
Earthen Scales	Rare	Spell		Druid	1			Give a friendly minion +1/+1, then gain Armor equal to its Attack. You can make your own Earthen Scales at home. Step 1: Roll around in the dirt. Step 2: Magic.
Mountainfire Armor	Rare	Minion	General	Warrior	3	4	3	Deathrattle: If it's your opponent's turn, gain 6 Armor. Excuse me. Your mountain is on fire.
Alley Armorsmith	Rare	Minion	General	Warrior	5	2	7	Taunt Whenever this minion deal damage, gain that much Armor. The rent is cheap and she passes the savings onto YOU!
Shieldmaiden	Rare	Minion	General	Warrior	6	5	5	Battlecry: Gain 5 Armor. She has three shieldbearers in her party to supply her with back ups when she gets low on durability.
Ancient Shieldbearer	Rare	Minion	General	Warrior	7	6	6	Battlecry: If your C'Thun has at least 10 Attack, gain 10 Armor. Back in her day, each shield weighed two tons and she had to carry four of them on each arm!
Bring It On!	Epic	Spell		Warrior	2			Gain 10 Armor. Reduce the Cost of minions in your opponent's hand by (2). Brrr, it's cold in here. Let's hope she doesn't have an Auctioneer!
Gluttonous Ooze	Epic	Minion	General	Any	3	3	3	Battlecry: Destroy your opponent's weapon and gain Armor equal to its Attack. Three time winner of the Un'Goro weapon eating contest.
Branching Paths	Epic	Spell		Druid	4			Choose Twice - Draw a card; Give your minions +1 Attack; Gain 6 armor. Three paths diverged in a darkened hall, and I - I took the one less traveled by. And got eaten by a slime.
Ultimate Infestation	Epic	Spell		Druid	10			Deal 5 damage. Draw 5 cards. Gain 5 Armor. Summon a 5/5 Ghoul. Ghouls in the pipe, five by five.
Thrall, Deathseer	Legendary	Hero card		Shaman	5			Battlecry: Transform your minions into random ones that cost (2) more. "Do not be afraid. Approach. The dead will sleep… for now."
Deathstalker Rexxar	Legendary	Hero card		Hunter	6			Battlecry: Deal 2 damage to all enemy minions. "You were too slow, old friend. The hunt began long ago. And now... it will never end."
Malfurion the Pestilent	Legendary	Hero card		Druid	7			Choose One - Summon 2 Poisonous Spiders; or 2 Scarabs with Taunt. "Cenarius once taught me about the precarious balance between life and death. I have come to understand: there IS no balance. Death always wins."
Scourgelord Garrosh	Legendary	Hero card		Warrior	8			Battlecry: Equip a 4/3 Shadowmourne that also damages adjacent minions. "You dare to challenge me? Come! Draw your last breath - and then, you are mine."
Shadowreaper Anduin	Legendary	Hero card		Priest	8			Battlecry: Destroy all minions with 5 or more Attack. "I will tell you what Velen never taught me. Whosoever stands before the Light… inevitably casts a shadow."
Frost Lich Jaina	Legendary	Hero card		Mage	9			Battlecry: Summon a 3/6 Water Elemental. Your Elementals have Lifesteal for the rest of the game. "Arthas was a spoiled child, playing with toys he could neither control nor understand. Come into the cold. I will show you the true power of the Frozen Throne."
Uther of the Ebon Blade	Legendary	Hero card		Paladin	9			Battlecry: Equip a 5/3 Lifesteal weapon. "Step forward. Confess! Once I was a mere servant of the Light. Now I alone stand in judgement."
Valeera the Hollow	Legendary	Hero card		Rogue	9			Battlecry: Gain Stealth until your next turn. "Run away. Hide in your precious keeps, behind your walls and your bodyguards. Night always falls, and shadows will fill your hallowed halls. One day, one of those shadows will be me."
Bloodreaver Gul'dan	Legendary	Hero card		Warlock	10			Battlecry: Summon all friendly Demons that died this game. "Still you refuse to bend your knee? None can escape death, you old fool. And in death… all will serve me…"
Kun the Forgotten King	Legendary	Minion	General	Druid	10	7	7	Choose One - Gain 10 Armor; or Refresh your Mana Crystals. Aya siphons a bit of Kun's soul to animate each golem in her Jade army. To his credit, he's being a great sport about it.
Showing all 38 cards

Related cards

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Heavy Metal!	Rare	Spell		Warrior	6			Summon a random minion with Cost equal to your Armor (up to 10). This metal is so heavy it will satisfy your iron requirements for the next year.
Shield Slam	Epic	Spell		Warrior	1			Deal 1 damage to a minion for each Armor you have. "What is a better weapon? The sharp one your enemies expect, or the blunt one they ignore?" - The Art of Warrior, Chapter 9
Showing all 2 cards

Wild format

 This section contains information exclusive to Wild format.

Name / Desc	Rarity	Type	Subtype	Class	Cost	Atk	HP	Description
Ironwood Golem	Common	Minion	General	Druid	4	3	6	Taunt Can only attack if you have 3 or more Armor. Marketed as a "rust-proof iron golem."
Gemstudded Golem	Common	Minion	General	Warrior	6	5	9	Taunt. Can only attack if you have 5 or more Armor. Perfectly accessorized to attract adventurers.
Jasper Spellstone	Rare	Spell		Druid	1			Deal 4 damage to a minion. (Gain 3 Armor to upgrade.)
Lesser Jasper Spellstone	Rare	Spell		Druid	1			Deal 2 damage to a minion. (Gain 3 Armor to upgrade.) In ancient woods, elves fought the curse The demon's shadow to disperse But hatred raged and frail souls turned Now horned and hooved their forests burned.
Siege Engine	Rare	Minion	Mech	Warrior	5	5	5	Whenever you gain Armor, give this minion +1 Attack. Wintergrasp Keep's only weakness!
Bladed Gauntlet	Epic	Weapon		Warrior	2	0	2	Has Attack equal to your Armor. Can't attack heroes. CAUTION: DO NOT SCRATCH NOSE.
Reckless Flurry	Epic	Spell		Warrior	3			Spend all your Armor. Deal that much damage to all minions. Look. Cautious Flurries will only get you so far in life.
Geosculptor Yip	Legendary	Minion	General	Warrior	8	4	8	At the end of your turn, summon a random minion with Cost equal to your Armor (up to 10). Once crafted a gauntlet out of earwax and pure ambition.
Showing all 8 cards

Strategy

While Armor serves as a substitute for Health, loss of Armor will not reduce the summoning cost of Molten Giant. Warriors with Shield Slam can likewise benefit from Armor more than from Health, and Armor is not affected by Alexstrasza's Battlecry, making it an effective defence against this card. A low Health or damaged status can also be useful for cards like Battle Rage and Mortal Strike.

For these reasons, Armor is generally considered to be superior to Health. Where possible, it is usually therefore preferable to take any damage before gaining armor, such as by attacking with your hero before then using Armor Up!. This way the player can benefit from Zombie Chow's Deathrattle, having its hero's health restored and keeping the previously gained armor.