Mage armor in Ars Nouveau gives you more mana and faster regen with every piece you wear, and it’s where your Threads go as well. You’ll be able to try any set, tier and Thread here to see how much mana it leaves you with, before spending anything at the Apparatus.
Choosing a Set
There are three sets to pick from, and they all give the same mana, which is 30 for each piece at tier one, going up to 90 a piece once you reach tier three. What’s different is the balance between armor and Thread slots, as the Sorceror’s set only has 11 armor in total but gets the most slots, whereas the Battlemage’s set has 20 armor and fewer slots to go with it.
Each set starts with one slot on every piece, and upgrading it in the 
Enchanting Apparatus adds more, with the Threads you’ve already fitted staying where they are. A full tier three Sorceror’s set ends up with a level three slot on every piece, which is what you’ll need for Threads like 
Gliding.
Fitting Threads
A Thread works at the level of the slot it’s placed in, so 
The Starbuncle gives 20% more speed in a level one slot and 60% in a level three one. Only one of each Thread counts though, so putting two copies of the same one on different pieces won’t give you anything extra.
If you’re after more mana, 
Magic Capacity raises your whole total by 10% for each level, and it works on everything else you’ve added, like the armor, the Mana Boost enchantment and an 
Amulet of Mana Boost. Summoning a familiar holds back 15% of it while the familiar is out, which is worth remembering before a big fight.
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes down to whether you’d rather have armor or Threads, as the Battlemage’s set gives the most protection and the Sorceror’s set has the most Thread slots. They all give the same mana and regen at each tier, so the slots are what really set them apart.
Each piece is upgraded in the Enchanting Apparatus, with 
Blaze Rods and 2,500 Source for tier two, then 
Ender Pearls, a 
Chorus Fruit and 5,000 Source for tier three. Any Threads you’ve already added will stay on the armor.
Only one copy of each Thread counts, so a second one in another slot won’t add anything. It’s better to spread different Threads across the slots you’ve got.
Learning more glyphs and using a better spell book both raise it, along with mage armor, the Mana Boost enchantment and an Amulet of Mana Boost. The Magic Capacity Thread then adds a percentage on top of all of that.
