Artificer
Masters of unlocking magic in everyday objects, artificers are supreme inventors. They see magic as a complex system waiting to be decoded and controlled. Artificers use tools to channel arcane power, crafting magical objects. To cast a spell, an artificer could use alchemist's supplies to create a potent elixir, calligrapher's supplies to inscribe a sigil of power on an ally's armor, or tinker's tools to craft a temporary charm. The magic of artificers is tied to their tools and their talents.
Arcane Science
In the world of Eberron, arcane magic has been harnessed as a form of science and deployed throughout society. Artificers reflect this development. Their knowledge of magical devices, and their ability to infuse mundane items with magic, allows Eberron's most miraculous projects to continue.
During the Last War, artificers were marshaled on a massive scale. Many lives were saved because of the inventions of brave artificers, but countless lives were also lost because of the mass destruction unleashed by their creations.
Seekers of New Lore
Nothing excites a n artificer quite like uncovering a new metal or discovering a source of elemental energy. In artificer circles, new inventions and strange discoveries create the most excitement. Artificers who wish to make their mark must innovate, creating something fresh, rather than iterating on familiar designs.
This drive for novelty pushes artificers to become adventurers. Eberron's main travel routes and populated regions have long since been explored. Thus, artificers seek the frontiers of civilization in hopes of making the next great discovery in arcane research.
Creating an Artificer
When creating a n artificer, think about your character's relationship with the artisan who taught them their craft. Does the character have a rival? Talk to your DM about the role played by artificers in the campaign and the sort of organizations you might have ties to.
Quick Build
You can make an artificer quickly by following these suggestions. First, put your highest ability score in Intelligence, followed by Constitution or Dexterity. Second, choose the guild artisan background.
Option Rule: Multiclassing
If your group uses the optional rule on multi classing in the Player's Handbook, here's what you need to know if you choose artificer as one of your classes.
Ability Score Minimum. As a multiclass character, you must have at least an Intelligence score of 13 to take a level in this class, or to take a level in another class if you are already an artificer.
Proficiencies Gained. If artificer isn't your initial class, here are the proficiencies you gain when you take your first level as an artificer: light armor, medium armor, shields, thieves' tools, tinker's tools.
Spell Slots. Add half your levels (rounded up) in the artificer class to the appropriate levels from other classes to determine your available spell slots.
Artificer in Other Worlds
Eberron is the world most associated with artificers, yet the class can be found throughout the D&D multiverse. In the Forgotten Realms , for example, the island of Lantan is home to many artificers, and in the world of Dragonlance, tinker gnomes are often members of this class. The strange technologies in the Barrier Peaks of the World of Greyhawk have inspired some folk to walk the path of the artificer, and in Mystara, various nations employ artificers to keep airships and other wondrous devices operational. In the City of Sigil, artificers share discoveries from throughout the cosmos, and one in particular-the gnome inventor Vi - has run a multiverse-spanning business from there since leaving the world of her birth, Eberron. In the world-city Ravnica, the lzzet League trains numerous artificers, the destructiveness of whom is unparalleled in other worlds-except, perhaps, by the tinker gnomes of Krynn.
Class Features
As an Artificer, you gain the following class features
Hit Points
- Hit Dice: 1d8 per Artificer level
- Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution Modifier
- Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per Artificer level after 1st
Proficiencies
- Armor: Light Armor, Medium Armor, Shields
- Weapons: Simple Weapons
- Tools: Thieves' Tools, Tinker's Tools, one type of Artisan's Tools of your Choice
- Saving Throws: Constitution, Intelligence
- Skills: Choose two from Arcana, History, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Sleight of Hand
Equipment
You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your background:
- any two simple weapons of your choice
- a Light Crossbow and 20 bolts
- your choice of Studded Leather Armor or Scale Mail
- Thieves' Tools and a Dungeoneer's Pack
If you forgo this starting equipment, as well as the items offered by your background, you start with 5d4 x 10 gp to buy your equipment.
Optional Rule: Firearm Proficiency
The secrets of creating and operating gunpowder weapons have been discovered in various corners of the D&D multiverse. If your Dungeon Master uses the rules on firearms in chapter 9 of the Dungeon Master's Guide and your artificer has been exposed to the operation of such weapons, your artificer is proficient with them.
The Artificer
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Infusions Known | Infused Items | Cantrips Known | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Magical Tinkering, Spellcasting | -- | -- | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
2nd | +2 | Infuse Item | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
3rd | +2 | Artificer Specialist, The Right Tool for the Job | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Increase, Proficiency Versatility | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — |
5th | +3 | Artificer Specialist Feature | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
6th | +3 | Tool Expertise | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — |
7th | +3 | Flash of Genius | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Increase, Proficiency Versatility | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
9th | +4 | Artificer Specialist Feature | 6 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
10th | +4 | Magic Item Adept | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | — |
11th | +4 | Spell-Storing Item | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Increase, Proficiency Versatility | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | — |
13th | +5 | -- | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
14th | +5 | Magic Item Savant | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
15th | +5 | Artificer Specialist feature | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Increase, Proficiency Versatility | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
17th | +6 | -- | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
18th | +6 | Magic Item Master | 12 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Increase, Proficiency Versatility | 12 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
20th | +6 | Soul of Artifice | 12 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Magical Tinkering
At 1st level, you learn how to invest a spark of magic into mundane objects. To use this ability, you must have tinker's tools or other artisan's tools in hand. You then touch a Tiny nonmagical object as an action and give it one of the following magical properties of your choice:
- The object sheds bright light in a 5-foot radius and dim light for an additional 5 feet.
- Whenever tapped by a creature, the object emits a recorded message that can be heard up to 10 feet away. You utter the message when you bestow this property on the object, and the recording can be no more than 6 seconds long.
- The object continuously emits your choice of an odor or a nonverbal sound (wind, waves, chirping, or the like). The chosen phenomenon is perceivable up to 10 feet away.
- A static visual effect appears on one of the object's surfaces. This effect can be a picture, up to 25 words of text, lines and shapes, or a mixture of these elements, as you like.
The chosen property lasts indefinitely. As an action, you can touch the object and end the property early.
You can bestow magic on multiple objects, touching one object each time you use this feature, though a single object can only bear one property at a time. The maximum number of objects you can affect with this feature at one time is equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of one object). If you try to exceed your maximum, the oldest property immediately ends, and then the new property applies.
Spellcasting
You have studied the workings of magic and how to channel it through objects. As a result, you have gained the ability to cast spells. To observers, you don't appear to be casting spells in a conventional way; you look as if you're producing wonders using mundane items or outlandish inventions.
Tools Required
You produce your artificer spell effects through your tools. You must have a spellcasting focus-specifically thieves' tools or some kind of artisan's tool in-hand when you cast any spell with this Spellcasting feature. You must be proficient with the tool to use it in this way. See chapter 5, "Equipment," in the Player's Handbook for descriptions of these tools.
After you gain the Infuse Item feature at 2nd level, you can also use any item bearing one of your infusions as a spellcasting focus.
Cantrips
At 1st level, you know either the Prestidigitation or Mending cantrip and two additional cantrips of your choice from the artificer spell list. At higher levels, you learn additional artificer cantrips of your choice, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Artificer table.
Cantrip Versatility
When you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the artificer cantrips you know with another cantrip from the artificer spell list.
Preparing and Casting Spells
The Artificer table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your artificer spells. To cast one of your artificer spells of 1st level or higher, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.
You prepare the list of artificer spells that are available for you to cast, choosing from the artificer spell list. When you do so, choose a number of artificer spells equal to your Intelligence modifier + half your artificer level, rounded down (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.
For example, if you are a 5th-level artificer, you have four 1st-level and two 2nd-level spell slots. With an Intelligence of 14, your list of prepared spells can include four spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination. If you prepare the 1 st-level spell cure wounds, you can cast it using a 1st-level or a 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells.
You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of artificer spells requires time spent tinkering with your spellcasting focuses: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.
Spellcasting Ability
Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your artificer spells; your understanding of the theory behind magic allows you to wield these spells with superior skill. You use your Intelligence whenever an artificer spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an artificer spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.
Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
Ritual Casting
You can cast an artificer spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell prepared.
The Magic of Artifice As an artificer, you use tools when you cast you rspells. When describing your spellcasting, think about how you're using a tool to perform the spell effect. If you cast Cure Wounds using alchemist's supplies, you could be quickly producing a salve. If you cast it using tinker's tools, you might have a miniature mechanical spider that binds wounds. When you cast Poison Spray, you could fling foul chemicals or use a wand that spits venom. The effect of the spell is the same as for a spellcaster of any other class, but your method of spellcasting is special.
The same principle applies when you prepare your spells. As an artificer, you don't study a spellbook or pray to prepare your spells. Instead, you work with your tools and create the specialized items you'll use to produce your effects. If you replace Cure Wounds with Heat Metal, you might be altering the device you use to heal - perhaps modifying a tool so that it channels heat instead of healing energy.
Such details don't limit you in any way or provide you with any benefit beyond the spell's effects. You don't have to justify how you're using tools to cast a spell. But describing your spellcasting creatively is a fun way to distinguish yourself from other spellcasters.
Infuse Items
At 2nd level, you gain the ability to imbue mundane items with certain magical infusions. The magic items you create with this feature are effectively prototypes of permanent items.
Infusions Known
When you gain this feature, pick four artificer infusions to learn, choosing from the "Artificer Infusions" section at the end of the class's description. You learn additional infusions of your choice when you reach certain levels in this class, as shown in the Infusions Known column of the Artificer table.
Whenever you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the artificer infusions you learned with a new one.
Infusing an Item
Whenever you finish a long rest, you can touch a nonmagical object and imbue it with one of your artificer infusions, turning it into a magic item. An infusion works on only certain kinds of objects, as specified in the infusion's description. If the item requires attunement, you can attune yourself to it the instant you infuse the item. If you decide to attune to the item later, you must do so using the normal process for attunement (see "Attunement" in chapter 7 of the Dungeon Master's Guide).
Your infusion remains in an item indefinitely, but when you die, the infusion vanishes after a number of days have passed equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 day). The infusion also vanishes if you give up your knowledge of the infusion for another one.
You can infuse more than one nonmagical object at the end of a long rest; the maximum number of objects appears in the Infused Items column of the Artificer table. You must touch each of the objects, and each of your infusions can be in only one object at a time. Moreover, no object can bear more than one of your infusions at a time. If you try to exceed your maximum number of infusions, the oldest infusion immediately ends, and then the new infusion applies.
Artificer Specialist
At 3rd level, you choose the type of specialist you are:
- Alchemist
- Artillerist
- Battle Smith
Each of the specialists are detailed at the end of the class's description.
Your choice grants you features at 5th level and again at 9th and 15th level.
The Right Tool for the Job
At 3rd level, you learn how to produce exactly the tool you need: with tinker's tools in hand, you can magically create one set of artisan's tools in an unoccupied space within 5 feet of you. This creation requires 1 hour of uninterrupted work, which can coincide with a short or long rest. Though the product of magic, the tools are nonmagical, and they vanish when you use this feature again.
Ability Score Improvement / Feat
When you reach 4th level, and again at 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can't increase an ability score above 20 using this feature.
Alternatively, you can chose to take a Feat from one of the options found here.
Proficiency Versatility
Whenever you gain the Ability Score Improvement feature from your class, you can also replace one of your skill proficiencies with a skill proficiency offered by your class at 1st level (the proficiency you replace needn’t be from the class).
This change represents one of your skills atrophying as you focus on a different skill
Tool Expertise
Starting at 6th level, your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses your proficiency with a tool.
Flash of Genius
Starting at 7th level, you gain the ability to come up with solutions under pressure. When you or another creature you can see within 30 feet of you makes an ability check or a saving throw, you can use your reaction to add your Intelligence modifier to the roll.
You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Magic Item Adept
When you reach 10th level, you achieve a profound understanding of how to use and make magic items: • You can attune to up to four magic items at once. • If you craft a magic item with a rarity of common or uncommon, it takes you a quarter of the normal time, and it costs you half as much of the usual gold.
Spell-Storing Item
At 1 1th level, you learn how to store a spell in an object. Whenever you finish a long rest, you can touch one simple or martial weapon or one item that you can use as a spellcasting focus, and you store a spell in it, choosing a 1st- or 2nd-level spell from the artificer spell list that requires 1 action to cast (you needn't have it prepared).
While holding the object, a creature can take an action to produce the spell's effect from it, using your spellcasting ability modifier. If the spell requires concentration, the creature must concentrate. The spell stays in the object until it's been used a number of times equal to twice your Intelligence modifier (minimum of twice) or until you use this feature again to store a spell in an object.
Magic Item Savant
At 14th level, your skill with magic items deepens more:
- You can attune to up to five magic items at once.
- You ignore all class, race, spell, and level requirements on attuning to or using a magic item.
Magic Item Master
Starting at 18th level, you can attune to up to six magic items at once.
Soul of Artifice
At 20th level, you develop a mystical connection to your magic items, which you can draw on for protection:
- You gain a +1 bonus to all saving throws per magic item you are currently attuned to.
- If you're reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can use your reaction to end one of your artificer infusions, causing you to drop to 1 hit point instead of 0.
Artificer Specialists
Artificers can pursue many possible disciplines, listed below are the specilaist options available to you at 3rd level.
Alchemist
An Alchemist is an expert at combining reagents to produce mystical effects. Alchemists use their creations to give life and to leech it away. Alchemy is the oldest of artificer traditions, and its versatility has long been valued during times of war and peace.
Alchemist Features
Sorcerer Level | Feature |
---|---|
3rd | Alchemist Spells, Experimental Elixir, Tool Proficiency |
5th | Alchemical Savant |
9th | Restorative Reagents |
15th | Chemical Mastery |
Tool Proficiency
When you adopt this specialization at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with alchemist's supplies. If you already have this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.
Alchemist Spells
Starting at 3rd level, you always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Alchemist Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don't count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.
Alchemist Spells
Artificer Level | Spell |
---|---|
3rd | Healing Word, Ray of Sickness |
5th | Flaming Sphere, Melf's Acid Arrow |
9th | Gaseous Form, Mass Healing Word |
13th | Blight, Death Ward |
17th | Cloudkill, Raise Dead |
Experimental Elixir
Beginning at 3rd level, whenever you finish a long rest, you can magically produce an experimental elixir in an empty flask you touch. Roll on the Experimental Elixir table for the elixir's effect, which is triggered when someone drinks the elixir. As an action, a creature can drink the elixir or administer it to an incapacitated creature.
Creating an experimental elixir requires you to have alchemist supplies on your person, and any elixir you create with this feature lasts until it is drunk or until the end of your next long rest.
When you reach certain levels in this class, you can make more elixirs at the end of a long rest: two at 6th level and three at 15th level. Roll for each elixir's effect separately. Each elixir requires its own flask.
You can create additional experimental elixirs by expending a spell slot of 1st level or higher for each one. When you do so, you use your action to create the elixir in an empty flask you touch, and you choose the elixir's effect from the Experimental Elixir table.
Experimental Elixir
d6 | Effect |
---|---|
1 | Healing. The drinker regains a number of hit points equal to 2d4 + your Intelligence modifer. |
2 | Swiftness. The drinker's walking speed increases by 10 feet for l hour. |
3 | Resilience. The drinker gains a +l bonus to AC for 10 minutes. |
4 | Boldness. The drinker can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to every attack roll and saving throw they make for the next minute. |
5 | Flight. The drinker gains a flying speed of 10 feet for 10 minutes. |
6 | Transformation. The drinker's body is transformed as if by the Alter Self spell . The drinker determines the transformation caused by the spell, the effects of which last for 10 minutes. |
Alchemical Savant
At 5th level, you develop masterful command of magical chemicals, enhancing the healing and damage you create through them. Whenever you cast a spell using your alchemist's supplies as the spellcasting focus, you gain a bonus to one roll of the spell. That roll must restore hit points or be a damage roll that deals acid, fire, necrotic, or poison damage, and the bonus equals your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1).
Restorative Reagents
Starting at 9th level, you can incorporate restorative reagents into some of your works: • Whenever a creature drinks an experimental elixir you created, the creature gains temporary hit points equal to 2d6 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). • You can cast Lesser Restoration without expending a spell slot and without preparing the spell, provided you use alchemist's supplies as the spellcasting focus. You can do so a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Chemical Mastery
By 15th level, you have been exposed to so many chemicals that they pose little risk to you, and you can use them to quickly end certain ailments: • You gain resistance to acid damage and poison damage, and you are immune to the poisoned condition. • You can cast Greater Restoration and Heal without expending a spell slot, without preparing the spell, and without material components, provided you use alchemist's supplies as the spellcasting focus. Once you cast either spell with this feature, you can't cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest.
Artillerist
An Artillerist specializes in using magic to hurl energy, projectiles, and explosions on a battlefield. This destructive power was valued by all the armies of the Last War. Now that the war is over, some members of this specialization have sought to build a more peaceful world by using their powers to fight the resurgence of strife in Khorvaire. The gnome artificer Vi, an unlikely yet key member of House Cannith's warforged project, has been especially vocal about making things right: "It's about time we fixed things instead of blowing them all to hell."
Artillerist Features
Sorcerer Level | Feature |
---|---|
3rd | Artillerist Spells, Eldritch Cannon, Tool Proficiency |
5th | Arcane Firearm |
9th | Explosive Cannon |
15th | Fortified Position |
Tool Proficiency
When you adopt this specialization at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with woodcarver's tools. If you already have this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.
Artillerist Spells
Starting at 3rd level, you always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Artillerist Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don't count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.
Artillerist Spells
Artificer Level | Spell |
---|---|
3rd | Shield, Thunderwave |
5th | Scorching Ray, Shatter |
9th | Fireball, Windwall |
13th | Ice Storm, Wall of Fire |
17th | Cone of Cold, Wall of Force |
Eldritch Cannon
At 3rd level, you learn how to create a magical cannon. Using woodcarver's tools or smith's tools, you can take an action to magically create a Small or Tiny eldritch cannon in an unoccupied space on a horizontal surface within 5 feet of you. A Small eldritch cannon occupies its space, and a Tiny one can be held in one hand.
Once you create a cannon, you can't do so again until you finish a long rest or until you expend a spell slot of 1st level or higher. You can have only one cannon at a time and can't create one while your cannon is present.
The cannon is a magical object. Regardless of size, the cannon has an AC of 18 and a number of hit points equal to five times your artificer level. It is immune to poison damage, psychic damage, and all conditions. If it is forced to make an ability check or a saving throw, treat all its ability scores as 10 (+O). If the mending spell is cast on it, it regains 2d6 hit points. It disappears if it is reduced to 0 hit points or after 1 hour. You can dismiss it early as an action.
When you create the cannon, you determine its appearance and whether it has legs. You also decide which type it is, choosing from the options on the Eldritch Cannons table. On each of your turns, you can take a bonus action to cause the cannon to activate if you are within 60 feet of it. As part of the same bonus action, you can direct the cannon to walk or climb up to 15 feet to an unoccupied space, provided it has legs.
Eldritch Cannons
Cannon | Activation |
---|---|
Flamethrower | The cannon exhales fire in an adjacent 15 - foot cone that you designate. Each creature in that area must make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 2d8 fire damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. The fire ignites any flammable objects in the area that aren't being worn or carried. |
Force Ballista | Make a ranged spell attack, originating from the cannon, at one creature or object within 120 feet of it. On a hit, the target takes 2d8 force damage, and if the target is a creature, it is pushed up to 5 feet away from the cannon. |
Protector | The cannon emits a burst of positive energy that grants itself and each creature of your choice within 10 feet of it a number of temporary hit points equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +l). |
Arcane Firearm
At 5th level, you know how to turn a wand, staff, or rod into an arcane firearm, a conduit for your destructive spells. When you finish a long rest, you can use woodcarver's tools to carve special sigils into a wand, staff, or rod and thereby turn it into your arcane firearm. The sigils disappear from the object if you later carve them on a different item. The sigils otherwise last indefinitely.
You can use your arcane firearm as a spellcasting focus for your artificer spells. When you cast an artificer spell through the firearm, roll a d8, and you gain a bonus to one of the spell's damage rolls equal to the number rolled.
Explosive Cannon
Starting at 9th level, every eldritch cannon you create is more destructive:
- The cannon's damage rolls all increase by 1d8.
- As an action, you can command the cannon to detonate if you are within 60 feet of it. Doing so destroys the cannon and forces each creature within 20 feet of it to make a Dexterity saving throw against your spell save DC, taking 3d8 force damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
Fortified Position
Starting at 15th level, you're a master at forming well-defended emplacements using Eldritch Cannon:
- You and your allies have half cover while within 10 feet of a cannon you create with Eldritch Cannon, as a result of a shimmering field of magical protection that the cannon emits.
- You can now have two cannons at the same time. You can create two with the same action (but not the same spell slot), and you can activate both of them with the same bonus action. You determine whether the cannons are identical to each other or different. You can't create a third cannon while you have two.
Battle Smith
Armies require protection, and someone has to put things back together if defenses fail . A combination of protector and medic, a Battle Smith is an expert at defending others and repairing both material and personnel. To aid in their work, Battle Smiths are usually accompanied by a steel defender, a protective companion of their own creation. Many soldiers tell stories of nearly dying before being saved by a Battle Smith and a steel defender.
Battle Smiths played a key role in House Cannith's work on battle constructs and the original warforged, and after the Last War, these artificers led efforts to aid those who were injured in the war's horrific battles.
Battle Smith Features
Sorcerer Level | Feature |
---|---|
3rd | Battle Smith Spells, Battle Ready, Steel Defender, Tool Proficiency |
5th | Extra Attack |
9th | Arcane Jolt |
15th | Improved Defender |
Tool Proficiency
When you adopt this specialization at 3rd level, you gain proficiency with smith's tools. If you already have this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.
Battle Smith Spells
Starting at 3rd level, you always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Battle Smith Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don't count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.
Battle Smith Spells
Artificer Level | Spell |
---|---|
3rd | Heroism, Shield |
5th | Branding Smite, Warding Bond |
9th | Aura of Vitality, Conjure Barrage |
13th | Aura of Purity, Fire Shield |
17th | Banishing Smite, Mass Cure Wounds |
Battle Ready
When you reach 3rd level, your combat training and your experiments with magic have paid off in two ways:
- You gain proficiency with martial weapons.
- When you attack with a magic weapon, you can use your Intelligence modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity modifier, for the attack and damage rolls.
Steel Defender
By 3rd level, your tinkering has borne you a faithful companion, a steel defender. It is friendly to you and your companions, and it obeys your commands. See this creature's game statistics in the steel defender stat block. You determine the creature's appearance and whether it has two legs or four; your choice has no effect on its game statistics.
In combat, the steel defender shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes on its turn is the Dodge action, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take one of the actions in its stat block or the Dash, Disengage, Help, Hide, or Search action.
If the Mending spell is cast on it, it regains 2d6 hit points. If it has died within the last hour, you can use your smith's tools as an action to revive it, provided you are within 5 feet of it and you expend a spell slot of 1st level or higher. The steel defender returns to life after 1 minute with all its hit points restored.
At the end of a long rest, you can create a new steel defender if you have your smith's tools with you. If you already have a steel defender from this feature, the first one immediately perishes.
Extra Attack
Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, rather than once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Arcane Jolt
At 9th level, you learn new ways to channel arcane energy to harm or heal. When either you hit a target with a magic weapon attack or your steel defender hits a target, you can channel magical energy through the strike to create one of the following effects:
- The target takes an extra 2d6 force damage.
- Choose one creature or object you can see within 30 feet of the target. Healing energy flows into the chosen recipient, restoring 2d6 hit points to it.
You can use this energy a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once), but you can do so no more than once on a turn. You regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
Improved Defender
At 15th level, your Arcane jolt and steel defender become more powerful:
- The extra damage and the healing of your Arcane jolt both increase to 4d6.
- Your steel defender gains a +2 bonus to Armor Class.
- Whenever your steel defender uses its Deflect Attack, the attacker takes force damage equal to 1d4 + your Intelligence modifier.
Steel Defender
Medium construct, neutral
- Armor Class 15 (natural armor)
- Hit Points A number of hit points equal to the Steel Defender's Constitution modifier + your Intelligence modifier + five times your level in this class
- Speed 40 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 14 (+2) 12 (+1) 14 (+2) 4 (-4) 10 (+0) 6 (-2)
- Saving Throws Dex +3, Con +4
- Skills Athletics +4, Perception +4
- Damage Immunities poison
- Condition Immunities charmed, exhaustion, poisoned
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
- Languages understands the langauges you speak
Might of the Master. The following numbers increase by 1 when your proficiency bonus increases by 1: the defender's skill and saving throw bonuses (above), the bonus to hit and damage of its Rend attack, and a number of hit points restored by its Repair action (below).
Vigilant. The defender can't be surprised.
Actions (Requires Your Bonus Action)
Force-Empowered Rend. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1d8 + 2 force damage
Repair (3/Day). The magical mechanisms inside the defender restore 2d8 + 2 hit points to itself or to one other construct or object within 5 feet of it.
Reactions
Deflect Attack. The defender imposes disadvantage on the attack roll of one creature it can see that is within 5 feet of it, provided the attack roll is against a creature other than the defender.
Artificer Infusions
Artificers have invented numerous magical infusions, extraordinary processes that rapidly create magic items. To many, artificers seem like wonderworkers, accomplishing in hours what others need weeks to complete.
The description of each of the following infusions details the type of item that can receive it, along with whether the resulting magic item requires attunement.
Some infusions specify a minimum artificer level. You can't learn such an infusion until you are at least that level.
Unless an infusion's description says otherwise, you can't learn an infusion more than once.
Boots of the Winding Path
Prerequisite: 6th-level artificer
Item: A pair of boots (requires attunement)
While wearing these boots, a creature can teleport up to 15 feet as a bonus action to an unoccupied space the creature can see. The creature must have occupied that space at some point during the current turn.
Enhanced Arcane Focus
Item: A rod, staff, or wand (requires attunement)
While holding this item, a creature gains a +1 bonus to spell attack rolls. In addition, the creature ignores half cover when making a spell attack.
The bonus increases to +2 when you reach 10th level in this class.
Enhanced Defense
Item: A suit of armor or a shield
A creature gains a + 1 bonus to Armor Class while wearing (armor) or wielding (shield) the infused item.
The bonus increases to +2 when you reach 10th level in this class.
Enhanced Weapon
Item: A simple or martial weapon
This magic weapon grants a + 1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it.
The bonus increases to +2 when you reach 10th level in this class.
Homunculus Servant
Prerequisite: 6th-level artificer
Item: A gem worth at least 100 gp or a dragonshard
You learn intricate methods for magically creating a special homunculus that serves you. The item you infuse serves as the creature's heart, around which the creature's body instantly forms.
You determine the homunculus's appearance. Some artificers prefer mechanical-looking birds, whereas some like winged vials or miniature, animate cauldrons.
The homunculus is friendly to you and your companions, and it obeys your commands. See this creature's game statistics in the Homunculus Servant stat block.
In combat, the homunculus shares your initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after yours. It can move and use its reaction on its own, but the only action it takes on its turn is the Dodge action, unless you take a bonus action on your turn to command it to take the action in its stat block or the Dash, Disengage, Help, Hide, or Search action.
The homunculus regains 2d6 hit points if the mending spell is cast on it. If it dies, it vanishes, leaving its heart in its space.
Radiant Weapon
Prerequisite: 6th-level artificer
Item: A simple or martial weapon (requires attunement)
This magic weapon grants a + 1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. While holding it, the wielder can take a bonus action to cause it to shed bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet.
The wielder can extinguish the light as a bonus action.
The weapon has 4 charges. As a reaction immediately after being hit by an attack, the wielder can expend 1 charge and cause the attacker to be blinded until the end of the attacker's next turn, unless the attacker succeeds on a Constitution saving throw against your spell save DC. The weapon regains 1d4 expended charges daily at dawn.
Repeating Shot
Item: A simple or martial weapon with the ammunition property (requires attunement)
This magic weapon grants a + 1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it when it's used to make a ranged attack, and it ignores the loading property if it has it.
If you load no ammunition in the weapon, it produces its own, automatically creating one piece of magic ammunition when you make a ranged attack with it. The ammunition created by the weapon vanishes the instant after it hits or misses a target.
Homunculus Servant
Tiny construct, neutral
- Armor Class 13 (natural armor)
- Hit Points A number of hit points equal to the Homunculus's Constitution modifier + your Intelligence modifier + your level in this class
- Speed 20 ft., fly 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA 4 (-3) 15 (+2) 12 (+1) 10 (+0) 10 (+0) 7 (-2)
- Saving Throws Dex +4
- Skills Perception +4, Stealth +4
- Damage Immunities poison
- Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
- Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14
- Languages understands the langauges you speak
Evasion. If the homunculus is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only half damage if it fails. It can't use this trait if it's incapacitated.
Might of the Master. The following numbers increase by 1 when your proficiency bonus increases by 1: the homunculus's skill and saving throw bonuses (above), the bonus to hit and damage of its attack.
Actions (Requires Your Bonus Action)
Force Strike Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30 ft., one target. Hit: 1d4 + 2 force damage
Reactions
Channel Magic. The homunculus delivers a spell you cast that has a range of touch. The homunculus must be within 120 feet of you.
Replicate Magic Item
Using this infusion, you replicate a particular magic item. You can learn this infusion multiple times; each time you do so, choose a magic item that you can make with it, picking from the Replicable Items tables below. A table's title tells you the level you must be in the class to choose an item from the table.
In the tables, an item's entry tells you whether the item requires attunement. See the item's description in the Dungeon Master's Guide for more information about it, including the type of object required for its making.
If you have Xanathar's Guide to Everything, you can choose from among the common magic items in that book when you pick a magic item you can replicate with this infusion.
Replicable Items (2nd-Level Artificer)
Magic Item | Attunement |
---|---|
Alchemy Jug | No |
Armblade (detailed below) | Yes |
Bag of Holding | No |
Cap of Water Breathing | No |
Goggles of Night | No |
Prosthetic Limb (detailed below) | Yes |
Rope of Climbing | No |
Sending Stones | No |
Wand of Magic Detection | No |
Wand of Secrets | No |
Replicable Items (6th-Level Artificer)
Magic Item | Attunement |
---|---|
Boots of Elvenkind | No |
Cloak of Elvenkind | Yes |
Cloak of the Manta Ray | No |
Eyes of Charming | Yes |
Gloves of Thievery | No |
Lantern of Revealing | No |
Pipes of Haunting | No |
Ring of Water Walking | No |
Wand sheath (detailed below) | Yes |
Replicable Items (10th-Level Artificer)
Magic Item | Attunement |
---|---|
Boots of Striding and Springing | Yes |
Boots of the Winterlands | Yes |
Bracers of Archery | Yes |
Brooch of Shielding | Yes |
Cloak of Protection | Yes |
Eyes of the Eagle | Yes |
Gauntlets of Ogre Power | Yes |
Gloves of Missile Snaring | Yes |
Gloves of Swimming and Climbing | Yes |
Hat of Disguise | Yes |
Headband of Intellect | Yes |
Helm of Telepathy | Yes |
Medallion of Thoughts | Yes |
Replicable Items (10th-Level Artificer) Continued
Magic Item | Attunement |
---|---|
Periapt of Wound Closure | Yes |
Pipes of the Sewers | Yes |
Quiver of Ehlonna | No |
Ring of Jumping | Yes |
Ring of Mind Shielding | Yes |
Slippers of Spider Climbing | Yes |
Ventilating Lung (detailed below) | Yes |
Winged Boots | Yes |
Replicable Items (14th-Level Artificer)
Magic Item | Attunement |
---|---|
Amulet of Health | Yes |
Arcane Propulsion Arm (detailed below) | Yes |
Belt of Hill Giant Strength | Yes |
Boots of Levitation | Yes |
Boots of Speed | Yes |
Bracers of Defense | Yes |
Cloak of the Bat | Yes |
Dimensional Shackles | No |
Gem of Seeing | Yes |
Horn of Blasting | No |
Ring of Free Action | Yes |
Ring of Protection | Yes |
Ring of the Ram | Yes |
Repulsion Shield
Prerequisite: 6th-level artificer Item: A shield (requires attunement) A creature gains a + 1 bonus to Armor Class while wielding this shield.
The shield has 4 charges. While holding it, the wielder can use a reaction immediately after being hit by a melee attack to expend 1 of the shield's charges and push the attacker up to 15 feet away. The shield regains 1d4 expended charges daily at dawn.
Resistant Armor
Prerequisite: 6th-level artificer Item: A suit of armor (requires attunement) While wearing this armor, a creature has resistance to one of the following damage types, which you choose when you infuse the item: acid, cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, poison, psychic, radiant, or thunder.
Returning Weapon
Item: A simple or martial weapon with the thrown property This magic weapon grants a + 1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it, and it returns to the wielder's hand immediately after it is used to make a ranged attack.
Magic Items
Arcane Propulsion Arm
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement by a creature missing a hand or an arm) This prosthetic appendage was developed by artificers of House Cannith. To attune to this item, you must attach it to your arm at the wrist, elbow, or shoulder, at which point the prosthetic magically forms a copy of the appendage it's replacing.
While attached, the prosthetic provides these benefits:
- The prosthetic is a fully capable part of your body.
- You can take an action to remove the prosthetic, and it removes itself if your attunement to it ends. It can't be8removed against your will.
- The prosthetic is a magic melee weapon with which you're proficient. It deals 1d8 force damage on a hit and has the thrown property, with a normal range of 20 feet and a long range of 60 feet. When thrown, the prosthetic detaches and flies at the target of the attack, then immediately returns to you and reattaches.
Armblade
Weapon (any one-handed melee weapon), common (requires attunement by a warforged) An armblade is a magic weapon that attaches to your arm, becoming inseparable from you as long as you're attuned to it. To attune to this item, you must hold it against your forearm for the entire attunement period.
As a bonus action, you can retract the armblade into your forearm or extend it from there. While it is extended, you can use the weapon as if you were holding it, and you can't use that hand for other purposes.
Ventilating Lungs
Wondrous item, rare (requires attunement) These metallic nodules were created in response to the poisonous gases used on the battlefields of the Last War. When you attune to these lungs, they replace the lungs in your chest, which disappear. The lungs allow you to breathe normally, even in an antimagic field, and their breathing function can't be suppressed by magic.
Outside an antimagic field or any other effect that suppresses magic, these lungs allow you to breathe normally in any environment (including a vacuum), and you have advantage on saving throws against harmful gases such as those created by a Cloudkill spell, a Stinking Cloud spell, inhaled poisons, and gaseous breath weapons .
As an action, you can use these lungs to exhale a gust of wind, as if you had cast the Gust of Wind spell (spell save DC 15) with no components. This property of the lungs can't be used again until the next dawn.
If your attunement to the lungs ends, your original lungs reappear.
Wand Sheath
Wondrous item, common (requires attunement by a warforged) A wand sheath clamps onto your arm and imparts the following benefits:
- The wand sheath can't be removed from you while you're attuned to it.
- You can insert a wand into the sheath as an action. The sheath can hold only one wand at a time .
- You can retract or extend a wand from the sheath as a bonus action. While the wand is extended, you can use it as if you were holding it, but your hand remains free.
If a sheathed wand requires attunement, you must attune to the wand before you can use it. However, the wand sheath and the attached wand count as a single magic item with regard to the number of magic items you can attune to. If you remove the wand from the sheath, your attunement to the wand ends.
Artificer Spell List
Cantrips
- Acid Splash
- Booming Blade
- Chilling Blade
- Create Bonfire
- Dancing Lights
- Fire Bolt
- Flashbolt
- Frostbite
- Green-Flame Blade
- Guidance
- Gust
- Light
- Lightning Lure
- Mage Hand
- Magic Stone
- Mending
- Message
- Poison Spray
- Prestidigitation
- Ray of Frost
- Resistance
- Shillelagh
- Shocking Grasp
- Spare the Dying
- Sword Burst
- Thorn WHip
- Thunderclap
- Venomous Strike
1st Level
- Absorb Elements
- Age
- Catapult
- Comprehend Languages
- Cure Wounds
- Detect Magic
- Detect Poison and Disease
- Disguise Self
- Expeditious Retreat
- Faerie Fire
- False Life
- Fog Cloud
- Grease
- Identify
- Jump
- Longstrider
- Mage Armor
- Purify Food and Drink
- Sanctuary
- Snare
- Tasha's Caustic Brew
- Tenser's Floating Disk
- Sleep
2nd Level
- Aid
- Air Bubble
- Alter Self
- Arcane Lock
- Blur
- Continual Flame
- Darkvision
- Dust Devil
- Enhance Ability
- Enlarge/Reduce
- Find Traps
- Heat Metal
- Invisibility
- Kinetic Jaunt
- Knock
- Lesser Restoration
- Levitate
- Locate Object
- Magic Mouth
- Magic Weapon
- Protection from Poison
- Pyrotechnics
- Rope Trick
- See Invisibility
- Skywrite
- Spider Climb
- Vortex Warp
- Web
3rd Level
- Ashardalon's Stride
- Blink
- Catnap
- Create Food and Water
- Dispel Magic
- Elemental Weapon
- Flame Arrows
- Fly
- Glyph of Warding
- Haste
- Intellect Fortress
- Linked Glyps
- Protection from Energy
- Revivify
- Stinking Cloud
- Tiny Servant
- Trebuchet
- Water Breathing
- Water Walk
4th Level
- Arcane Eye
- Elemental Bane
- Fabricate
- Freedom of Movement
- Leonmund's Secret Chest
- Mordenkainen's Faithful Hound
- Mordenkainen's Private Sanctum
- Otiluke's Resilent Sphere
- Poison Fog
- Stone Shape
- Stoneskin
- Summon Construct
5th Level
- Animate Objects
- Bigby's Hand
- Create Spelljamming Helm
- Creation
- Greater Restoration
- Legend Lore
- Passwall
- Rary's Telepathic Bond
- Skill Empowerment
- Telekinesis
- Transmute Rock
- Wall of Stone