ARTIFICER
Contents
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.
You must have an Intelligence score of 13 or higher in order to multiclass in or out of this class.
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 an 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 A ARTIFICER
When creating an 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.
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, Firearms
- 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.
Level | Proficiency Bonus | Features | Infusions Known | Infused Items | Cantrips Known | Max Spell Level | Spell Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | +2 | Magical Tinkering, Spellcasting | – | – | 2 | 1 | 2 |
2nd | +2 | Infuse Item | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
3rd | +2 | Artificer Specialist, The Right Tool for the Job | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
4th | +2 | Ability Score Improvement OR Feat | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
5th | +3 | Artificer Specialist Feature | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
6th | +3 | Tool Expertise | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
7th | +3 | Flash of Genius | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
8th | +3 | Ability Score Improvement OR Feat | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
9th | +4 | Artificer Specialist Feature | 6 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 16 |
10th | +4 | Magic Item Adept | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
11th | +4 | Spell-Storing Item | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
12th | +4 | Ability Score Improvement OR Feat | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
13th | +5 | – | 8 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 23 |
14th | +5 | Magic Item Savant | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 23 |
15th | +5 | Artificer Specialist Feature | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 27 |
16th | +5 | Ability Score Improvement OR Feat | 10 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 27 |
17th | +6 | – | 10 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
18th | +6 | Magic Item Master | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 36 |
19th | +6 | Ability Score Improvement OR Feat | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 41 |
20th | +6 | Soul of Artifice | 12 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 41 |
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 (0-LEVEL SPELLS)
At 1st level, you know two 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.
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 1st-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.
INFUSE ITEM
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” page. 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, Armorer, Artillerist, Battle Smith, Forge Adept*, Golemsmith^, Mastermaker*, OR Maverick*. 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
When you reach 4th, 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.
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 11th 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.
SOURCES
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
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