Unearthed

Arcana: Artificer
Playtest Material alchemists. Using their knowledge of magic and
This character class is presented for playtesting and to various exotic ingredients, they create potions
spark your imagination. These game mechanics are in and draughts to aid them on their adventures.
draft form, usable in your campaign but not refined by Alchemy and engineering are the two most
design iterations or full game development. This class is common areas of study for artificers, but others
not officially part of the game. For these reasons, it is do exist.
not legal in D&D Adventurers League events. All artificers are united by their curiosity and
inventive nature. To an artificer, magic is an
A gnome sits hunched over a workbench,
evolving art with a leading edge of discovery and
carefully using needle and thread to wave runes
mastery that pushes further ahead with each
into a leather satchel. The bag shudders as she
passing year. Artificers value novelty and
completes her work, and a sudden, loud pop
discovery. This penchant pushes them to seek a
echoes through the room as a portal to an extra-
life of adventure. A hidden ruin might hold a
dimensional space springs to being in the bags
forgotten magic item or a beautifully crafted
interior. She beams with pride at her newly
mirror perfect for magical enhancement.
crafted bag of holding.
Artificers win respect and renown among their
A troll growls in hunger as it looms over a
kind by uncovering new lore or inventing new
dwarf, who slides a long, metal tube from a
methods of creation.
holster at his belt. With a thunderous roar, a gout
of flame erupts from the tube, and the trolls
growls turn into shrieks of panic as it turns to Intense Rivalries
flee.
The artificers drive to invent and expand their
An elf scrambles up the castles wall, Baron
knowledge creates an intense drive to uncover
von Hendriks men close behind her. As she
new magic discoveries. An artificer who hears
clambers over the battlements, she reaches into
news of a newly discovered magic item must act
her satchel, pulls out three vials, mixes their
fast to get it before any rivals do. Good-aligned
contents into a small leather bag, and flings it at
artificers recover items on adventures or offer
her pursuers. The bag bursts at their feet,
gold or wondrous items to those who possess
trapping them in a thick, black glue as she makes
items they are keen to own. Evil ones have no
her escape.
problem committing crimes to claim what they
Makers of magic-infused objects, artificers are
want.
defined by their inventive nature. Like wizards,
Almost every artificer has at least one rival,
they see magic as a complex system waiting to
someone whom they seek to outdo at every turn.
be decoded and controlled through a
By the same token, artificers with similar
combination of thorough study and investigation.
philosophies and theories band together into
Artificers, though, focus on creating marvelous
loose guilds. They share their discoveries and
new magical objects. Spells are often too
work together to verify their theories and keep
ephemeral and temporary for their tastes.
ahead of their rivals.
Instead, they seek to craft durable, useful items.

Cunning Inventors Creating an Artificer

When creating an artificer character, think about
Every artificer is defined by a specific craft.
your characters background and drive for
Artificers see mastering the basic methods of a
adventure. Does the character have a rival? What
craft as the first step to true progress, the
is the characters relationship with the artisan or
invention of new methods and approaches. Some
artificer who taught the basics of the craft? Talk
artificers are engineers, students of invention
to your DM about the role played by artificers in
and warfare who craft deadly firearms that they
can augment with magic. Other artificers are

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the campaign, and what sort of organizations Saving Throws: Constitution, Intelligence
and NPCs you might have ties to. Skills: Choose three from Arcana, Deception,
History, Investigation, Medicine, Nature,
Quick Build Religion, Sleight of Hand
You can make an artificer quickly by following
these suggestions. First, put your highest ability Equipment
score in Intelligence, followed by Constitution or You start with the following equipment, in
Dexterity. Second, choose the guild artisan addition to the equipment granted by your
background. background:

(a) a handaxe and a light hammer or (b) any

Class Features two simple weapons
As an artificer, you gain the following class a light crossbow and 20 bolts
features. (a) scale mail or (b) studded leather armor
thieves tools and a dungeoneers pack
Hit Points
Hit Dice: 1d8 per artificer level Artificer Specialist
Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution
modifier At 1st level, you choose the type of Artificer
Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Specialist you are: Alchemist or Gunsmith, both
Constitution modifier per artificer level after of which are detailed at the end of the class
1st description. Your choice grants you features at
1st level and again at 3rd, 9th, 14th, and 17th
Proficiencies level.
Armor: Light and medium armor
Weapons: Simple weapons Magic Item Analysis
Tools: Thieves tools, two other tools of your
choice Starting at 1st level, your understanding of
magic items allows you to analyze and

The Artificer
Spell Slots per Spell Level
Proficiency Spells
Level Bonus Features Known 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
1st +2 Artificer Specialist, Magic Item Analysis
2nd +2 Tool Expertise, Wondrous Invention
3rd +2 Masterwork Feature, Spellcasting 3 2
4th +2 Ability Score Improvement, Infuse Magic 4 3
5th +3 Superior Attunement, Wondrous Invention 4 3
6th +3 Mechanical Servant 4 3
7th +3 5 4 2
8th +3 Ability Score Improvement 6 4 2
9th +4 Masterwork Feature 6 4 2
10th +4 Wondrous Invention 7 4 3
11th +4 8 4 3
12th +4 Ability Score Improvement 8 4 3
13th +5 9 4 3 2
14th +5 Masterwork Feature 10 4 3 2
15th +5 Superior Attunement, Wondrous Invention 10 4 3 2
16th +5 Ability Score Improvement 11 4 3 3
17th +6 Masterwork Feature 11 4 3 3
18th +6 Ability Score Improvement 11 4 3 3
19th +6 12 4 3 3 1
20th +6 Soul of Artifice, Wondrous Invention 13 4 3 3 1

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understand their secrets. You know the artificer
spells detect magic and identify, and you can cast
Spellcasting
them as rituals. You dont need to provide a As part of your study of magic, you gain the
material component when casting identify with ability to cast spells at 3rd level. The spells you
this class feature. learn are limited in scope, primarily concerned
with modifying creatures and objects or creating
Tool Expertise items.

Starting at 2nd level, your proficiency bonus is Spell Slots

doubled for any ability check you make that uses The Artificer table shows how many spell slots
any of the tool proficiencies you gain from this you have to cast your spells of 1st level and
class. higher. To cast one of these spells, you must
expend a slot of the spells level or higher. You
Wondrous Invention regain all expended spell slots when you finish a
long rest.
At 2nd level, you gain the use of a magic item
that you have crafted. Choose the item from the Spells Known of 1st Level and
list of 2nd-level items below.
Crafting an item is a difficult task. When you Higher
gain a magic item from this feature, it reflects You know three 1st-level spells of your choice
long hours of study, tinkering, and from the artificer spell list (which appears at the
experimentation that allowed you to finally end of this document).
complete the item. You are assumed to work on The Spells Known column of the Artificer table
this item in your leisure time and to finish it shows when you learn more artificer spells of
when you level up. your choice from this feature. Each of these
You complete another item of your choice spells must be of a level for which you have spell
when you reach certain levels in this class: 5th, slots on the Artificer table.
10th, 15th, and 20th level. The item you choose Additionally, when you gain a level in this class,
must be on the list for your current artificer level you can choose one of the artificer spells you
or a lower level. know from this feature and replace it with
These magic items are detailed in the Dungeon another spell from the artificer spell list. The
Masters Guide. new spell must also be of a level for which you
have spell slots on the Artificer table.
2nd Level: bag of holding, cap of water breathing,
driftglobe, goggles of night, sending stones Spellcasting Ability
5th Level: alchemy jug, helm of comprehending Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your
languages, lantern of revealing, ring of artificer spells; your understanding of the theory
swimming, robe of useful items, rope of climbing, behind magic allows you to wield these spells
wand of magic detection, wand of secrets with superior skill. You use your Intelligence
10th Level: bag of beans, chime of opening, whenever an artificer spell refers to your
decanter of endless water, eyes of minute seeing, spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your
folding boat, Hewards handy haversack Intelligence modifier when setting the saving
15th Level: boots of striding and springing, throw DC for an artificer spell you cast and when
bracers of archery, brooch of shielding, broom making an attack roll with one.
of flying, hat of disguise, slippers of spider
climbing Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your
20th Level: eyes of the eagle, gem of brightness, Intelligence modifier
gloves of missile snaring, gloves of swimming
and climbing, ring of jumping, ring of mind Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your
shielding, wings of flying Intelligence modifier

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Spellcasting Focus Mechanical Servant
You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting
focus for your artificer spells. See chapter 5, At 6th level, your research and mastery of your
Equipment, in the Players Handbook for craft allow you to produce a mechanical servant.
various arcane focus options. The servant is a construct that obeys your
commands without hesitation and functions in
Infuse Magic combat to protect you. Though magic fuels its
creation, the servant is not magical itself. You are
Starting at 4th level, you gain the ability to assumed to have been working on the servant
channel your artificer spells into objects for later for quite some time, finally finishing it during a
use. When you cast an artificer spell with a short or long rest after you reach 6th level.
casting time of 1 action, you can increase its Select a Large beast with a challenge rating of
casting time to 1 minute. If you do so and hold a 2 or less. The servant uses that beasts game
nonmagical item throughout the casting, you statistics, but it can look however you like, as
expend a spell slot, but none of the spells effects long as its form is appropriate for its statistics. It
occur. Instead, the spell transfers into that item has the following modifications:
for later use if the item doesnt already contain a
spell from this feature. It is a construct instead of a beast.
Any creature holding the item thereafter can It cant be charmed.
use an action to activate the spell if the creature It is immune to poison damage and the
has an Intelligence score of at least 6. The spell is poisoned condition.
cast using your spellcasting ability, targeting the It gains darkvision with a range of 60 feet if it
creature that activates the item. If the spell doesnt have it already.
targets more than one creature, the creature that It understands the languages you can speak
activates the item selects the additional targets. when you create it, but it cant speak.
If the spell has an area of effect, it is centered on If you are the target of a melee attack and the
the item. If the spells range is self, it targets the servant is within 5 feet of the attacker, you can
creature that activates the item. use your reaction to command the servant to
When you infuse a spell in this way, it must be respond, using its reaction to make a melee
used within 8 hours. After that time, its magic attack against the attacker.
fades and is wasted.
You can have a limited number of infused The servant obeys your orders to the best of its
spells at the same time. The number equals your ability. In combat, it rolls its own initiative and
Intelligence modifier. acts on its own.
If the servant is killed, it can be returned to life
via normal means, such as with the revivify spell.
Ability Score Improvement In addition, over the course of a long rest, you
When you reach 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 18th can repair a slain servant if you have access to its
level, you can increase one ability score of your body. It returns to life with 1 hit point at the end
choice by 2, or you can increase two ability of the rest. If the servant is beyond recovery, you
scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you cant can build a new one with one week of work
increase an ability score above 20 using this (eight hours each day) and 1,000 gp of raw
feature. materials.

Superior Attunement Soul of Artifice

At 5th level, your superior understanding of At 20th level, your understanding of magic items
magic items allows you to master their use. You is unmatched, allowing you to mingle your soul
can now attune to up to four, rather than three, with items linked to you. You can attune to up to
magic items at a time. six magic items at once. In addition, you gain a
At 15th level, this limit increases to five magic +1 bonus to all saving throws per magic item you
items. are currently attuned to.

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 level (5d6), 16th level (6d6), and 19th level
Artificer Specialists (7d6).
Artificers pursue a variety of specializations. The Alchemical Acid. As an action, you can reach
two most common ones, alchemy and into your Alchemists Satchel, pull out a vial of
engineering, are presented here. acid, and hurl the vial at a creature or object
within 30 feet of you (the vial and its contents
Alchemist disappear if you dont hurl the vial by the end of
the current turn). The vial shatters on impact. A
An alchemist is an expert at combining exotic creature must succeed on a Dexterity saving
reagents to produce a variety of materials, from throw or take 1d6 acid damage. An object
healing draughts that can mend a wound in automatically takes that damage, and the
moments to clinging goo that slows creatures damage is maximized.
down. This formulas damage increases by 1d6 when
you reach certain levels in this class: 3rd level
Alchemists Satchel (2d6), 5th level (3d6), 7th level (4d6), 9th level
At 1st level, you craft an Alchemists Satchel, a (5d6), 11th level (6d6), 13th level (7d6), 15th
bag of reagents that you use to create a variety of level (8d6), 17th level (9d6), and 19th level
concoctions. The bag and its contents are both (10d6).
magical, and this magic allows you to pull out Healing Draught. As an action, you can reach
exactly the right materials you need for your into your Alchemists Satchel and pull out a vial
Alchemical Formula options, described below. of healing liquid. A creature can drink it as an
After you use one of those options, the bag action to regain 1d8 hit points. The vial then
reclaims the materials. disappears. Once a creature regains hit points
If you lose this satchel, you can create a new from this alchemical formula, the creature cant
one over the course of three days of work (eight do so again until it finishes a long rest. If not
hours each day) by expending 100 gp worth of used, the vial and its contents disappear after 1
leather, glass, and other raw materials. hour. While the vial exists, you cant use this
formula.
Alchemical Formula This formulas healing increases by 1d8 when
At 1st level, you learn three Alchemical Formula you reach certain levels in this class: 3rd level
options: Alchemical Fire, Alchemical Acid, and (2d8), 5th level (3d8), 7th level (4d8), 9th level
one other option of your choice. You learn an (5d8), 11th level (6d8), 13th level (7d8), 15th
additional formula of your choice at 3rd, 9th, level (8d8), 17th level (9d8), and 19th level
14th, and 17th levels. (10d8).
To use any of these options, your Alchemists Smoke Stick. As an action, you can reach into
Satchel must be within reach. your Alchemists Satchel and pull out a stick that
If an Alchemical Formula option requires a produces a thick plume of smoke. You can hold
saving throw, the DC is 8 + your proficiency on to the stick or throw it to a point up to 30 feet
bonus + your Intelligence modifier. away as part of the action used to produce it. The
Alchemical Fire. As an action, you can reach area in a 10-foot radius around the stick is filled
into your Alchemists Satchel, pull out a vial of with thick smoke that blocks vision, including
volatile liquid, and hurl the vial at a creature, darkvision. The stick and smoke persist for 1
object, or surface within 30 feet of you (the vial minute and then disappear. After using this
and its contents disappear if you dont hurl the formula, you cant do so again for 1 minute.
vial by the end of the current turn). On impact, Swift Step Draught. As a bonus action, you can
the vial detonates in a 5-foot radius. Any reach into your Alchemists Satchel and pull out
creature in that area must succeed on a Dexterity a vial filled with a bubbling, brown liquid. As an
saving throw or take 1d6 fire damage. action, a creature can drink it. Doing so increases
This formulas damage increases by 1d6 when the creatures speed by 20 feet for 1 minute, and
you reach certain levels in this class: 4th level the vial disappears. If not used, the vial and its
(2d6), 7th level (3d6), 10th level (4d6), 13th contents disappear after 1 minute. After using
this formula, you cant do so again for 1 minute.

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 Tanglefoot Bag. As an action, you can reach Arcane Magazine
into your Alchemists Satchel and pull out a bag At 1st level, you craft a leather bag used to carry
filled with writhing, sticky black tar and hurl it at your tools and ammunition for your Thunder
a point on the ground within 30 feet of you (the Cannon. Your Arcane Magazine includes the
bag and its contents disappear if you dont hurl powders, lead shot, and other materials needed
the bag by the end of the current turn). The bag to keep that weapon functioning.
bursts on impact and covers the ground in a 5- You can use the Arcane Magazine to produce
foot radius with sticky goo. That area becomes ammunition for your gun. At the end of each long
difficult terrain for 1 minute, and any creature rest, you can magically produce 40 rounds of
that starts its turn on the ground in that area has ammunition with this magazine. After each short
its speed halved for that turn. After using this rest, you can produce 10 rounds.
formula, you cant do so again for 1 minute. If you lose your Arcane Magazine, you can
Thunderstone. As an action, you can reach create a new one as part of a long rest, using 25
into your Alchemists Satchel and pull out a gp of leather and other raw materials.
crystalline shard and hurl it at a creature, object,
or surface within 30 feet of you (the shard
disappears if you dont hurl it by the end of the
Thunder Monger
At 3rd level, you learn to channel thunder energy
current turn). The shard shatters on impact with
into your Thunder Cannon. As an action, you can
a blast of concussive energy. Each creature
make a special attack with your Thunder Cannon
within 10 feet of the point of impact must
that deals an extra 1d6 thunder damage on a hit.
succeed on a Constitution saving throw or be
This extra damage increases by 1d6 when you
knocked prone and pushed 10 feet away from
reach certain levels in this class: 5th level (2d6),
that point.
7th level (3d6), 9th level (4d6), 11th level (5d6),
13th level (6d6), 15th level (7d6), 17th level
Gunsmith (8d6), and 19th level (9d6).
A master of engineering, you forge a firearm
powered by a combination of science and magic.
Blast Wave
Starting at 9th level, you can channel force
energy into your Thunder Cannon. As an action,
Master Smith you can make a special attack with it. Rather
When you choose this specialization at 1st level,
than making an attack roll, you unleash force
you gain proficiency with smiths tools, and you
energy in a 15-foot cone from the gun. Each
learn the mending cantrip.
creature in that area must make a Strength
saving throw with a DC of 8 + your proficiency
Thunder Cannon bonus + your Intelligence modifier. On a failed
At 1st level, you forge a deadly firearm using a saving throw, a target takes 2d6 force damage
combination of arcane magic and your and is pushed 10 feet away from you.
knowledge of engineering and metallurgy. This This damage increases by 1d6 when you reach
firearm is called a Thunder Cannon. It is a certain levels in this class: 13th level (3d6) and
ferocious weapon that fires leaden bullets that 17th level (4d6).
can punch through armor with ease.
You are proficient with the Thunder Cannon. Piercing Round
The firearm is a two-handed ranged weapon that
Starting at 14th level, you can shoot lightning
deals 2d6 piercing damage. Its normal range is
energy through your Thunder Cannon. As an
150 feet, and its maximum range if 500 feet.
action, you can make a special attack with it.
Once fired, it must be reloaded as a bonus action.
Rather than making an attack roll, you cause the
If you lose your Thunder Cannon, you can
gun to unleash a bolt of lightning, 5-feet wide
create a new one over the course of three days of
and 30-feet long. Each creature in that area must
work (eight hours each day) by expending 100
make Dexterity saving throws with a DC of 8 +
gp worth of metal and other raw materials.
your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence
modifier. On a failed saving throw, a target takes

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4d6 lightning damage. This damage increases to 3rd Level
4d6 when you reach 19th level in this class. blink
fly
Explosive Round gaseous form
Starting at 17th level, you can channel fiery glyph of warding
energy into your Thunder Cannon. As an action, haste
you can make a special attack with it. Rather protection from energy
revivify
than making an attack roll, you launch an
water breathing
explosive round from the gun. The round
water walk
detonates in a 30-foot radius sphere at a point
within range. Each creature in that area must
make a Dexterity saving throw with a DC of 8 +
4th Level
arcane eye
your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence
death ward
modifier. On a failed saving throw, a target takes fabricate
4d8 fire damage. freedom of movement
Leomunds secret chest
Artificer Spell List Mordenkainens faithful hound
Mordenkainens private sanctum
1st Level Otilukes resilient sphere
alarm stone shape
cure wounds stoneskin
disguise self
expeditious retreat
false life
jump
longstrider
sanctuary
shield of faith

2nd Level
aid
alter self
arcane lock
blur
continual flame
darkvision
enhance ability
enlarge/reduce
invisibility
lesser restoration
levitate
magic weapon
protection from poison
rope trick
see invisibility
spider climb

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