TONY STARK MADE THIS CLASS IN A CAVE! WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!

Gnome Don Quixote mounted on his mechanical steed, Rocinante, followed by his faithful homunculus, Sancho Panza.

I made an artillerist that was a doll-maker. The 'cannons' were life-sized dolls carrying siege weapons :P All her spells were smaller dolls she'd built doing things, like healing was her throwing a little doll nurse at you that would scuttle up your body and sew your wounds shut. She also had a habit of trying to sew up and stuff the corpses of defeated enemies and sit them together in little tea-parties. She also had a sort of look like the girl from the ring, but in pretty dresses. I kinda disturbed my playgroup by letting my hair fall across my face and adopting her mannerisms when playing her, including toying with some kind of stand in for a doll randomly :3 First time I've played a low-charisma character but very, very fun XD

I love the fact that most of the abilities say "you can specify what this looks like" so even new players instantly get the fact that you have the creative freedom. Somebody might want a dog partner and somebody else wants a spider, and they can get it! I hope we could see this class at some point in your stream adventures!

Forgot to mention how, depending on the setting and the decision of the DM, the Artificer can have firearm proficiency at 1st level.

Eldritch cannon is like a free bonus action cantrip every round. Also, force damage is amazing.

A friend of mine has a fun idea for an Artificer/Outsider Warlock. "Why would you build that?!" "I don't know! BUT I MUST! "

Warforged Artificer. His spell casting is built into his body as electricity like things.

Guys, take a good look at the 2 Smite spells that the Battlesmith gets. They're the 2 Smite spells that are *NOT* limited to melee weapon hits. They can be used at *range*. Which is pretty sweet.

Play an alchemist, prepare all healing spells, make a homunculus that looks like dove, name it Archimedes and you have yourself TF2 Medic. Play an artillerist and you basically have Engi.

Every time I’ve played an artificer, I’ve just made up my own magic items to build and asked the dm to allow it. I made a great hammer, with a circular infusion slot, and I wore a bandolier with several metal balls on it that have been infused with different elemental attacks that I can load in to my hammer to add to my attacks. So if you’re a plant monster, I’m gonna slot in a fire attack. To enjoy the artificer I think you’ve gotta deviate from the limitations to what kind of infusions you can make. As long as you’re only making one magic item per level, and doing your infusing during long rests, a dm should be fine with whatever you come up with.

I think the 3 subclasses play vastly different (alchemist is like a cleric, artillerist is like a Warlock, and battle Smith is like a paladin) the difference is it doesn't quite keep up with what those classes are really good at (healing/buffing, ranged spell attacking, and single target DPS respectively) but offsets that with more versatility especially outside of combat.

I just want everyone to know that conjuring a blaster into your hand means you can be Hol Horse.

The Artificer is designed to spark creativity, and as long as the changes are mere window dressing, DMs need to be very flexible in dealing with player visualizations. Minor example: A gnomish fey-flavored Battle Smith who has a silver defender (because fey hate iron). A really wild example: A halfling Artillerist whose abilities all come from cook's tools and normal food ingredients - don't let this one near your bakery if you value your town. Biscuit grenades and pie landmines, anyone? Just base damage potential on the eldritch cannon ability to keep damage-dealing potential in line with the class capabilities.

Made a Battle Smith that made his Steel Defender in the likeness of his brother who died in The Last War. Cue Fullmetal Alchemist Reference

I once made a Gnome Artificer, Alchemist archetype, he looked like a plague doctor and his homunculus is a white rat with clockwork augmentations (like dragonfly wings and a stinger for tail)

The Artificer in our party had a nice time melting faces with his Eldritch cannon, and in that same battle, he kept the enemy literally stumbling the whole time with a grease spell, I dig it!

I'm interested in making a warforged alchemist, who is basically a walking crucible, mixing up alchemical ingredients and elements within his own body and then churning out potions and elixers.

Part of the balance for this class is it’s “free” Magic items in the form of infusions. Starting at 2nd level you get 2 and it grows to 6... in the mid to high levels this does not mean much in home games but in AL play with the new gimped treasure point system that can be huge, especially in tier 2-3 play. As for character concepts, I can not get out of my head a rock gnome battle smith wielding a lance or a wheellock pistol(with the repeating shot infusion) while riding his steel defender.

I am currently playing a Battlesmith Aritificer in Waterdeep. He is level 3 and has the repeating shot infusion on a hand crossbow in one hand, and a kite shield that has pockets on the inside where he keeps his inventions "spells" for easy access and of course being human needs goggles of night. He is a full on steam punk inventor with his steel defender being a top half/humanoid robot that uses a bubble shield for his reaction, and his legs are 2 tank treads. I used the new Human Variant option which comes with mending, floating disk, and identify built in to the race. He uses the floating disk underneath his cart (that stores all of his workbench supplies) to follow him around places. It's the most creative and liberating class ive played so far. Highly recommend.

Hey look buddy, I'm an engineer. That means I solve problems, not problems like "What is beauty?" Because that would fall within the purview of your conundrums of philosophy. I solve practical problems, for instance: how am I going to stop some mean mother Hubbard from tearing me a structurally superfluous be-hind? The answer, use a gun, and if that don't work... Use more gun. Take for instance this heavy caliber tripod mounted lil' old number designed by me, built by me, and you best hope... Not pointed at you.

ESPECIALLY THE WIZARD

I've made an artificer for our Descent campaign. So far it's been a blast. Having Faerie Fire and the crossbow infusion has worked great at level 2.

I’m my group’s DM but boy oh boy have I been dreaming about playing a gunslinger/artillerist. Someday.

Just started a new campaign playing a Half-Elf Artificer. Really excited to play him. He made his entrance by using Longstrider as roller skates.

I'm currently playing as a Human Artificer Alchemist with a homebrew background called Physician my DM let me use, also took the Healer feat. To most I am a generic potion slinging Alchemist but to my party I am known as "The Doctor"

wanna play rocket raccoon or a mandalorian? artillerist artificer.

One thing people underestimate about the Eldridge Cannon is that you can make two tiny versions of the cannon that can fire on its own which can climb... you. They can be two extra self-aiming arms attached to your backpack.

I'm still early, but I've been playing a Warforged Artillerist Artificer. Been really liking it. Have an AC of 21 and put repeating shot on my light crossbow. It's been working really well.

Didn't talk about Spell Storing Item or the ability to craft magic items at half the cost and in a quarter of the time.

To be fair, it’s meant to be used in Eberron, a high magic setting with lots of magic items.

A Rogue Artificer combo. The best locksmith and the greatest trouble maker.

With Expertise in Thieve’s Tools, healing ability, utility spells, proficiency with armor, and firepower in various forms this class could solo a dungeon!

This seems like the perfect class for a player Hobgoblin extra con and int with 2 martial weapons

No, love for the arcane infusion: replicate magic item (prosthetics)? You can make an "automail" arm and use it as an Arcane Focus as well as a regular hand?

I'm going to be playing an Artificer soon and I really like the way that this class works. I agree that the inherent powers of the Artificer are weaker than other classes, but that's ignoring that the other half of it's abilities are the magic items you make. When you pick infusions, choose half of them as pure power items and the rest as situationally useful ones and with a day's planning you can solve almost any problem. With the high Intelligence for Investigation and Expertise in Thieves' Tools you can also make a decent rogue substitute. My build is going to include one level of Forge Cleric early on (fits the theme, adds a magic item that you'd otherwise want to use an infusion for and fixes the cantrip shortage) and then the rest would be Artificer. Early on you can use the Alchemy Jug to create acid bombs, Alchemist kit to create Alchemist's fire and Ceremony (from the Cleric) to create holy water and then throw them around (maybe even using the Catapult spell on them to add to the mayhem). By 11th level my 8 strength gnome can use Gauntlets of Ogre Power, +1 Plate (from the Forge Cleric), a +2 Shield and a Cloak of Protection to create a walking fortress with AC24 (plus the Shield spell), or swap out some of them for a variety of useful items or buffs for your party. And that's ignoring any items picked up during adventuring. Just don't stand in front of a Beholder. The most versatile ability is the spell storing item. This can be infused with a spell to fit almost any eventuality and can be used 8 (probably 10) times a day. Create a rod that will allow each party member to cast Invisibility/Enhance Ability/See Invisibility or Spider Climb on themselves twice a day each. Give the fighter's sword the ability to use Scorching Ray/Acid Arrow/Branding Smite (depending on the specialisation), Blur or Heat Metal. Have the Wizard's familiar carry a wand with Shatter in it to bombard the area from a distance (it's not an attack, they're just using an item). Really useful. So yes, looking forward to playing this. There'll be a risk of "I have a plan, but we'll need to come back tomorrow" but no worse than most episodes of the A-Team. In fact, if you think of the A-Team as a group of four Artificers then some of those epsodes make more sense...

While this class is a half-caster you guys forgot one very important point. Paladins and rangers get to add half their level rounded down when determining slots and caster level. Artificers round up! This is huge because it allows the artificer to multiclass with a full caster without losing spell progression. For example, a character that’s Artificer 5/Wizard 15 would be an 18th level caster. Which means you would still get a 9th level spell slot. You won’t know any 9th level spells, but you can upcast something using that slot.

My battle smith, "Fuiil Starbattle," has a heavy crossbow infused with repeating shot (blaster). He also has a gonk droid as his steel defender.

Been waiting for you guys to cover this! With the changes in the new Eberron book I’ve had to rethink some ideas for an Artificer I was making for a new upcoming campaign (originally going to be more a back row caster through inventions, the half casty-ness and armor and weapon infusions are leaning me more towards a more melee fight with tricks up their sleeves). Super excited to hear your guy’s insights.

I’m currently playing a Dragonmarked Human, Mark of Making, Battle Smith Artificer. It really feels like this race and class were meant to go together. The race gets mending, more tool proficiencies, gets to add 1d4 to any artisan tool check, gets to cast Magic Weapon once a day which doesn’t require concentration(!), AND gets a table of spells they can add to their spell list. Whoa!!! My only bummer right now is I can only infuse two items and won’t be able to do another until level 6. In that regard I agree with Monty here, the progression feels sloooooow. Why not grant me a third infusion at level 4 or 5? Considering the level 1 feature, Magical Tinkering, is so situational and weak. It doesn’t even feel like a real class feature. Just like you guys said, a Prestidigitation cantrip knockoff. I’m still enjoying my play through with her, but most of that is because of my DM. He’s the best! He has let me use a variant on crafting rules so I can make stuff quicker, he let us all create our own custom item to start the game with (mine is a portable forge for crafting on the go), and he’s even come up with homebrew rules about Tinkers Tools that I can basically create my own custom weapons and items. He has to have final approval, but it’s definitely given me flexibility and allowed me to be pretty creative so far!

Here we are, a lot of geeks spending our few charisma points giving likes to geek like us... Thanks for the video!

I'm so looking forward to playing this class!

I've recently started playing D&D with some brothers and friends. I really enjoy these videos and am excited to see more! Thank you for very helpful videos.

I have 2 Artificers. The first one has tinkered their Guild Badge into serving as a nametag as well. The second one has a necklace that sheds light like a candle for those dark times where they want to sketch with color but not really bother others with a large amound of light. And an earring that emits a pleasant smell around them to put others nearby more at ease with their presence. It's all flavor and doesn't really do anything mechanically... But I love it all the same.

Davvy Chappy: "ESPECIALLY THE WIZARD." ... Huh, well, that happened. Also, might play the Artificer if my DM ever expands from PHB... if I beat you two to it, I'll let you know how it went.

I'm gonna make Jimmy Neutron as a gnome battle smith

Finally! Been waiting for an Artificer guide from you guys. Always looking forward to your videos Dungeon Dudes! You are amazing 🤩

One of my players in a game I just started recently is rolling Artificer. He's gone Artillerist but is playing strong support instead of whole hog offense by using his temp hp turret. He was able to keep the monk from taking a couple failed death saves while a leech was attached to his unconscious body (The Wretched, they're on the Shadowfell-ish area atm) because while he was at 0 actual hp, he got the temp hp from the defender turret and since the life drain from the wretched wasn't an actual 'attack' it didn't auto-crit. It dealt less damage than the temp hp, so it didn't accrue any death saves. He's been doing good so far at being the team mom and battle coordinator.

Hey Monty, instead of judging them by their spell list, try looking deeper into the synergies between the infusions, spells and the companions. Also, you forgot to mention Spell Storing Item, by far their best ability, and probably the best 11th level feature in the game.

I'll be starting a new campaign as an Artificer this weekend. Can't wait to try it out (and in a few levels get that robot dino I've always wanted). In some ways I don't mind if it's a bit weak compared to other classes. Thematically it's an idea I've always loved.

I'm playing a Rogue/Artificer Tiefling in my campaign and this helped alot with class building ideas! Thanks guys!

I've been playing my Battle Smith since the UA dropped. So far I'm having a blast and love most of the changes.

6:39 note that Artificer is not part of the Magic Initiate feat and according to Jeremy Crawford it is intended to stay that way.

I want to create a Warforged Alchemist Artificer who samples everything (poisons, diseases, deceased opponents, allies, etc.) seeking a cure for the suffering of organic life. 😊

Sweet! I've been waiting for this, I had a feeling you guys would do this one next. This will be good! Haven't had the chance to check out the Ebberon book yet unfortunately, but the artificer really speaks to me

I pretty much have knowledge on most of the topics you guys talk about but you have a very beautiful way of articulating and explaining concepts to others so i like hearing your takes on the various classes and archetypes. I would have loved to play in the same table as you guys.

Warforged Artificer Armor is awesome. Heavy armor proficiency without STR requirement, can't be removed, and becomes arcane armor capable of bearing enchantments. Want to negate the stealth disadvantage of heavy armor? Go Infiltrator configuration! Want a tanky taunter? Turn on those Thunder Gauntlets and punch everything!

In a session once, a giant boar was destroying a piece of farmland, looking for truffles. I, a 2nd level artificer, decided to infuse a rock with a strong smell of truffles and used a catapult spell to fly close over the boar into the forest behind it. And that is how I saved a village from starvation XD

I'm a completely new player, I'm going to take a gamble and play this class for my first campaign. Your videos are very helpful!

Thanks guys, tremendously helped me out doing a character sheet for my son. We've made it a point to watch your videos every time we get stumped.

I think the spell storing item, and the infusion bonus's easily balance out the loss of higher tier spell slots. Especially compared to other half caster classes such as Paladin/Ranger/Trickster/EK, I think Artificer stands out above them by a fair margin. Additionally in the case of Paladin and Ranger they don't get access to ANY cantrips, which the Artificer does.

This is the Class i have wanted in D&D for a LONG time! I love inventor characters, and having this really sells it while stayjng true to the systems. Also, it a playground for flavor text, which i love. Now if only Wizards would give us guns. Yes, i know about the back of the DM guide, but that doesn't count. Let us use a flintlock pistol damn it!

Multiclass a Battle Smith, with 1 level of rogue. You have constant sneak attack and disadvantage on attacks on you as long as the Defender is by your side. Plus an added skill prof to boot

One of my players built an artificer. I cannot remember exactly how he did. But he rocked hand croosbows, hasted a lot, and put stuff down like it was no ones business. His steel defender was always omnipresent helping either himself or his party avoid issues. Once I even let him use it as partial cover for a longe range engagement across a chasim. However it got downed fairly quickly. But it was a fun mechanic he employed to give the rest of the party cover as they tiptoed along a ledge. To get to the next area.

I've been playing a artificer for my most recent campaigne and I love it! My DM is being ultra-kind and allowing me to full fill my desire to be Ironman, so he is letting me play the Armorer subclass from UA and so far I've turned out to be the groups main tank. I feel like the armorer is a subclass they should have included in the ERftLW book.

Consider the Following: 6 levels in a half caster class multiclassed with 14 levels in wizard makes a 17th level spellcaster with 1 ninth level spellslot, and because you’re a wizard, you now have the capability to cast every wizard spell in the game if you can find the scrolls. I personally enjoy mixing ranger and wizard in this way for a fairly potent battle mage build. Subclasses just lend to flavor.

With the recent tasha's cauldron book, I think a special mention of the level 11 feature "spell-storing item" should be noted as being extremely broken considering it gives the power to give another creature (like a familiar if you can see the problem) an item that can cast one 1st or 2nd level artificer spell a max of 10 times per day (2xINT MOD) which you probably will have by lvl 11 if you sink your points in that. To add to that, 2 subclasses get shatter (3d8 thunder damage) which is average 170 damage w/o saves and 85 with, cure wounds (1d8+ability mod.+1d8 up-cast) can do 180 healing average, heat metal isn't worth calculating since it can kill most things and cripple bosses in a single use when used on armor. All this, and you don't even need to use a spell slot...

I played an artificer alchemist through the unearthed beta class and had a lot of fun playing him. My dungeon master and I worked out some homebrew rules that allowed me to modify my mechanical servant with improvised weapons and additional armor (adamant plated bear with a mounted repeating heavy crossbow). He was also frequently cooking up healing potions and other elixirs that we sold the extra of what we didn’t use. I’m looking forward to trying out this official version to see how it plays out.

Rise of the Tinker Gnomes! Seriously, I do see both sides with this class being very front loaded with toys but possibly running on fumes at the 19th level. I think the strength of this is similar to taking the flexibility of a Rogues and Wizards and adding a pinch of any given aspect of Batman. If the DM is into it and is willing to deal with way more magic items in his world, all the classes work. But they also work best in larger groups and with that puzzle solving mentality. If any of these things are missing just feels like things will get less and less fun.

Personally, I think that the interaction the Artificer has with magic items trough the infusions and his other features compensates for his "lack" of higher lvl spells. It felt weird that you focussed so hard on it, even if it is your personal opinion seeing as you don't focus on it for the Paladin or Ranger. The artificer is able to consistently buff multiple members of the party without using concentration. That is worth quite a bit. Or you could focus all your buffs on yourself and be quite the beast. The wizard might gain more spells, but in no way is he going to provide his fighter friend with +2 armour without a real limit or is he going to allow the Barbarian to cast Enlarge on himself about 8 times a day... This character invites people to be creative and has a high degree of customization not unlike the Warlock.

Many of my players have always engaged in amateur Artificery and Alchemy, making the creation, discovery, and combination of blueprints and recipes a constant source of creative agency. I love encouraging and building from their interests, making my worlds so much richer and varied than I could ever develop on my own. I also enjoy the challenge of balancing their sometimes wild concepts into the logistical and mechanical limits of our ruleset. We all started out in AD&D and have since borrowed and spliced in bits of countless other games and editions. To me, the real Magic of RPGs is the unlimited range of possibilities and expression. You Dungeon Dudes are a great inspiration! All the best to each and every member of this wonderful community of dreamers!

Yes!!! I've been imagining and drafting up versions of alchemists for quite a while! I'm excited to take a deeper look at this option. :)

I was thinking that if I made an artificer, I'd want to make an dwarf artilerist based on Torbjorn, but then they said that the Battlesmith's iron defender was most often pictured on a dog. I immediately though of Rush, from Mega Man and began to contemplate using a crossbow. Immediately after I thought of that, they said the smith's abilities work with ranged weapons. I know what I'm making now: a warforged artificer named Rock and his robodog, Rush.

I kinda want to build a character inspired by one of my favorite ways to play skyrim, as a smithing/enchantment specialist. As a battle smith this could be very plausible!

Actually there are some interesting ideas for small races that are Battle Smiths. For example, you can use the Steel Defender as a mount. Or, you could specify that it’s hollow and that you can climb inside it...like a mech or a battle suit.

Excellent video guys!

Guys, I miss the sound of the sword cutting the center of the video! Why did you remove it?? It was cool! Like an audio signal that the video has really started and the introduction is over.

Of note Artiliris'ts Turrets Temp HP NEVER increases. "The cannon’s damage rolls all increase by 1d8." damage only. So the balsista or flamer. The TEMP HP is basically always locked at d8+INT. Great at low, later on I can't feel like I like it'll work well later on. Except as "wake up give everyone temp hp during breakfast, break the turret, and use a spell slot to summon damage later on" but at low levels I've basically prevented the need for any healing for sevearl combat moments. Sure maybe if I'd used the damage they'd have died faster.. but we still didn't expend much resources in exchange. I would have to agree. they absolutely need 2 or 3 more cantrips.. They basically have to have some utility cantrips as a class, as a theme, and mechanically.. but 2/3rds of the sublcasses must use cantrips purely for their combat options. So its so awkward. Alchemists need magic initiate for attack options (probably Wiz for toll dead/anti heal spell attack one, ) Artificers want them for utility cantrips. Battle smith.. I feel is fine because they can actually use weapons

Fairly new to DnD, currently playing my second campaign with my friends who have played it much longer. And stubborn me wanted to make a Kenku Artificer. First play session went really well. Used acid splash for most of my attacks and mending to top off my party’s HP, and everyone really liked the mix of my character being a chaotic healer who cutely mimicked their words from the campaign. I kept a word doc opened as we went so I could take down quotes from my party and the NPCs and use em as I needed. Can’t attest much to the rest of the campaign yet, but I’ve had a blast playing this game as an adult. Regret not getting into it as a kid because it’s for nerds and I stubbornly refused to accept I was also a nerd. But this has been more fun than I’ve had in a good while.

Dnd Dudes thank you for the Artificer review, very informative and insightful.

Artificer + 1 level of warlock ( min) pact of the Tome would be a good wya to get around the cantrips.

Currently playing one! I started out with the unearthed arcana and the next session I'm switching over to the official one. We're also lvl 3 now, so my gnome can finally ride his Metal Bear mount. I think this is a good idea for every caster, but with artificer in particular: What does your spell look like? For every spell that I will likely pick I have a contraption in my mind that makes the effect happen. I also make a liquid every night in vials that I add to my machines to fuel them or as the last component of an alchemical substance (So I have physical spell slots, that I can put in my items). I do agree that the 1/2 caster is a bummer, I would have loved to see the Warlock mechanic for the artificer, I think that would fit a lot better (an hour should be plenty of time to tinker with your contraptions). Also, the fact that they have so few spell slots makes the artificer a pretty pathetic healer, even the alchemist (the worst one in the game after the ranger, even the paladin is better at it). Luckily it's very fitting for the Artificer to get a lot of magic items, so it's relatively easy to balance it out (but it still sucks that you basically as a DM have to give your artificer twice the amount of magic items or let them make them themselves). I've had an idea with my DM for a schematic of a pistol (the DMG item), which with Int based attacks (battle smith) and the rapid shot infusion (which allows it to be used with a shield, since you don't need your other hand to reload!) makes it pretty cool. Even the idea to upgrade it with more schematics (which gives a non-magical weapon non-magical enhancements that are practically magic items, but are technically not, so you can still infuse them, although they are specific and designed to be used with the infusion (since they are homebrewed), so it's more balanced than just any magic item). To bad though that, even now it is official content I feel that they need homebrewing (well, the gun itself isn't homebrew) to actually be fun (or at least balanced). Particularly in the mid lvls they are rather lackluster, with meh spell slots, meh infusions, and class abilities that compete with your spells for the super few (and low level) spell slots you have. Also, some spells that certainly should have been on the list aren't, where is chromatic orb? Guiding bolt? Magic Missile? Mage Armour? Sleep? that's just 1st level. I'm quite against the restrictive spell selection in the first place that 5e has (If I want to play a wizard healer, why not?) but these are like in the top 10 spells I want to see in the artificer spell list. Mage armour might not be for every artificer since you get armour anyway, but chromatic orb and sleep are super thematic. Also, I'm quite sad they removed the arcane weapon spell, it made the artificer a lot stronger. At least give them hunter's mark instead (which they didn't get either). I still like the artificer, because the flavour is exactly what I always missed in D&D (I think D&D is best in a high fantasy-tech world, never quite understood the vast riches of the players in this desolate world that somehow still has a money-based economy (and can actually give the players their stuff, if most people earn a silver a day how are there even things that cost 50 gp, and pretty standard things at that, that's almost a 2 year salary!), a lot of casters with crazy power that seems to be almost exclusively used for martial prowess (almost no practical magic that people would actually use to make their lives better) and a cleric in almost every farmer town, even though the cleric could just make the food...) That's why I love Eberron, and this class is a great addition for it. In Eberron most magic IS practical and magic items are common and do specific simple things that people would want; magic as technology.

I'm having a great time with my Artificer, over the span of two weeks, I've hit level 3. Used replicate magic item to save a woman after her leg was cursed and had to be amputated. Used Mending to repair a magical vehicle, though I didn't have any spell slots left to recharge it. I made a Grappling hook to help everyone cross rooftops to avoid swarms of lesser enemies that would crush us with sheer numbers. I turned myself into Thor by infusing my Throwing Hammer with the Returning Weapon. My armour has now increased my movement speed to 30 (I am a Dwarf) and has no weight restriction for me as the subclass my DM allowed makes the weight negligible. I have used Acid Splash to alter terrain to cover our retreats or to deal direct damage with surprisingly consistent result. All of this in a reduced point buy (18 instead of 27) campaign that has me as an Off-Tank with 27 HP (Magic doesn't really exist, it's a survival/horror campaign so most effects are created by nanites and psionic abilities a flavour thing) Overall, the restrictions are like a pair of overly tight pants, some people will find them really comfortable and others will find it way too restrictive.

i've been using using the UA artificer on dnd beyond is fun because if your dm is generous enough to give you books on magic items in a roleplay aspect (not immediately knowing the infusion as you level up) it can also help identify new magic items that they give you. it's also helped slow down the pace of the game a bit and made the other players look in the PHB for downtime rules while i've been the one making things like saddles or weapons and needed a few days.

Battlesmith Artificer permanently attached and attuned to the Steel Defender, shaping it to look like tentacles? Why hello, Doctor Octopus!

I'm personally ecstatic that it doesn't get 9th level spells. I feel like over the course of DnD, 9th level casting has just become common to the point that it is no longer special. In old DnD it was the purview of the Wizard and the Wizard alone - not even clerics had it. Then, as classes which previously didn't have access to it gained it (clerics/druids, then bards/warlocks), we now have over HALF of the classes in the game able to cast 9th level spells. I'd personally have loved if they did 3/4ths casting (up to 7th level) and used that to further differentiate the classes, instead of just pulling everyone up to 9th and having people consider classes without 9th level spells to be un-viable.

I love my artificer, I started building him back when it was still is UA but even after the full release it's a fun class. Regardless of the subclass they can become a fill it for almost any role needed, the toll proficiencies make them one of the best toll monkies since the rogue but also with their D8 hit die and their armour proficiencies they aren't as squishy as a rogue. Like with a ranger if you take battle Smith you have to worry about your steel defender but without mending it has the ability to heal itself and with working with you DM you can work towards a long term goal of upgrading your defender,cannon or even your potions. While yes it doesn't get high their spells later, which albet does suck, their infusions help to counter that. The biggest ones that stuck out to me is the prosthetic limbs they can make, and the special lungs as well, which work in vaccums and even under water or some other dangerous environment. No matter what subclass you pick I feel that the artificer is a solid choice and with a creative mind can be a welcomed edition of the o any campaign. Besides the small spell pool the only complaint I have is that after UA is that they lost their shortcut on crafting based on their subclass, but given how 5E is built it makes sense.

Love to see this subject revisited later to discuss it's impact and optional house rules to bring it into line with other classes.

If you ever played Dungeons and Dragons Online (DDO), this is one of my favorites. I am disappointed that only one of the three subclasses gets multiple attacks, but I think I can work with that. I want to make a Tabaxi Artificer whose purpose in life is to make the best mixed drinks.

Conceptually, artificer is my favorite class in fantasy settings, those who make that which must not be made! I did a few playtests of the various iterations of the 5e one along the way, and I am reasonably pleased with the final version. I do feel that some aspects were lost between the intents of the older versions and the one we got in RFtLW. Mainly, the exceedingly limited cantrips being a holdover from when they could make cantrip wands. I also am saddened the Archivist subclass didn't make the jump to print, but I hope they are retooling it. I had such plans for that as a character concept...

Currently playing a gnome battle smith who rides his steel defender. He has been really good in combat and combat support. I’ve been doing the paladin/warlock in damage so far. Only our barbarian has been putting down more hurt in melee.

I've been playing a Deep Gnome Artillerist lvl5 (plus very recently took 1lvl as Cleric of Knowledge Domain) for the past 4 months. I started with the UA class description and now transitioned to the Eberron: RftlW official class. The class lends itself to extremely creative role-play and is very versatile. I started as 4th level and took the Magic Initiate: Warlock feat since my HP and Ability Score rolls were decent. The extra cantrips and spells from the feat are super useful because otherwise the spellcasting can feel somewhat limited. HOWEVER, the infusions reeaally can make up for it, especially since my DM runs a pretty sandboxy game and we worked together to understand the potential of the class (and my take on it specifically). This means I got to craft some cool (permanent) magic items by investing downtime and some serious tool-based skillchecks such as a repeating-shot +1 pistol. My decision to multiclass at 6th lvl is mostly story-related but does allow some useful bits, such as the heavy armor proficiency and access to buff and protective spells and features that complement the artificer's versatility very well. I do agree that the class might be a little under-prepared for high-level play, and I guess I'll find out if it happens as I keep leveling up, but I'm actually pretty sure that multiclassing will take care of that issue. The way I see the Artificer, it's not about getting really powerful in one way or combat/spellcasting style but rather gaining practical knowledge from as many different areas as possible, to combine them in ingenious ways and get power (and mechanical buffs) from these creative combos. So even though multiclassing and feats can go a long way here, they only are so useful because the class is designed to allow for this.

Artillerist could be used to build Zane from Borderlands 3. Funny enough, he relies on having equipment to make up for his abilities, too.

It's my dream to make a vedalken artificer but I'm still learning this game lol

The steel defender is medium sized, so it could be used as a mount if you are a small race, like the obvious choice of gnome. This mean's the defender's ability that triggers when an ally within 10 feet of it is attacked always hits your attackers because you're riding it.

I just played my artificer for the first time tonight and loved it!

Excellent video. I couldn't disagree more about the Artificer's spell casting being limited. Spell-storing item along with all their other features make them uniquely versatile 2/3 casters at least and that's not even factoring in their abilities to make permanent magic items and use scrolls of any level or list, even up to 9th level ones potentially.

One of the most broken combos, if your dm will allow it, is to take artificer to level 2 then go gunfighter. It can be difficult given the diverse score layout, but its worth it if you can do it. Artificer level 2 gives you repeating shot. This lets you not only ignore the reload mechanic, but also produces its own ammo if none is loaded into your weapon. Gunfighter obvious lets you use guns, notably Bad News. Infuse Bad News with Repeating Shot and suddenly you are a HUGE monster to deal with. This really starts to shine at level 13. You will have 3 attacks per turn and a bad news that you dont have to reload. Thats a total of 2d12 x 3 = 6d12 damage EVERY SINGLE TURN. Then, you can action surge for a very bursty turn of 12d12 damage. Add the sharpshooter feat and you can make those attacks at 800 WITHOUT disadvantage. Its an absolutely insane combo that a player can do all by themselves. Granted, its only 2 levels artificer, so it would be a fighter build for sure and is only possible if your dm allows gunslingers, but the combo allows for an insane amount of damage at such low levels

Thanks guys for putting out such great content! Bummed to be missing PAX Unplugged this weekend, but planning on launching my own D&D channel soon! Keep rockin!!

I love the Artificer SO much. The Battle Smith is my new favorite subclass.