The 2024 Dungeon Master’s guide brings a ton of content to fifth edition D&D.
We list some of the biggest and best changes to come out of the book.
Ability Score
Benefits
Priority
Intelligence
Intelligence is your top priority for any artificer.
Your spellcasting relies on it, along with your class features.
Constitution
Constitution is the thin fleshly linebetween triumphantly surviving a deadly blow and exploding into a red mist.
Dexterity
Dexterity helps you survive long enough to use the Intelligence artificers are so proud of.
Whether it’sdodging arrows or diving out of explosions, dexterity has your back.
Withmedium armor, you’ll want to aim for 14 points of Dexterity.
Certain subclasses and multiclassesare able to use heavyarmor.
The gnome artificer Vi via Wizards of the Coast
In that case, Dexterity is a lower prioritysince it won’t impact your AC.
It will never hurt to have if you gotta evade a grapple or an explosion, however.
In aggregateCharisma is a low priorityunless your GM has a track record of throwing out banishment spells.
The gnome artificer Vi via Wizards of the Coast
Your eldritch cannon caneither provide area damage or area protection.
If one is destroyed, it’s possible for you to resummon with a single spell slot.
Artillerist is one of theeasiest artificer subclasses to flavor as being completely non-magical.
Spells such as shatter and catapult can beflavored as using a firearmto fire scattershot or heavy slugs, respectively.
Best Team Player: Alchemist
Alchemists gain strong utility and better healing from theirExperimental Elixirs feature.
An elixir of boldness affects a third as many people as the first-level spell Bless butcannot be interrupted.
Bane’s Contingency by Hector Ortiz
The drawback of the Alchemist isthey rely the most on their teamin combat.
Take care to not be caught alone or separated from your group.
A fun way of playing an Armorer artificer is to add as many adjectives to your fist as possible.
Armorers by Brian Valeza
In asetting that contains plentiful magic items,a Battle Smith has much higher potential.
Learn how to build an Echo Knight in D&D, and summon yourself to fight alongside you.
Best Species For An Armorer
Goblin’sNimble Escape lets them disengage from combat as a bonus action.
Gnome is a powerful, if unconventional option here: YourGnomish Cunning gives advantage on saving throws against magic.
Beast masters work alongside an animal companion to become fearsome fighters.
Here’s how to build one in DnD.
Ingenious Artillerist by Gaboleps
The overlapping utility of the two classes can also limit how much they can gain from each other.
Despite that,artificer allows for some flavorful and powerful multiclassing options.
The Bladesong rewards you by adding your intelligence to your AC.
Wizard alsogives you access to the shield spell,a notable absence from the armorer’s class list.
Paladin delays the martial bonuses butgrants additional spellcasting levels and healing.
Best Backgrounds For An Artificer
Backgrounds in Fifth Edition are very malleable.
Halfling Battle Smith by Zoltan Boros
House Agent
The high intelligence of artificers makes themfun to play as investigative characters.
House Agent has useful narrative hooksspecific to the Eberron setting, where artificers are most prolific.
You’ll need tonegotiate with your GM as to what this discovery wasand how it impacts the character.
Let’s make an outstanding Bard, shall we?
That said,some new starting options warrant discussingif you plan to play an artificer under the 2024 rules.
Easilythe best of the backgrounds in the 2024 Player’s Handbook is the sage.
Inspired Tinkering by Craig J Spearing
Species
It’s hard not to recommend human as the best speciesto play an artificer.
Rock gnome is, perhaps unsurprisingly,another ideal choice for artificers.
Mending is an essential cantrip for most artificers, and Gnomish Cunning makes you surprisingly tough in mage battles.
Intelligence is your most important ability score, followed by Constitution, and then Dexterity.
Use the suggested scores above to give yourself an ideal start.
Stretch your Dungeons & Dragons character further with a bonus action.
Goggles of Night art by Forrest Imel
