Dungeons & Dragons is set to revamp the often-overlooked Artificer class, which has not received significant attention in recent updates. Earlier this year, Wizards of the Coast launched a new Player’s Handbook that provided substantial revisions for character creation and gameplay dynamics. Although this update is not a new edition of D&D, it featured comprehensive enhancements across all twelve core character classes. Each received modifications aimed at improving versatility and resource accessibility, except for the Artificer.
The Artificer, introduced to 5E in the Wayfinder’s Guide to Eberron and later refined in Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, missed the opportunity for an update within the new Player’s Handbook. However, the design team has promised that an update for the Artificer is on the horizon. In anticipation of this, Wizards of the Coast released a new Unearthed Arcana playtest that includes a set of revised rules specifically for this class.
The adjustments made within this playtest are primarily minor, focusing on refining spell lists and abilities to ensure alignment with the other classes set to debut in 2024. Each of the four Artificer subclasses has also been updated to enhance their unique capabilities.
Updates to the Artificer Class Under D&D 2024
Enhancements for Enhanced Versatility
Unlike other classes, such as the Ranger and Monk, the Artificer has not undergone a comprehensive overhaul of its fundamental mechanics. The most significant updates pertain to the class’s Magical Tinkering and Infuse Item abilities. The Magical Tinkering ability has been modified to facilitate the rapid creation of low-cost items. Meanwhile, Infuse Item has been reimagined as Replicate Magic Item, enabling players to forge certain types of magical items. At higher levels, players can even convert these replicated items back into spell slots when needed. Additionally, the capstone ability, Soul of Artifice, has received an upgrade, no longer requiring a reaction for its death-defying “cheat death”feature.
Evaluating the Artificer: A Class with Untapped Potential
Subclass Differentiation: A Need for Expansion
Despite these improvements, the Artificer continues to grapple with a fundamental issue: it strives to encompass a variety of archetypes without fully excelling in any single category. Certain subclasses, such as the Battle Smith and the Armorer, synergize effectively with the core Artificer concept. However, the Artillerist and Alchemist subclasses could benefit significantly from additional subclass abilities to better carve out their niche. It remains to be seen how the Artificer’s role will evolve within the larger framework of Dungeons & Dragons, particularly considering the unclear representation of this class in the upcoming 2025 publication plans.
Source: D&D Beyond, YouTube/Dungeons & Dragons
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