D&D Releases Playtest for Updated Artificer

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Wizards of the Coast has dropped a new Unearthed Arcana Playtest for the Artificer, bringing the often neglected 13th Dungeons & Dragons 5E class into alignment with the 2024 rules update. The playtest was released via D&D Beyond today, with feedback launching on December 24th.

The Artificer gains several new abilities, many of which are designed with an eye to making the class more versatile. For instance, players can now craft low-cost items quickly with a revamped Magical Tinkering ability, while Infuse Item ha been changed to Replicate Magic Item and allows players to replicate magic items of certain rarities and item type. Players can also use the Magic Item Tinker ability to convert a Replicated magic item into a spell slot. The capstone Soul of Artifice ability has also received a buff, with the Artificer no needing a Reaction in order to utilize its ability to skip death saving throws and restoring more health as well.

The subclasses were also updated. For example, the Alchemist's Experimental Elixir producing more elixirs and Chemical Mastery getting a big boost with extra damage, resistance, and the ability to cast Tasha's Bubbling Cauldron. The Armorer has a new Dreadnought option and Armor Modifications was replaced with a new ability called Armor Replication. The Artillerist's Eldritch Cannon can switch between various options instead of being set to one option and the Explosive Cannon ability does more damage and only requires a Reaction to use. Finally, the Battle Smith has received minor adjustments to its Steel Defender construct.

Compared to many other class updates in the 2024 Player's Handbook, the Artificer's changes are much less drastic. There are some obvious updates that bring the class in line with the design updates to other classes, but it didn't receive a major rework like several other classes.
 

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Christian Hoffer

Christian Hoffer

I feel like magical tinkering has lost some flavor here. Instead of working on some existing object to change it, the artificer simply conjures an object. It's just not the same.
It's funny how many people are saying this. It's just a weaker prestidigitation (which the artificer already has). Maybe the artificer can get prestidigitation as a bonus cantrip? Because my experience is that it's forgotten rather quickly as a feature. It's pure ribbon rather than anything of use.
 

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It's funny how many people are saying this. It's just a weaker prestidigitation (which the artificer already has). Maybe the artificer can get prestidigitation as a bonus cantrip? Because my experience is that it's forgotten rather quickly as a feature. It's pure ribbon rather than anything of use.

Sort of. Cleaning clothes is quite useful for social situations after adventuring. Or even during adventuring. A party will be more intimidating if they look spotless in the middle of a dungeon.

Mending is quite good for the same purpose.
 

I feel like magical tinkering has lost some flavor here. Instead of working on some existing object to change it, the artificer simply conjures an object. It's just not the same.

I sort of agree. The problem is that "an action" is usually seen as a single thing, but also making it take a minute removes a lot of usefulness from the feature
 

It's funny how many people are saying this. It's just a weaker prestidigitation (which the artificer already has). Maybe the artificer can get prestidigitation as a bonus cantrip? Because my experience is that it's forgotten rather quickly as a feature. It's pure ribbon rather than anything of use.
I partially agree with you, but it comes down to flavor.

I had an artificer who pulled out a jar during a negotiation and pressed the lid to cover up their conversation with the sound of a swarm of bees. He also had a music box that played a lullaby in his mother's voice. These are things I can do with prestidigitation, but there is a feeling that is different in having made an item that does these things.

It sends a sense of effort expended. Of forethought going into it. It was never a powerful ability, but it could be deeply memorable.
 


Alright, I've looked at the bedroll and blanket. It doesn't say it benefits from a long rest. The bedroll automatically has you succeed on saving throws against extreme cold while the blanket grants you advantage on that. So they're still useful in the limited time Magical Tinkering allows.

That's on me. My mistake!
 




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