D&D 5E (2024) ReReview: Artificer

[Zardnaar]

Today's session i used some Mahen from the netheril DLC.

AC20 and 21. Cartographer used faerie fire cleric used bless due to AC.

Barbarian went down again due to reckless attack and CR4's hitting for1d8+4+1d10 acid.

4 of them is a Medium encounter.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

All over its a B.

Armored looks lie a warrior but isnt very good at it. Maybe its better as tanky control/support. I took magic initiate shield vas AC 22 iirc.

Alot of synergy in the magic items so nothing is really a C imho. Scaling is also consistent.

The issue I found with Armourer is its lack of synergy with other systems. You deal elemental damage, but not with spells, so there aren't any spell-related feats that help your abilities, and your weapons don't have the properties for most weapon-using feats to be used with.
Furthermore, your two attacks don't get any better than a +1 and a very minor damage increase even as the other weapon users are using flametongue/wounding/whatever weapons. But you can't hang with the spellcasting crowd either, being only a half-caster.

 

[Zardnaar]

The issue I found with Armourer is its lack of synergy with other systems. You deal elemental damage, but not with spells, so there aren't any spell-related feats that help your abilities, and your weapons don't have the properties for most weapon-using feats to be used with.
Furthermore, your two attacks don't get any better than a +1 and a very minor damage increase even as the other weapon users are using flametongue/wounding/whatever weapons. But you can't hang with the spellcasting crowd either, being only a half-caster.

Yeah thats what i found. Looks good might be the worst.

Cartographer was outperforming it tbf its not 10th level.

Armorer could double down on support or control then you kind of dont have a subclass or are worse than Cartographer/Alchemist.

Faerirefire, guilding bolt/true strike faerie fire victim or use a magic item and just exist as cartographer is very effective.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The issue I found with Armourer is its lack of synergy with other systems. You deal elemental damage, but not with spells, so there aren't any spell-related feats that help your abilities, and your weapons don't have the properties for most weapon-using feats to be used with.
Furthermore, your two attacks don't get any better than a +1 and a very minor damage increase even as the other weapon users are using flametongue/wounding/whatever weapons. But you can't hang with the spellcasting crowd either, being only a half-caster.

Dealing damage is not your main job. But yes. The built in weapons are not that great.

They do their job though. At level 8 I was really really impressed how tough the class (in 5.0) is overall. And I was just focussing on the tanky and utility side.

The hominculus is extremely versatile. I wished that artificers would get the homunculus spell for free at level 5. Actually having the homunculus at level 5, not at level 2 is a bit of a nerf...

 

[Zardnaar]

Dealing damage is not your main job. But yes. The built in weapons are not that great.

They do their job though. At level 8 I was really really impressed how tough the class is overall. And I was just focussing on the tanky side.

Thats why I didnt put them in C tier. Still decent.

Alchemist and Cartographer would be more my jam ymmv. What one I would pick would depend on starting level.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Thats why I didnt put them in C tier. Still decent.

Yes. I know. I 100% agree with you.

Which is what I said in my first post already. I think artificer overall and each subclass at B seems right to me.

Some lower B, some higher B. But all B. Solid.

 

[Zardnaar]

Yes. I know. I 100% agree with you.

Which is what I said in my first post already. I think artificer overall and each subclass at B seems right to me.

Generous or very Generous DM (read as tine and money) could drsg thst up.

Eberron bastion looks really good. Flying lab that triples your craft speed. Cartographer named Xerox!!!

Rogue :thief gets guarantees as well any of them but absurd with battlesmith lvl 11.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Dealing damage is not your main job. But yes. The built in weapons are not that great.

They do their job though. At level 8 I was really really impressed how tough the class (in 5.0) is overall. And I was just focussing on the tanky and utility side.

The hominculus is extremely versatile. I wished that artificers would get the homunculus spell for free at level 5. Actually having the homunculus at level 5, not at level 2 is a bit of a nerf...

So . . . What is your main job as an Armourer, particularly Dreadnaught and Infiltrator? Your features don't support much other than hitting things with your special weapon.

Artificers have some buffing items, but with close to half of the spells of an actual caster, they generally have less versatility. You lose out on damage to most other classes along with Alchemists and Cartographers.

 

[Zardnaar]

So . . . What is your main job as an Armourer, particularly Dreadnaught and Infiltrator? Your features don't support much other than hitting things with your special weapon.

Artificers have some buffing items, but with close to half of the spells of an actual caster, they generally have less versatility. You lose out on damage to most other classes along with Alchemists and Cartographers.

I think you play it as a hybrid controller/support/tank.

Bonus 10 hp looks better on paper as well on dreadnoughts. At 10th level its 1 hit from a CR5. It was tanky still as o had shield spell and I was using hex or haste.

At 11 add spamming lightning bolt I suppose.

You get an extra armor item give 1 or 2 items to someone else. Mind sharper to other party member.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Infiltrator

Multiclassing rogue.

Although in the updated version, the ability to switch armor mode on the fly is useful in heist type scenarios.