D&D 5E What are the optimal construct choices for the UA Artificer

[FormerlyHemlock]

Okay, I follow your thinking this time around, but you're formula is contingent on them charging the required distance to get the extra damage.

After the initial charge, their damage becomes comparable.

Allosaurus: Armor Class: 13 Hit Points: 51 (6d10+ 18) Speed: 60 ft. Passive Perception: 15 Attack:+6 hit 15(2d10+4) damage
Rhinoceros: Armor Class: 11 Hit Points: 45 (6d10+ 12) Speed: 40 ft. Passive Perception: 11 Attack:+7 hit 14 (2d8+5) damage.

The Rhino generates more damage on a charge, but Allosaurus has 2 points better AC, more hit points, 20ft faster move, and 4 points higher perception.

You want a Rhino, go team Rhino, but I think the Allosaurus is most survivable of the choices.

Sure, that's why I said "disadvantage on a charge" and not "disadvantage all the time". I will note that if you're not charging a lot, and DPR is what you're going for, the Polar Bear is better than either the rhino or the allosaurus.

But I think going for DPR is a mistake. I'm not Team Rhino; I'm Team Giant Toad/Team Giant Owl. Both of them have something better to offer than a few measly points of extra DPR. I think between the two I'd probably ultimately pick the Giant Owl for superior survivability because I'm concerned the toad would be fragile in combat, but it also depends very much on what the campaign environment looks like. If dungeon crawling underground is what the DM likes to do, then I'd go for the toad.

I might pick up the Mounted Combatant feat in that case, to keep the toad alive longer.

 

[Werebat]

A cow.

Because cow.

 

[dropbear8mybaby]

A cow.

Because cow.

There is no cow (level).

 

[Awesome Adam]

CATTLE
Large beast , unaligned
Armor Class 10 (natural armour)
Hit Points 22 (3d10+6)
Speed 40 ft.
STR 16 (+3) DEX 8 (-1) CON 14 (+2) INT 2 (-4) WIS 10 (+0) CHA 6 (-2)
Senses passive Perception 10
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Charge. If the bull moves at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hits it with a ram attack on the same turn, the target takes an extra 7 (2d6) damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 13 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.
ACTIONS
Ram Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) bludgeoning damage.
Hooves Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (2d4 + 3) bludgeoning damage.

It's kind of like the Rhino

 

[Leatherhead]

A cow.

Because cow.

Well the Ox, which uses the cow's stat block, does count as a huge creature for the purposes of hauling stuff. Which gives it a unique niche among the constructs if nothing else.

And the Stench Kow, which also uses the cow's stat block, has resistance to cold and fire damage, and smells so bad it poisons people. So there is something to work with though I doubt your party will appreciate it unless you can also somehow milk the construct and they have a hankering for smelly cheese.

 

[Werebat]

Seriously, a bronze bull would be pretty cool to have following your artificer around. Give it ruby eyes, maybe find some way to give it a steam or fire breath attack... Pretty awesome. And it can carry stuff!

 

[dropbear8mybaby]

Well the Ox, which uses the cow's stat block, does count as a huge creature for the purposes of hauling stuff. Which gives it a unique niche among the constructs if nothing else.

Finally the necromancer has a means of carting around his 101 zombies: his artificer buddy!

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

E.g. against an AC 16 Bugbear, a charging rhino will hit on a 9+ for 4d8+5 damage, yielding DPR of 14.70 and knocking the Bugbear prone (60% * 60%) 36% of the time. If it were attacking at disadvantage, it would have a DPR of 8.33.

Against an AC 16 Bugbear, a charging Allosaurus will hit with its claw on a 10+ for d8+4, yielding DPR of 4.9. It will knock the Bugbear prone (55% * 50%) 27.5% of the time, and if it does it will get an extra attack hitting on 10+ for 2d10+4, which is 8.8 DPR. Its total DPR is (4.9 + 0.275 * 8.8) is 7.32.

The Allosaurus's DPR without disadvantage is lower than the rhino's DPR with disadvantage. Allosaurs are bad at doing damage.

Correction:

I made a mistake above. I neglected to account for advantage against prone targets. It hits at 10+ at advantage for 2d10+4, which gives an average damage of 13.04. Total DPR is (4.9 + 0.275 * 13.04) 8.49 damage per charge against bugbears, not 7.32. Slightly better than a rhino at disadvantage after all; still only 58% of an actual rhino's damage.

A Polar Bear would do 13.48 DPR all the time, which is 8% less than a charging rhino and 52% more than a non-charging rhino. It is 3% better than a charging Allosaur and 53% more than a non-charging Allosaur. However, it doesn't knock anyone prone, so other allies don't have the chance to get advantage and it's not as good at melee kiting.

 

[dropbear8mybaby]

Kind-of a side-note but there's some really great artwork for mechanical animals out there:

http://www.andrewchase.com/index.php?p_resource=furnishings&p_prt_pk=7

http://andrew-chase.deviantart.com/gallery/