Colby! Ive watched you for a long time and i rarely comment, but i wanted to thank you for this build. My son has autism and is non-verbal, while diagnosis was hard at first over time ive come to see it as super power he has, he will always see the world different from you or me. BLeeM had a neurodiverse NPC in Dimension 20 that inspired me to make an NPC modeled after my son. My son loves to run and jump and rough house (front line probably) and is incredibly smart for his age (high int) but can have difficulty with his motor skills and reading social ques or understanding social dynamics (low Wis and Dex). Naturally an artificer or EK was my first thought but i could never really find a build or a way to build it where i was happy with the builds function and power level as well as it feeling like it represents my little man. This build is the closest ive ever gotten to a build that i like for his character. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, do another build similar that goes into multiclass possibilities (fighter, maybe EK, maybe a different subclass). I would love to see you flesh out the new artificer/armorer even more, even if it is a member only reward (im not currently a member but ill buy top tier just for that vid). So thank you Colby for this video, and this is a reminder that we love what you do. Even if these builds become just numbers on a speadsheet at the end of the day, for someone else out there you've created someone who will become near and to them and spend hundreds of hours loving and bonding with. ❤
Haste on an Armorer Artificer seems like an awesome flavorful choice. You can amp up the power of your suit for a limited time, but it will eventually overheat and have to cool down for a round leaving you potentially exposed. Friggin cool.
I love flavouring spells as not spells. This week Im playing a van helsing type character (3 light cleric/3 beastmaster) and I love how all the ranger spells just work as traps and special arrows. I'm even flavouring cure wounds as a stimpack basically
Woah, I’m EARLY on this one! Love you Colby! Your channel is one of my favorites. Moved to be closer to family after our son was born, and haven’t been able to find a group, so your videos have been scratching the D&D itch for me!
Hey, I know this is off-topic, but I wanted to thank you for getting me into Stormlight. I got interested in it because of your Kaladin video and just finished The Way of Kings. Super excited to read the rest soon
I said this in your short, but it really does sound like a good idea for Artificers to be able to add an infusion to an already magical item. It adds more versatility and useage for the infusions. Here's my example from the short: imagine javing a +1 spear of smiting that lets you smite when you throw it. Then the artificer adds the Returning Weapon infusion to it. Now, the spear returns to your hand after each throw! Also, I've thought on this more, and, at the risk of adding more complexity, Artificers should have an infusion system tied to their level. Not only will they get more more infusions at certain levels, they can also use more than one infusion on a piece of equipment, depending on artificer lvl and equipment rarity. As an example, 4 infusions for a common item, 3 for a rare item, 2 for an epic item, and 1 for a legendary item for a max level artificer.
That would definitely make it feel more like the Artificers have a unique and exclusive class feature. With the new crafting rules, any class can be an artificer with gold and downtime. Most of the early class features are just doing things that other classes can do, just faster and cheaper
This would also be good for other characters that were given unique weapons tied to their personal backstory or achievements, the artificer could help a friend's special weapon shine, rather than copying it and making it less special.
I think it might make more sense if they could infuse magic items in their subclass special area of expertise. Then expand the infusion system to a new pool of subclass exclusive infusions.
Artificers are such a cool concept that never really hits the mark mechanics wise (no pun intended). Especially with the new crafting rules, where basically anyone can be an artificer, they need to have their own set of properties or effects that only they can use, like your idea of infusions being unique and applicable to even magical items. Maybe not adding another +1 on a +3 weapon, but maybe adding a +1 to a flame tongue or weapon of warning.
Artificer works much better in the campaign setting the class was hand-crafted for and built to work alongside the amount of magical artifacts of that world.
16:41 you are right on the money, artificers needs some love... and a dm feel like they cant give a magic items to artificers because they cannot apply infusions to it.
I can't believe you'd take flak for that "hot take". It seems pretty obvious that's a great method. Then "give +1 to a weapon" would be useful from level 2 through level 20, and it wouldn't even need to scale to +2 at level 10 if you could add it to a magic weapon. Just having a +4 weapon in a group where everyone else has +3 weapons (which let's face it, at the end of the day is worse than grabbing the archery fighting style) isn't broken, and still feels like a good use of one of your limited infusions. Not to mention being able to "repeating" the +2 hand crossbow you found or "returning" the +2 handaxe. These're good ideas, WotC. LISTEN TO THIS MAN Honestly, since you're averaging over a 4-round combat encounter, I'm surprised you didn't just go "Artificer casts lightning bolt, gives gem to homunculus. Homunculus casts lightning bolt, gives gem to familiar. Familiar casts lightning bolt, gives back to Artificer. (And for rounds 3 and 4, the artificer uses spell slots and the 2 pets just swap the spell-storing item.") Especially for level 14+ when you can make Wand of Lightning Bolt (or Fireball), then just go ham!
Love me some Artificer content. Also, props on the second take! I didn't notice, and kudos jumping right back in. I'm pretty sure I would have just called it a wrap right then and there lol.
Artificer is probably my favorite class, and yeah I was a little disappointed with some of the changes so hopefully they iron it all out because if I ever am a PC I am fully playing an artificial
Hey Colby, big fan and always feel at home on your videos. I just wanted to share some experience on playing with an artificer during a campaign while i myself was playing an archfey warlock (5E). He used most of his infusions on replicate magic item so it was similar to how artificer works now. We played to level 12 and i gotta say, i feel you may be sleeping on how good it is to be able to swap magic items around on the fly rest to rest. There were so many situations where i scouted ahead via scrying or familiar and he just cooked up the perfect buffs and gave them to the perfect people for them before fights. It was incredible to have one in the group and he was easily everyones favorite member. Whenever i saw favourable terrain for something like a nasty hunger of hadar repelling blast strat, he would give me the infusion that lets you just pass con saves so i could never fail. He would arm the cleric with the sentinal shield if it seemed like we might get jumped so the cleric could react before we got smoked. Stuff like that was super awesome and the new artificer lets you do that to an even higher efficiancy. That versatility and ability to prep for any situation is abstract and doesnt really present on a graph. Yes making items is easier now, but making specific items quickly and easily is something only the artificer can do
Would also like to add he even gave our fighter a helmet HE PREPPED AHEAD OF TIME that allowed our plate mail wearing fighter to breath underwater because we knew we were gonna fight a sea monster and if the fighter fell off the ship and started to drown (he did) he could use his construct to bring him the helmet and the fighter could equip it and it saved his life and let him go crazy on the thing. Batman levels of prep
Regarding Animate Objects: With the 2024 rule change, you can no longer give them an initial command and leave them to their thing. They've taken out the language, "Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete." You now have to use your bonus action each round to command them, or they'll only take the Dodge action.
There is a joke that I only play artificers at my table it’s one of my favorites but yeah let them infuse already magic items and just polish some feature interactions with the armor weapons it’ll be really good.
I think the Artificer could do with a feat like the druids/cleric, but instead they get either potent casting - adding their int to damage done with cantrips or a fighting style. I think this could fix a handful of issues for the mixed bag that is the artificer. Especially since we have 2 weapon combat subclasses and 2 spell casting focus subclasses.
Well yes and no. The DM rule the world so yes he have all the power so he can just say no you didn’t do it or limit you a lot with other ways, but then it’s just a bad DM.
14:48 that’s it though, we are on paper here, we’re in a lab, and the artificer (as well as the paladin, ranger, and anyone else with access to the Magic Weapon spell) should have that benefit reflected in calculations. We can’t guarantee other builds will have a +1 weapon by X level, but we can guarantee it with these classes/builds, and I think it’s wrong to write that off in these cases.
The wording for nick attack and the dual wielder feat should be able to be used in tandem. You do have to specify 1) pre extra attack but post dual wielder feat the main action attacks are with different light weapons to trigger nick, then the bonus action granted from dual wielder can be the artificer weapon (I imagine throwing 2 daggers, then a sucker punch, but Vex is more optimal for one of the hits) 2) once you get extra attack one of your main attacks still has to be a light weapon and the nick weapon has to be unique as well. So light (hex preferably), punch with advantage, nick, then bonus action punch. Since weapons can be drawn as part of the attack action thrown items (hammers or daggers) seem the best fit... for humanoids with only 2 arms... or we could play a thri-kreen. So thinking about a level 6 thri kreen fighter 1 artificer 5. Going armorer with the guardian model. Taking tough and the dual wielder feat +1 strength to benifit the light weapons. Set up is having two mini arms wielding the light weapons, one vex and one nick, one hand dedicated to a shield and the other main hand dedicated to the gauntlet attack. Getting 4 hits in a turn in the order Vex, Gauntlet, Nick, then Gauntlet. Sadly not what it used to be since it's still only 2 gauntlet attacks, but it is maximizing the dps with the additional 2 attacks. For the sake of anyone doubting wording look at the text below. Dual Wielder 24: Enhanced Dual Wielding: When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a weapon that has the Light property, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn with a different weapon, which must be a Melee weapon that lacks the Two-Handed property. Nick: When you make the extra attack of the Light property, you can make it as part of the Attack action instead of as a Bonus Action. You can make this extra attack only once per turn. (notice the nick extra attack is from the light property and not the dual wielder enhanced dual wielding hence they work together) Light: When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a Light weapon, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn. That extra attack must be made with a different Light weapon, and you don't add your ability modifier to the extra attack's damage.
The Earth Gensai Armor Artificer with a three level Eldritch Knight Fighter dip is easily in the top three characters I've ever played. His name is Pebble and we was amazing. I can't wait to play him with the new rules with the Dreadnaught armor, and a third level Spell Storing Item!
_Technically_ you can dual wield in dnd. To my knowledge, there's no rule saying you can't have a weapon in each hand, just if they're both light you get a bonus action attack. You could dual wield a longsword and mace and use both with your attack action (given you have at least one extra attack).
Ok, I’ve been really confused by how everyone is interpreting dual-wielding rules. The Light property already says you can swing a second Light weapon if you attack with a Light weapon on your turn; you just don’t get a positive ability modifier to it. Two-Weapon Fighting lets you add your modifier. So what does Dual-Wielder do? It lets you sub in a non-light one handed weapon for your bonus attack. Everyone keeps saying it ALSO gives you a bonus attack with the off-hand weapon. But you already had that with Light weapons. The only thing Dual-Wielder could add is letting you have a d8 (or d10) weapon in your off-hand. Now, if we’re saying things like Nick and Two-Weapon fighting aren’t modified by Dual-Wielder, then this feat doesn’t really help. Which actually makes it crappy. d6 + x has to be better than d8. So, I don’t think you need Dual-Wielder to bonus attack unless you want a bigger weapon in your off hand.
I love the idea of pure builds, you should try and do those more, like a base for the class, and everything else should be better in a particular style of play
I really hope they bring back Infusions. I was never a fan of the Replicate Magic Item option in the infusion list. Always felt like a lazy approach. Now seeing them double down on it makes me extra disappointed. Especially now with the new Crafting rules, everyone can craft items. So if the Artificers whole shtick is making magic items... it feels underwhelming...
Talking about the armorer I would say that the Guardian is the one that feel really weak right now. His temp hp is really weak compared to the Artillerist turret. There level 15 feature is comparable to the level 6 feature of the world tree barbarien but with limited use per day which is dumb since it’s 9 levels higher feature.
The Guardian is the only armorer that feels like they got an upgrade with the UA because the 2024 feat changes destroyed the subclass. The dreadnaught just sounds like flavor because they don't state what benefits you gain from being large or huge.
@ In general the Armorer is just really weak. Also getting as a subclass feature extra attack is really boring. Also the subclass was already unplayable so the feat change didn’t do anything lol.
I think with Infusions, if you want to layer the effect on top of already existing magic items, you can just take the +1 enchants off the infusion list if WotC sees it as an issue for bonded accuracy. Just let the infusions be cool active effects you can add onto the items and it'll be so much more flavorful than the +1/+2 stuff, since then your battle smith isn't just making a +1 sword, they're making a lightning damage sword they and adding a blinding flash infusion onto it. Now they have a neat magic item, but moreover a unique item in their arsenal that means something to the character for roleplay. Most characters have their Glamdrings and Stings and whatnot, but here comes Johnny Clankenpants with his THUNDERSTABBER 5000!
What are your thoughts on using Booming Blade instead of the Extra Attack? With 15 foot reach and the ability to push 10 feet towards or away, it should be pretty easy to activate Booming Blade on melee enemies. So assuming INT modifier of 4, it would be 23 average damage on one target compared to 19 without Booming Blade and using extra attack. Is the miniscule damage increase not worth the conditional nature of Booming Blade? Edit: I forgot to include Crusher and pushing people diagonally in the air. We don't normally do that at our table. So with the extra D6 fall damage, it would be better and you can hit multiple people.
So glad you are back! I wanted to ask, would you make an Illrigger build anytime in the future? You have dabbled with third party content before, and it's on DnD beyond just like Bloodhunters are! I would be very curious to see what you can do with them, especially the Architecht of Ruin, being similar to your beloved bladesinger :)
level 1 keep in mind, ALL artificer spells have a material component that can only be met with a tool as a focus. whatever cantrips you select from magic initiate: wizard wont have this restriction. so true strike should be taken as a wizard spell if you want to use a shield. choose wisely.
I think artificer is the best all-rounder in the game, even without the 2024 adjustments. Since they can easily fill whatever gaps in the party’s capabilities, it lets the other players specialize in ways they normally wouldn’t feel free to do.
I love artificer but two out of four subclass are really weak (alchemist and armorer). I love the concept but it’s a pain in the ass felling this weak/fragile when I am suppose to play a tank (guardian armorer).
Dragon wrath weapons are outstanding, but the fact they start as uncommon items if you suspect you're gonna fight at least 1 young dragon in the campaign it's 100% one of my first crafts. But in a dragon less campaign being able to craft one at rare quality is a great option.
25:20 i feel you may be missing a thought in the process here, in order to push them away we must be larger than them so likely we are using that become large ability which means we are large size, taking up an area that is around 10 feet tall, meanwhile we push them only 5 feet up, so therefore what is "directly away from ourselves"? If its " a direction following along on a ray that originates from anywhere on our body and intersects a similarly defined point on their body" then sure if you choose the right point, any where along an edge closest to the creature's direction in relation to you and along the ground(for example, if the creature is north of you, you choose a point on your northward facing side of essentially your hitbox, along the bottom edge by your feet), and then the creatures respective point(if using the northern bottom edge example it would be on the creatures northern facing edge of their hitbox and along its bottom edge) yeah it would move in a perfectly diagonal, 45 degrees in relation to the ground, way as to go from your point and intersect their point, you would move 5 feet forward, 5 feet up. but i dont believe thats a common interpretation. However if you assume its instead along a ray originating from your center of volume, that intersects the creatures center of volume(which i believe is a much more common interpretation), its not going to be perfectly 45 degrees. This is because their center of volume only ever moves 5 feet up to start with(oh and this problem is exemplified the further the creature is away from you, so the fact that you have reach also makes this worse, even if you werent large, and even were using the choose a point method, but extra worse in the center of volume method because that takes into account the size of each creature as the center of volume of a larger sized being would be further than the other beings center of volume if both were smaller as then you could smush you body much closer to them initially, which on a tangential note means if the two beings were both as tiny as possible(so in dnd thats would only be tiny), crusher and similar movement features that only care that they are as big as you, not what size you are just the relations of your sizes, one being could push the other even more directly upwards which is funny but irrelevant because once you get past >45° and are using grid based movement the height would be the same because screw pythagoras) so therfore if you are large and they are medium and your not using reach, your center of volumes start as so(A. being you and B. being the creature C. Being the horizontal difference between them): A. 5 feet above the ground B. 2.5 feet above the ground C. 7.5 feet apart And then after moving the creature five feet up, the only data point that changes is B., which is now 7.5 feet above the ground. Now if you subtract the smaller of the two heights from both heights, the height thats not 0 is the difference between the heights and if the difference is >than the distance between the points, the degree is >45°, diff
Although I will say, I'm unsure RN if it would be 22.5°, and if you're a bit funky with grid movement >5 feet, technically they would move 5 feet up and 10 feet forward because of the wrecking ball movement, which would still mean they reach a total of 10 feet up rather than 15 feet as you claim, which since fall damage increases in increments of 10, it works out mechanically nearly identically(as long as your only using that 10 feet away from you mechanic), but again that's only if the "away from you" angle is >22.5°
With Artificer back in the menu I think the obvious multi class combo people are going to want to figure out is what combination of thief rogue and artificer works best. 3 level dip into thief gets fast hands which combos insanely with the spell storing item among the many other options the artificer has.
To do more with this build, I think you’ve got to get specific with the magic items made. Is there an item you could give the homunculus that would make a difference if the familiar used the spell storing ring? Wielding magic weapons is problematic because of the low DEX and STR unless you can make a STR-boosting item too.
They should allow each subclass infuse magic items of their specialty area. I'm trying to come up with a homebrew system where each subclass has exclusive infusions for their primary subclass features. Things like making a cantrip second attack available but its an infusion tied to a weapon. Fighting styles for the armorer as an infusion, like the armor assists the wearer and outisde the armor you can't do it. By giving the alchemists a few great infusions, like automatically upcast spells, convert single target spells to AOE for a penalty, basically give them quicken spell as an infusion, and letting them stack it on to their focus, they can become incredible spell casters. Then that can be made into lore, that alchemists used to be wizards but discovered infusions and made an active choice to master low spell casting rather than reach for higher level spells.
eeeeeyikes. I don't know about yall, but when I hear "Dreadnaught" I don't think "decent damage"... I expected at least "good damage". Yknow, of course I wasn't expecting it to blow martials out of the water, but... why does a hulking mech deal less damage than a subclassless Rogue? Yeesh...
Yeah. Bruiser with solid durability and solid damage feels about right. Sadly this just falls a little short in the early tiers, I think, but then again, that's compared to builds designed for high damage...
I mean, with a 22 AC by level 6, the survivability on this build contributes to its value. Hard to say it should be in the Tank Build group, since it doesn't have any source of resistance and a relatively low hit dice for health, but Flash of Genius plus 20+AC might make it pan out better while dealing decent damage.
@@SleeplessSycophantif you're flat on your face begging for healing you usually do 0 dpr survivability+ decent damage will always be better than just damage in my opinion.
Question. Why are we assuming that we have Advantage from our familiar n in the first round? My familiar has NEVER gone before me on initiative in order to perform the Help action.
I wonder if it’d be worth taking Shadow Touched to get Wrathful Smite on this build. It’s definitely on the lower side for smite damage, but maybe it’d be a good way to use up some more spell slots.
When it comes to damage focused characters, I yet to think about, "how fast can this character finish this fight by themselves?" Like that, I measure damage output but also time. Different fights have different goals and require different strategies.
hey Colby - unrelated to the video (great build tho), but this is something I'd love to hear your perspective on: Is it harder to make unique builds with the new rules? At first I was overjoyed to learn that all feats add an ASI, but in practice it often means I find myself curtailed in what I can pick, niche combos are harder to come by, and when I find ways to pull them off it results in very messy ability scores. Couple that with the fact that Clerics, Wizards, and Sorcerers now have to wait till 3rd level for a subclass... it's rough! Idk. Overall I love the new rules, but there's some pain points I've not really seen being discussed.
I hear so many builds that go out of their way to get Find Familiar that it's starting to leave a sour taste in my mouth, and I like the idea of familiars! I really feel like they should go back to being a class feature rather than a spell.
I think the lack of feat support and weapon mastery really hurts Armorer and Battlesmith. Consider that other half-casters get mastery and can choose feats that boost their primary stats (Pally, Ranger). I think Armorer and Battlesmith need a feature at 3rd that says “When you select a feat that improves your Strength or Dexterity score, you may choose to improve your Intelligence instead.” Then also assign weapon mastery properties to arcane armor special weapons so they can use them if they get access to mastery from multiclassing or a feat. Those would go a long way toward making this feel like a 2024 class. Also, Spell Storing Item needs to be smoothed out instead of coming on full blast at 11th. I’d say scale it in at 5th, 9th, 13th. Artificers need a boost in tier 2 and less of a jump in tier 3.
I have to say though if any pet concentrates on a spell they had to visibly use the item and cast it first. That ends any discussion on whether that pet is a legitimate target. Esspecially when I can put them within an AoE.
Thanks for pointing out that *Replicate Magic Item* can be used to create a magic weapon that can be used as the *Armorer's special weapon.* I guess that I didn't read the new *DMG* properly (p. 217): _"A magic weapon is _*_typically_*_ a magical version of a weapon from the Player's Handbook. (...) If no weapon type is specified, you may _*_choose the type_*_ or determine it randomly."_
I find the lvl 1 feature is more useful in tashas a 10 ft light source, the ability to leave messages or create distraction sounds or leave a message for someone either as a mislead or a legit message then make it disappear to separate someone from a larger group or conceal someone's path. I prefer this to a fre gold worth of items that as an artificer I could make overnight or team up with a forge Cleric. As for replicate magic item you might have that +1 weapon and shield but I like things like the +1-3 All purpose tool you can choose to have a cantrip for 8 hours from any spell list and it is a + item for artificer spells. Later on your can do things like make amulet of health, Headband of intellect, amd a belt of hill giant strength so 19 CON, 19 INT, 21 STR. then you still have slots for theee other attunement Items. And this is without being given magic items.
I do think Artificers should be able to add some effect to already Magical weapons, maybe not the full infusion list, but some sort of bonus to weapons they are attuned to. I think the Infusion system should be around, but give them a series of properties they can use to customise a weapon they have. So give them a list of stuff like Returning Weapon, Radiant Weapon, but also let them infuse effects from Cantrips like Vicious Mockery or Chill Touch into the attacks as well. As they level up they can add effects from low level spells as well. If it gets to be too powerful, make it that you can add a single effect to a weapon used by another player, but when you attune to them you can use 2-3 effects that you choose when you hit the attack. I don’t know, something about how they changed it with 5.24 UA just doesn’t sit right with me.
Check out World Anvil here! worldanvil.com/?c=D4 - Use the promo code d4 at checkout to save 51%!
Colby! Ive watched you for a long time and i rarely comment, but i wanted to thank you for this build.
My son has autism and is non-verbal, while diagnosis was hard at first over time ive come to see it as super power he has, he will always see the world different from you or me. BLeeM had a neurodiverse NPC in Dimension 20 that inspired me to make an NPC modeled after my son. My son loves to run and jump and rough house (front line probably) and is incredibly smart for his age (high int) but can have difficulty with his motor skills and reading social ques or understanding social dynamics (low Wis and Dex). Naturally an artificer or EK was my first thought but i could never really find a build or a way to build it where i was happy with the builds function and power level as well as it feeling like it represents my little man.
This build is the closest ive ever gotten to a build that i like for his character. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, do another build similar that goes into multiclass possibilities (fighter, maybe EK, maybe a different subclass). I would love to see you flesh out the new artificer/armorer even more, even if it is a member only reward (im not currently a member but ill buy top tier just for that vid).
So thank you Colby for this video, and this is a reminder that we love what you do. Even if these builds become just numbers on a speadsheet at the end of the day, for someone else out there you've created someone who will become near and to them and spend hundreds of hours loving and bonding with. ❤
Aw thanks for sharing! And say hi to your son for me :)
Haste on an Armorer Artificer seems like an awesome flavorful choice. You can amp up the power of your suit for a limited time, but it will eventually overheat and have to cool down for a round leaving you potentially exposed. Friggin cool.
I love flavouring spells as not spells. This week Im playing a van helsing type character (3 light cleric/3 beastmaster) and I love how all the ranger spells just work as traps and special arrows. I'm even flavouring cure wounds as a stimpack basically
"The dead condition is a powerful form of control"
Woah, I’m EARLY on this one! Love you Colby! Your channel is one of my favorites. Moved to be closer to family after our son was born, and haven’t been able to find a group, so your videos have been scratching the D&D itch for me!
Hey, I know this is off-topic, but I wanted to thank you for getting me into Stormlight. I got interested in it because of your Kaladin video and just finished The Way of Kings. Super excited to read the rest soon
Nice! You're gonna love the rest!
The Dreadnaught Artificer: D&D Ep #198
Level 01 (see above) [artificer 1, species, background & magical tinkering]
Level 02 (see above) [artificer 2 & replicate magic item]
Level 03 (@17:31) [artificer 3 & subclass]
Level 04 (@24:43) [artificer 4 & feat]
Level 05 (@26:22) [artificer 5]
Level 06 (@28:52) [artificer 6 & magic item tinkerer]
Level 07 (see above) [artificer 7]
Level 08 (@35:04) [artificer 8 & feat]
Level 09 (@35:59) [artificer 9]
Level 10 (see above) [artificer 10 & magic item adept]
Level 11 (@41:03) [artificer 11 & spell storing item]
Level 12 (@43:35) [artificer 12 & feat]
Level 13 (@43:44) [artificer 13]
Level 14 (see above) [artificer 14 & magic item savant]
Level 15 (@49:56) [artificer 15 & perfected armor]
Level 16 (@51:29) [artificer 16 & feat]
Level 17 (@53:08) [artificer 17]
I said this in your short, but it really does sound like a good idea for Artificers to be able to add an infusion to an already magical item. It adds more versatility and useage for the infusions. Here's my example from the short: imagine javing a +1 spear of smiting that lets you smite when you throw it. Then the artificer adds the Returning Weapon infusion to it. Now, the spear returns to your hand after each throw!
Also, I've thought on this more, and, at the risk of adding more complexity, Artificers should have an infusion system tied to their level. Not only will they get more more infusions at certain levels, they can also use more than one infusion on a piece of equipment, depending on artificer lvl and equipment rarity. As an example, 4 infusions for a common item, 3 for a rare item, 2 for an epic item, and 1 for a legendary item for a max level artificer.
That would definitely make it feel more like the Artificers have a unique and exclusive class feature. With the new crafting rules, any class can be an artificer with gold and downtime. Most of the early class features are just doing things that other classes can do, just faster and cheaper
This would also be good for other characters that were given unique weapons tied to their personal backstory or achievements, the artificer could help a friend's special weapon shine, rather than copying it and making it less special.
Cool, but I would reverse the infusions added to items. More for higher level artificers, make them powerful.
I think it might make more sense if they could infuse magic items in their subclass special area of expertise. Then expand the infusion system to a new pool of subclass exclusive infusions.
He’s back folks!
Artificers are such a cool concept that never really hits the mark mechanics wise (no pun intended). Especially with the new crafting rules, where basically anyone can be an artificer, they need to have their own set of properties or effects that only they can use, like your idea of infusions being unique and applicable to even magical items. Maybe not adding another +1 on a +3 weapon, but maybe adding a +1 to a flame tongue or weapon of warning.
The class just needs to be removed.
Artificer works much better in the campaign setting the class was hand-crafted for and built to work alongside the amount of magical artifacts of that world.
Love the build! Cannot wait for a future artillerist build!
16:41 you are right on the money, artificers needs some love... and a dm feel like they cant give a magic items to artificers because they cannot apply infusions to it.
I really like the idea behind the dreadnaught armor. It sounds like it would be fun.
I can't believe you'd take flak for that "hot take". It seems pretty obvious that's a great method. Then "give +1 to a weapon" would be useful from level 2 through level 20, and it wouldn't even need to scale to +2 at level 10 if you could add it to a magic weapon. Just having a +4 weapon in a group where everyone else has +3 weapons (which let's face it, at the end of the day is worse than grabbing the archery fighting style) isn't broken, and still feels like a good use of one of your limited infusions. Not to mention being able to "repeating" the +2 hand crossbow you found or "returning" the +2 handaxe. These're good ideas, WotC. LISTEN TO THIS MAN
Honestly, since you're averaging over a 4-round combat encounter, I'm surprised you didn't just go "Artificer casts lightning bolt, gives gem to homunculus. Homunculus casts lightning bolt, gives gem to familiar. Familiar casts lightning bolt, gives back to Artificer. (And for rounds 3 and 4, the artificer uses spell slots and the 2 pets just swap the spell-storing item.") Especially for level 14+ when you can make Wand of Lightning Bolt (or Fireball), then just go ham!
Love me some Artificer content. Also, props on the second take! I didn't notice, and kudos jumping right back in. I'm pretty sure I would have just called it a wrap right then and there lol.
Loved the artificer(wizard, cleric) tank from dnd 2014. Excited for this one
I think that was my first Artificer, right? Dang... that feels like a long time ago now ;)
Woo new D4 video after a long day at work, just what I need to relax, Colby's silky voice 😁
Pause
"Let me play Vi in dnd"
Me too, sir. Me too.
Last time I was this early I could've stopped the Lincoln assassination
OH NO! 21:21. Colby building around his ball and chain? Kids! Save you mom!
"The dead condition is a powerful form of control." love it
Artificer is probably my favorite class, and yeah I was a little disappointed with some of the changes so hopefully they iron it all out because if I ever am a PC I am fully playing an artificial
Cool you have done a video using the UA but i hope WotC make bigger changes to the artificer.
ARTIFICER! Who beside Colby likes ARTIFICERs.
Hey Colby, big fan and always feel at home on your videos. I just wanted to share some experience on playing with an artificer during a campaign while i myself was playing an archfey warlock (5E). He used most of his infusions on replicate magic item so it was similar to how artificer works now. We played to level 12 and i gotta say, i feel you may be sleeping on how good it is to be able to swap magic items around on the fly rest to rest. There were so many situations where i scouted ahead via scrying or familiar and he just cooked up the perfect buffs and gave them to the perfect people for them before fights. It was incredible to have one in the group and he was easily everyones favorite member. Whenever i saw favourable terrain for something like a nasty hunger of hadar repelling blast strat, he would give me the infusion that lets you just pass con saves so i could never fail. He would arm the cleric with the sentinal shield if it seemed like we might get jumped so the cleric could react before we got smoked. Stuff like that was super awesome and the new artificer lets you do that to an even higher efficiancy. That versatility and ability to prep for any situation is abstract and doesnt really present on a graph. Yes making items is easier now, but making specific items quickly and easily is something only the artificer can do
Would also like to add he even gave our fighter a helmet HE PREPPED AHEAD OF TIME that allowed our plate mail wearing fighter to breath underwater because we knew we were gonna fight a sea monster and if the fighter fell off the ship and started to drown (he did) he could use his construct to bring him the helmet and the fighter could equip it and it saved his life and let him go crazy on the thing. Batman levels of prep
Excited for the new Artificer. I like some of the changes but think it still needs a few tweaks for the better.
Regarding Animate Objects: With the 2024 rule change, you can no longer give them an initial command and leave them to their thing. They've taken out the language, "Once given an order, the creature continues to follow it until its task is complete." You now have to use your bonus action each round to command them, or they'll only take the Dodge action.
Comment for the algorithm! Would totally play this, love your builds. Keep em coming !
Great video! Hope you had a good holidays and able to read a lot of Wind and Truth!
There is a joke that I only play artificers at my table it’s one of my favorites but yeah let them infuse already magic items and just polish some feature interactions with the armor weapons it’ll be really good.
Also loved the video
The image of batting enemies around with a flail makes me think of the scene in LOTR when Sauron takes the field
Sauron is the OG artificer!!
We know what you mean, Colby, and are very excited for you to see what we’re working on.
I think the Artificer could do with a feat like the druids/cleric, but instead they get either potent casting - adding their int to damage done with cantrips or a fighting style. I think this could fix a handful of issues for the mixed bag that is the artificer. Especially since we have 2 weapon combat subclasses and 2 spell casting focus subclasses.
15:45 You have to remember that you can only craft what the DM allows you to craft. It's not as easy as just spending the gold and time.
truth!
Well yes and no. The DM rule the world so yes he have all the power so he can just say no you didn’t do it or limit you a lot with other ways, but then it’s just a bad DM.
14:48 that’s it though, we are on paper here, we’re in a lab, and the artificer (as well as the paladin, ranger, and anyone else with access to the Magic Weapon spell) should have that benefit reflected in calculations. We can’t guarantee other builds will have a +1 weapon by X level, but we can guarantee it with these classes/builds, and I think it’s wrong to write that off in these cases.
Still really likely to have a +1 weapon at level 4/5 and 200 gold is enough to craft a uncommon magic item so yeah it’s easy
I fell in love with David Wilcox when I saw him at one of the many live music venues on 6th Street in Austin back in 92.
The wording for nick attack and the dual wielder feat should be able to be used in tandem. You do have to specify 1) pre extra attack but post dual wielder feat the main action attacks are with different light weapons to trigger nick, then the bonus action granted from dual wielder can be the artificer weapon (I imagine throwing 2 daggers, then a sucker punch, but Vex is more optimal for one of the hits) 2) once you get extra attack one of your main attacks still has to be a light weapon and the nick weapon has to be unique as well. So light (hex preferably), punch with advantage, nick, then bonus action punch. Since weapons can be drawn as part of the attack action thrown items (hammers or daggers) seem the best fit... for humanoids with only 2 arms... or we could play a thri-kreen.
So thinking about a level 6 thri kreen fighter 1 artificer 5. Going armorer with the guardian model. Taking tough and the dual wielder feat +1 strength to benifit the light weapons. Set up is having two mini arms wielding the light weapons, one vex and one nick, one hand dedicated to a shield and the other main hand dedicated to the gauntlet attack. Getting 4 hits in a turn in the order Vex, Gauntlet, Nick, then Gauntlet.
Sadly not what it used to be since it's still only 2 gauntlet attacks, but it is maximizing the dps with the additional 2 attacks. For the sake of anyone doubting wording look at the text below.
Dual Wielder 24: Enhanced Dual Wielding: When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a weapon that has the Light property, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn with a different weapon, which must be a Melee weapon that lacks the Two-Handed property.
Nick: When you make the extra attack of the Light property, you can make it as part of the Attack action instead of as a Bonus Action. You can make this extra attack only once per turn.
(notice the nick extra attack is from the light property and not the dual wielder enhanced dual wielding hence they work together)
Light: When you take the Attack action on your turn and attack with a Light weapon, you can make one extra attack as a Bonus Action later on the same turn. That extra attack must be made with a different Light weapon, and you don't add your ability modifier to the extra attack's damage.
The Earth Gensai Armor Artificer with a three level Eldritch Knight Fighter dip is easily in the top three characters I've ever played. His name is Pebble and we was amazing. I can't wait to play him with the new rules with the Dreadnaught armor, and a third level Spell Storing Item!
WHAT! A STRAIGHT CLASS BUILD?!?! RAGE QUIT! 😂😂😂
Much love. Hope we all have an amazing 2025
_Technically_ you can dual wield in dnd. To my knowledge, there's no rule saying you can't have a weapon in each hand, just if they're both light you get a bonus action attack. You could dual wield a longsword and mace and use both with your attack action (given you have at least one extra attack).
You couldn’t use Int for the sword attack though
Ok, I’ve been really confused by how everyone is interpreting dual-wielding rules. The Light property already says you can swing a second Light weapon if you attack with a Light weapon on your turn; you just don’t get a positive ability modifier to it. Two-Weapon Fighting lets you add your modifier. So what does Dual-Wielder do? It lets you sub in a non-light one handed weapon for your bonus attack. Everyone keeps saying it ALSO gives you a bonus attack with the off-hand weapon. But you already had that with Light weapons. The only thing Dual-Wielder could add is letting you have a d8 (or d10) weapon in your off-hand. Now, if we’re saying things like Nick and Two-Weapon fighting aren’t modified by Dual-Wielder, then this feat doesn’t really help. Which actually makes it crappy. d6 + x has to be better than d8. So, I don’t think you need Dual-Wielder to bonus attack unless you want a bigger weapon in your off hand.
Sniff cut, FTW! Love ya Son of Colby!
Colby, you missed the opportunity to put on a Sabaton song as the intro xD
dangit!
D4 4 the Win!
I love the idea of pure builds, you should try and do those more, like a base for the class, and everything else should be better in a particular style of play
Been waiting for this one!
Unofficial content? Colby you rebel 😍
I really hope they bring back Infusions. I was never a fan of the Replicate Magic Item option in the infusion list. Always felt like a lazy approach. Now seeing them double down on it makes me extra disappointed.
Especially now with the new Crafting rules, everyone can craft items. So if the Artificers whole shtick is making magic items... it feels underwhelming...
Talking about the armorer I would say that the Guardian is the one that feel really weak right now. His temp hp is really weak compared to the Artillerist turret. There level 15 feature is comparable to the level 6 feature of the world tree barbarien but with limited use per day which is dumb since it’s 9 levels higher feature.
The Guardian is the only armorer that feels like they got an upgrade with the UA because the 2024 feat changes destroyed the subclass. The dreadnaught just sounds like flavor because they don't state what benefits you gain from being large or huge.
@ In general the Armorer is just really weak. Also getting as a subclass feature extra attack is really boring. Also the subclass was already unplayable so the feat change didn’t do anything lol.
I think with Infusions, if you want to layer the effect on top of already existing magic items, you can just take the +1 enchants off the infusion list if WotC sees it as an issue for bonded accuracy. Just let the infusions be cool active effects you can add onto the items and it'll be so much more flavorful than the +1/+2 stuff, since then your battle smith isn't just making a +1 sword, they're making a lightning damage sword they and adding a blinding flash infusion onto it. Now they have a neat magic item, but moreover a unique item in their arsenal that means something to the character for roleplay. Most characters have their Glamdrings and Stings and whatnot, but here comes Johnny Clankenpants with his THUNDERSTABBER 5000!
Get well soon!
Fingers crossed the release version takes on some of your observations
What are your thoughts on using Booming Blade instead of the Extra Attack? With 15 foot reach and the ability to push 10 feet towards or away, it should be pretty easy to activate Booming Blade on melee enemies. So assuming INT modifier of 4, it would be 23 average damage on one target compared to 19 without Booming Blade and using extra attack. Is the miniscule damage increase not worth the conditional nature of Booming Blade?
Edit: I forgot to include Crusher and pushing people diagonally in the air. We don't normally do that at our table. So with the extra D6 fall damage, it would be better and you can hit multiple people.
So glad you are back! I wanted to ask, would you make an Illrigger build anytime in the future? You have dabbled with third party content before, and it's on DnD beyond just like Bloodhunters are! I would be very curious to see what you can do with them, especially the Architecht of Ruin, being similar to your beloved bladesinger :)
I love this idea
Yes. The first 2025 build :D. Here we go.
Thanks Colby
I’d like to see the dreadnaught be a true frontline tank with ability to wield large weapons, a damage reduction feature and a bonus action shove.
"The dead condition is a powerful form of control." I mean, you're not wrong... Lmao
level 1
keep in mind, ALL artificer spells have a material component that can only be met with a tool as a focus. whatever cantrips you select from magic initiate: wizard wont have this restriction. so true strike should be taken as a wizard spell if you want to use a shield. choose wisely.
Goliath Artificer? Ah yes, the big brain build!
Good soapbox!
I think artificer is the best all-rounder in the game, even without the 2024 adjustments. Since they can easily fill whatever gaps in the party’s capabilities, it lets the other players specialize in ways they normally wouldn’t feel free to do.
I love artificer but two out of four subclass are really weak (alchemist and armorer). I love the concept but it’s a pain in the ass felling this weak/fragile when I am suppose to play a tank (guardian armorer).
Dragon wrath weapons are outstanding, but the fact they start as uncommon items if you suspect you're gonna fight at least 1 young dragon in the campaign it's 100% one of my first crafts. But in a dragon less campaign being able to craft one at rare quality is a great option.
When you rework this, focus on the golfer concept of "getting big" and punting things far (to get fall damage); with Shillelagh for comedic effect.
25:20 i feel you may be missing a thought in the process here, in order to push them away we must be larger than them so likely we are using that become large ability which means we are large size, taking up an area that is around 10 feet tall, meanwhile we push them only 5 feet up, so therefore what is "directly away from ourselves"?
If its " a direction following along on a ray that originates from anywhere on our body and intersects a similarly defined point on their body" then sure if you choose the right point, any where along an edge closest to the creature's direction in relation to you and along the ground(for example, if the creature is north of you, you choose a point on your northward facing side of essentially your hitbox, along the bottom edge by your feet), and then the creatures respective point(if using the northern bottom edge example it would be on the creatures northern facing edge of their hitbox and along its bottom edge) yeah it would move in a perfectly diagonal, 45 degrees in relation to the ground, way as to go from your point and intersect their point, you would move 5 feet forward, 5 feet up. but i dont believe thats a common interpretation.
However if you assume its instead along a ray originating from your center of volume, that intersects the creatures center of volume(which i believe is a much more common interpretation), its not going to be perfectly 45 degrees. This is because their center of volume only ever moves 5 feet up to start with(oh and this problem is exemplified the further the creature is away from you, so the fact that you have reach also makes this worse, even if you werent large, and even were using the choose a point method, but extra worse in the center of volume method because that takes into account the size of each creature as the center of volume of a larger sized being would be further than the other beings center of volume if both were smaller as then you could smush you body much closer to them initially, which on a tangential note means if the two beings were both as tiny as possible(so in dnd thats would only be tiny), crusher and similar movement features that only care that they are as big as you, not what size you are just the relations of your sizes, one being could push the other even more directly upwards which is funny but irrelevant because once you get past >45° and are using grid based movement the height would be the same because screw pythagoras) so therfore if you are large and they are medium and your not using reach, your center of volumes start as so(A. being you and B. being the creature C. Being the horizontal difference between them): A. 5 feet above the ground B. 2.5 feet above the ground C. 7.5 feet apart
And then after moving the creature five feet up, the only data point that changes is B., which is now 7.5 feet above the ground. Now if you subtract the smaller of the two heights from both heights, the height thats not 0 is the difference between the heights and if the difference is >than the distance between the points, the degree is >45°, diff
Although I will say, I'm unsure RN if it would be 22.5°, and if you're a bit funky with grid movement >5 feet, technically they would move 5 feet up and 10 feet forward because of the wrecking ball movement, which would still mean they reach a total of 10 feet up rather than 15 feet as you claim, which since fall damage increases in increments of 10, it works out mechanically nearly identically(as long as your only using that 10 feet away from you mechanic), but again that's only if the "away from you" angle is >22.5°
With Artificer back in the menu I think the obvious multi class combo people are going to want to figure out is what combination of thief rogue and artificer works best. 3 level dip into thief gets fast hands which combos insanely with the spell storing item among the many other options the artificer has.
The problem with that is that you delayed way too much your replicate magic item feature if you do that.
I'd be curious to hear how the Artillerist compares damage wise. I always thought of them as the blaster option.
To do more with this build, I think you’ve got to get specific with the magic items made. Is there an item you could give the homunculus that would make a difference if the familiar used the spell storing ring? Wielding magic weapons is problematic because of the low DEX and STR unless you can make a STR-boosting item too.
They should allow each subclass infuse magic items of their specialty area.
I'm trying to come up with a homebrew system where each subclass has exclusive infusions for their primary subclass features. Things like making a cantrip second attack available but its an infusion tied to a weapon. Fighting styles for the armorer as an infusion, like the armor assists the wearer and outisde the armor you can't do it. By giving the alchemists a few great infusions, like automatically upcast spells, convert single target spells to AOE for a penalty, basically give them quicken spell as an infusion, and letting them stack it on to their focus, they can become incredible spell casters. Then that can be made into lore, that alchemists used to be wizards but discovered infusions and made an active choice to master low spell casting rather than reach for higher level spells.
Great video
Sword and board.
Ball and wall.
Flail and… mail?
Welcome back
1:03:20 damn 🤣 I felt that
The worst!
eeeeeyikes. I don't know about yall, but when I hear "Dreadnaught" I don't think "decent damage"... I expected at least "good damage". Yknow, of course I wasn't expecting it to blow martials out of the water, but... why does a hulking mech deal less damage than a subclassless Rogue? Yeesh...
Yeah. Bruiser with solid durability and solid damage feels about right. Sadly this just falls a little short in the early tiers, I think, but then again, that's compared to builds designed for high damage...
I mean, with a 22 AC by level 6, the survivability on this build contributes to its value. Hard to say it should be in the Tank Build group, since it doesn't have any source of resistance and a relatively low hit dice for health, but Flash of Genius plus 20+AC might make it pan out better while dealing decent damage.
@@SleeplessSycophantif you're flat on your face begging for healing you usually do 0 dpr survivability+ decent damage will always be better than just damage in my opinion.
@SleeplessSycophant 22ac doesn't mean much when the human guard pushes you over every round, giving everyone advantage to hit you.
Spoilers :(.
Question. Why are we assuming that we have Advantage from our familiar n in the first round? My familiar has NEVER gone before me on initiative in order to perform the Help action.
I wonder if it’d be worth taking Shadow Touched to get Wrathful Smite on this build. It’s definitely on the lower side for smite damage, but maybe it’d be a good way to use up some more spell slots.
When it comes to damage focused characters, I yet to think about, "how fast can this character finish this fight by themselves?" Like that, I measure damage output but also time. Different fights have different goals and require different strategies.
Dreadnought Armor - Tony Stark's Hulkbuster Armor. This UA is OP, though got to admit the Alchemist is possibly worth playing now.
hey Colby - unrelated to the video (great build tho), but this is something I'd love to hear your perspective on: Is it harder to make unique builds with the new rules? At first I was overjoyed to learn that all feats add an ASI, but in practice it often means I find myself curtailed in what I can pick, niche combos are harder to come by, and when I find ways to pull them off it results in very messy ability scores. Couple that with the fact that Clerics, Wizards, and Sorcerers now have to wait till 3rd level for a subclass... it's rough!
Idk. Overall I love the new rules, but there's some pain points I've not really seen being discussed.
I hear so many builds that go out of their way to get Find Familiar that it's starting to leave a sour taste in my mouth, and I like the idea of familiars! I really feel like they should go back to being a class feature rather than a spell.
Love it!
Omg that song is beautiful
Great Vid.
I think the lack of feat support and weapon mastery really hurts Armorer and Battlesmith. Consider that other half-casters get mastery and can choose feats that boost their primary stats (Pally, Ranger). I think Armorer and Battlesmith need a feature at 3rd that says “When you select a feat that improves your Strength or Dexterity score, you may choose to improve your Intelligence instead.” Then also assign weapon mastery properties to arcane armor special weapons so they can use them if they get access to mastery from multiclassing or a feat. Those would go a long way toward making this feel like a 2024 class.
Also, Spell Storing Item needs to be smoothed out instead of coming on full blast at 11th. I’d say scale it in at 5th, 9th, 13th. Artificers need a boost in tier 2 and less of a jump in tier 3.
I have to say though if any pet concentrates on a spell they had to visibly use the item and cast it first. That ends any discussion on whether that pet is a legitimate target. Esspecially when I can put them within an AoE.
Thanks for pointing out that *Replicate Magic Item* can be used to create a magic weapon that can be used as the *Armorer's special weapon.*
I guess that I didn't read the new *DMG* properly (p. 217):
_"A magic weapon is _*_typically_*_ a magical version of a weapon from the Player's Handbook. (...) If no weapon type is specified, you may _*_choose the type_*_ or determine it randomly."_
Yay, artificer!
"Ball and board!" XD
A flail and fence character
I find the lvl 1 feature is more useful in tashas a 10 ft light source, the ability to leave messages or create distraction sounds or leave a message for someone either as a mislead or a legit message then make it disappear to separate someone from a larger group or conceal someone's path. I prefer this to a fre gold worth of items that as an artificer I could make overnight or team up with a forge Cleric.
As for replicate magic item you might have that +1 weapon and shield but I like things like the +1-3 All purpose tool you can choose to have a cantrip for 8 hours from any spell list and it is a + item for artificer spells. Later on your can do things like make amulet of health, Headband of intellect, amd a belt of hill giant strength so 19 CON, 19 INT, 21 STR. then you still have slots for theee other attunement Items. And this is without being given magic items.
What're your thoughts on giving all Artificers Extra Attack as a core feature rather than a subclass feature?
I just use the craftman from Valda's Spire of Secrets :)
Sword and Board -> Ball and Wall
I would take instant fortress.
I still wish subclasses gave artificers unique infusions/magic items like an auto injector for the alchemist
Your gonna have to change the channel name to Goliath Guides at this point😂😂
I do think Artificers should be able to add some effect to already Magical weapons, maybe not the full infusion list, but some sort of bonus to weapons they are attuned to. I think the Infusion system should be around, but give them a series of properties they can use to customise a weapon they have. So give them a list of stuff like Returning Weapon, Radiant Weapon, but also let them infuse effects from Cantrips like Vicious Mockery or Chill Touch into the attacks as well. As they level up they can add effects from low level spells as well. If it gets to be too powerful, make it that you can add a single effect to a weapon used by another player, but when you attune to them you can use 2-3 effects that you choose when you hit the attack. I don’t know, something about how they changed it with 5.24 UA just doesn’t sit right with me.
Lol, the dead condition is a powerful form of control - should be on a damned Tee
Engagement