How To Build An Artillerist Artificer In D&D 5e (2024)

The artificer is the only class added over Fifth Edition's entire lifespan, adding something more niche and complex than typical player options. The Artillerist is one of D&D 5e's classic Artificer Specialist subclasses. It emphasizes magical firepower over everything else, combining souped-up cantrips with other types of arcane barrage.

At the same time, the Artillerist artificer can be a challenging character to build and manage in D&D 5e. It's a spellcasting-focused subclass that has no more spell slots than the game's other half-casters. It also comes with far more options than most other builds. Making the best Artillerist artificer build in D&D 5e requires a player to know what they're doing at every point of the process.

Artillerist Artificer Build Summary

Perks Of An Artillerist Artificer Build

Unlike some other artificer subclasses in D&D 5e, the Artillerist doesn't attempt to blend weaponry and magic. It leans more into the class' spellcasting side than the Battle Smith or Armorer. Its features encourage blasting enemies with area-of-effect abilities or single-target damage spells. At the same time, it has impressive support abilities, similar to most other artificers, and significant utility. The Artillerist is the best artificer subclass in D&D 5e for players who want to occupy many party roles, but without sacrificing their damage in the process.

Eldritch Cannon is the D&D 5e Artillerist artificer's central feature. They use their action to create a cannon, either handheld or autonomous, that fires as a bonus action. Its three possible permutations fill different roles. The Force Ballista deals impressive single-target damage at range, while the Flamethrower deals damage in a much shorter-ranged area. The Protector gives nearby creatures temporary hit points every turn, potentially mitigating vast amounts of damage for the entire party.

Arcane Firearm gives the Artillerist firepower of its own in D&D 5e without having to rely on their cannons. An Artillerist artificer build can enhance their arcane focus to bolster the damage of their spells by d8. This applies to all targets of one damage roll, encouraging single-use area spells for maximum damage. Combined with other Artillerist artificer features, this can make them one of the most vicious blaster spellcasters in D&D 5e.

Explosive Cannon buffs Eldritch Cannon's damage by 1d8 each. This the Force Ballista and Flamethrower some of the best damage a player can deal with their bonus action in D&D 5e, especially if the Flamethrower catches multiple targets. The ability to detonate turrets for area damage is situational, but a potential last-ditch effort that can stem a horde of enemies.

Fortified Position makes the Artillerist one of the D&D 5e artificer's best subclasses for offense and defense. Allies within ten feet of an Eldritch Cannon get the benefit of half-cover, making them significantly harder to hit. In addition, the Artillerist can create two cannons at once and fire both with their bonus action. This lets them double down on blasting foes or run a Protector without sacrificing their impressive bonus action damage.

Best Stats For An Artillerist Artificer Build

Artificers depend even more on their Intelligence than most D&D 5e classes rely on their core stats. They're designed to use one ability score over everything else. The Artillerist uses Intelligence for base artificer features like spellcasting and Flash of Genius. It also determines the attack bonus, saving throw DC, and temporary hit points of the Artillerist's Eldritch Cannons. As a result, .

Constitution is another vital ability score for any D&D 5e Artillerist artificer. Despite their impressive defensive capabilities, they only have d8 hit die, making them potentially fragile in combat. Constitution helps augment their stamina, particularly for artificers who fight near the front lines or use a handheld Protector Eldritch Cannon on melee allies. It also helps them maintain Concentration on the D&D 5e artificer's flexible array of buffs, debuffs, and lingering damage spells.

Dexterity is important for Artillerist artificers in D&D 5e, but less so than other ability scores. The artificer class can get some of the game's highest Armor Class with only medium armor, allowing them to function with a Dexterity of 14. As a result, most D&D 5e Artillerist artificer builds can get reasonable Dexterity at character creation and ignore it afterward.

The Best Race & Background For An Artillerist Artificer Build

Variant human and custom lineage are among the best race options in D&D 5e for any character. This includes an Artillerist artificer build. Even though Artillerists have fewer ability scores to increase than many other characters, they still benefit from a long list of feats. Variant human and custom lineage let them get some of the best choices from a very low level without spending their valuable Ability Score Improvements.

Fairy is an unconventional D&D 5e race choice that benefits many Artillerist artificer builds. At-will flight is a game-changing ability, particularly for a class that wants to fight at range. Furthermore, its free spellcasting helps supplement the artificer's spell slots and free up other prepared spells. The light armor limitation can hamper an Artillerist artificer's Armor Class in D&D 5e, but the many benefits are likely worth a few more points in Dexterity.

, has plenty to offer as well. Its most impressive contributions are defensive. Poison Resistance is welcome for any character. Magic Resistance is even better, especially with a high-level artificer's saving throws. It makes it almost impossible for the character to fall victim to hostile magic. Its bonus spells are also welcome, particularly options like Suggestion that open new doors for an Artillerist artificer build in D&D 5e.

Artificer backgrounds in D&D 5e should emphasize their Intelligence skills over all else, with a side focus on tools. Cloistered Scholar gives History and another knowledge skill, giving the character free rein to be an expert at most subjects of their choice. The Investigator gives Investigation as a more active use of Intelligence alongside one of D&D 5e's best skills in Perception and two powerful tool choices.

Best 5e Feats For Artillerist Artificers

War Caster is particularly valuable for an Artillerist artificer with a focus on Concentration spells in D&D 5e. Combined with their natural Constitution saving throw proficiency, it makes it near-impossible for an artificer to lose Concentration to most damage. While its components feature isn't necessary, artificers may sometimes end up on the frontlines and well-placed to cast high-damage spells with their reaction.

Fey Touched. It pays off significantly for artificers. Misty Step is an invaluable spell artificers don't typically get. In addition, their half-caster spell slots encourage finding other ways to cast spells as often as possible. A free first-level Divination or Enchantment spell also fills many gaps in their list.

Elemental Adept is ideal for D&D 5e Artillerist artificers focusing on one damage type. Their Arcane Firearm applies bonus damage regardless of element, but their spell list naturally tends toward Fire for many of its best spells. Ignoring Fire damage resistance and providing a modest damage boost is a welcome use of a feat.

Metamagic Adept is one of the best feats in D&D 5e for any spellcaster. Even a handful of Metamagic and Sorcery Points adds unprecedented flexibility. An Artillerist artificer makes frequent use of their bonus actions with Eldritch Turrent, but Quickened Spell can be a game-changer with the right magic. Distant Spell lets the Artillerist use its best spells from long raise, whilst Subtle Spell can allow for surreptitious casting or prevent enemy Counterspells.

Gift of the Metallic Dragon is a more esoteric feat in D&D 5e, but still welcome on an Artillerist artificer. Its free Cure Wounds can save on spell slots and let them prepare a different spell. Similarly, its Protective Wings feature complements an artificer build's impressive Armor Class without casting spell slots. It can also keep allies safe, particularly if they're already boosted by Fortified Position.

The Best Spells For An Artillerist Artificer

The D&D 5e Artillerist artificer has one of the game's best bonus spell lists. Every option is something new for their spell list with a clear combat use. Shield adds to an artificer's impressive Armor Class for the ultimate defense. Scorching Ray is a go-to combat option, while Thunderwave, Shatter, Fireball, and Cone of Cold are invaluable area-of-effect attacks bolstered by Arcane Firearm. The wall spells risk being situational, but Wall of Force remains one of D&D 5e's best ways to remove enemies from a fight at high levels.

The base artificer spell list in D&D 5e has other combat spells, even if Artillerists need their bonus spells for most raw damage. Artillerists want at least one reliable combat option like Fire Bolt. For leveled spells, they have options like Tasha's Caustic Brew, Heat Metal, and Bigby's Hand. The real combat meat lies in defensive spells, such as Absorb Elements, Sanctuary, and Blink, alongside their bonus Shield.

Despite a D&D 5e Artillerist artificer build's focus on damage, their support options shouldn't be underestimated. Cure Wounds can mean the difference between life and death for an ally. Aid is always invaluable, even with low-level spell slots. Both Lesser and Greater Restoriation have their place. Furthermore, artificers in have buffs like Enhance Ability, Fly, and Haste, as well as .

D&D 5e Artillerist artificers can also provide utility spells without compromising their combat abilities. Identify is a must-have, given the artificer's focus on magic items. They also have spells like Detect Magic, Dispel Magic, Arcane Lock, Rope Trick, and more. This even extends to their cantrips, with Mending being a must-take to restore their Eldritch Cannons.

The Best Artificer Infusions For An Artillerist Build

Enhanced Arcane Focus is almost necessary for a D&D 5e Artillerist artificer build. Given how much they rely on their spells for damage, and that their Eldritch Turrets use their spell attack bonus, they want to bolster it by any means necessary. Between Enhanced Arcane Focus and Arcane Firearm, they can have more accurate and damaging spells than any other spellcasting build in D&D 5e.

Enhanced Defense is an evergreen Artificer Infusion in D&D 5e that benefits any character. With medium armor, a shield, and the Shield spell, an artificer can become almost impossible to hit with Enhanced Defense. Other defensive options are also invaluable, such as Resistant Armor to protect against common damage types or Repulsion Shield to punish melee enemies.

Spell Refueling Ring helps mitigate a D&D 5e Artillerist artificer's low spell slots, particularly if they have many enemies to blast in an adventuring day. Although its bonus spell slot can only go up to third level, that's still enough to give the artificer another damage-boosted Fireball.

More conventional magic items are another valuable choice for Artillerist artificer infusions in D&D 5e. Slippers of Spider Climbing help them avoid melee enemies without needing to cast a buff spell on themselves, allowing them to blast with near-impunity. A Cloak of Protection stacks with their many other sources of Armor Class to make them even tankier. Even more generic utility options like Bag of Holding and Sending Stones have their place in the party.

Multiclassing A 5e Artillerist Artificer

Artillerist artificers get invaluable features from both their class and subclass throughout. As a result, they're best-suited not multiclassing. However, there are some invaluable artificer multiclasses in D&D 5e that can help an Artillerist build.

One or two wizard levels help provide larger spell slots for bigger blasting spells while rounding out the Artillerist's low-level selection with useful options like Magic Missile. In addition, some Arcane Tradition features in D&D 5e are invaluable for an Artillerist artificer build, such as the School of Evocation's Sculpt Spells helping protect allies from area-of-effect damage or the War Wizard providing an initiative buff and yet more protection features with Tactical Wit and Arcane Deflection.

A delay the Artillerist artificer's multiclassing. Nonetheless, they can be worth it for the Defense Fighting Style's Armor Class bonus and Action Surge. Few enemies can survive two damage spells boosted by Arcane Firearm and an Eldritch Turret shot in one turn unscathed.

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