Wizards of the Coast released an update to the Artificer class a few weeks ago! This update includes new subclasses, spell list changes, and an alteration to multiclassing. Let’s go over what’s new and what’s different!

What’s changed

The core text of the Artificer and its progression remain the same. This Artificer update features these changes:

  • New subclasses: the Archivist and the Battle Smith
  • Spell list changes: Xanathar’s Guide to Everything spells, added a few other spells and removed one
  • New item infusions: Enhanced Wand, Repeating Shot, and Repulsion Shield
  • Multiclassing changes: changed how spell slots are calculated

New subclasses

The Archivist and the Battle Smith were added as subclasses! The Archivist is a chronicler and master of information, and the Battle Smith is a protector and combat medic.

The Archivist

The Archivist has the ability to create artificial intelligences (no, really) and has a deep understanding of the mind’s inner workings.

At 3rd level, their Tools of the Trade grant them the calligrapher’s and forgery kit. They also get their artificer subclass crafting perk to creating scrolls.

Their subclass spells include dissonant whispers, detect thoughts, and phantasmal killer.

They also gain the Artificial Mind feature, which allows them to make a friend make a Siri manifest a mind in a nonmagical item. It gains abilities like a familiar, can manifest as a holographic entity, and can attack via information overload.

At 6th level, the Mind Network feature lets you engage in 2-way telepathy with someone who has an item you’ve used Infuse Item on. This telepathy even goes across planes. You also gain a bonus to the artificial mind’s attack damage.

At 14th level, the Pure Information feature allows you to add more damage to the information overload attack through using spell slots. The target of the attack can even become stunned for a short time if they fail a saving throw.

Lastly, you get the power of Infoportation (no, that’s not a typo) meaning that you can use your artificial mind item to turn yourself into information and teleport. You can teleport yourself to a space nearby another item you’ve used the Infuse Item feature on. This works once for free per long rest, and you can expend 2nd or higher level spell slots to do more than once per long rest.

Additionally, the Archivist subclass area has an interesting note about archivists and the creation of the warforged in Eberron.

The Battle Smith

The Battle Smith commands a beastlike construct and is a potent ally on the battlefield.

At 3rd level, their Tools of the Trade feature grants them leatherworker’s and smith’s tools, as well as a perk towards crafting armor.

Their subclass spells include searing smite, aura of vitality, and mass cure wounds. They have spells that can be found on the paladin or cleric spell list.

They also gain proficiency with martial weapons and the ability to add their Intelligence modifier to their attacks made with a magic weapon (instead of Strength or Dexterity).

The Iron Defender is a metal pet friend construct companion that can repair itself, cannot be surprised, and is a helpful defender. It can use its reaction to impose disadvantage on an attack roll against another creature, like the Defensive fighting style.

At 6th level, the iron defender’s bite attack becomes magical for the sake of resistances.

You can use the Arcane Jolt feature to channel energy through your attack or iron defender’s stack to either boost your damage or heal a creature/object within 30 feet. You can activate that feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (per long rest).

At 14th level, the Arcane Jolt damage and healing gets a boost. As well, the iron defender’s pounce reaction automatically inflicts force damage.

Spell list changes

The Artificer’s spell list got something of an overhaul—many spells from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything were added, a couple from the Player’s Handbook were added, and one was removed.

Cantrips:

Create bonfire, frostbite, magic stone, and thunderclap were added from XGtE.

1st Level Spells:

Absorb elements, catapult, and snare were added from XGtE. Faerie fire and featherfall were added from the PHB, and shield of faith was removed.

2nd Level Spells:

Pyrotechnics and skywrite were added from XGtE.

3rd Level Spells:

Catnap, flame arrows, and tiny servant were added from XGtE.

4th Level Spells:

Elemental bane and vitriolic sphere were added from XGtE.

5th Level Spells:

Skill empowerment and transmute rock were added from XGtE.

Item infusions

Three new infusions were added: the Enhanced Wand, the Repeating Shot, and the Repulsion Shield.

The Enhanced Wand is a +1 wand that becomes +2 when the artificer reaches 12th level, and the user can ignore half cover when they make a spell attack.

The Repeating Shot is applied to a simple or martial weapon with the ammunition property; the weapon no longer requires ammunition (arrows, etc.) and is a +1 weapon when making ranged attacks. You can also ignore its loading property if it has one.

The Repulsion Shield allows the shield to add an extra +1 bonus to its wielder’s AC. Additionally, when its wielder is hit, they can use their reaction to push the attacker up to 15 feet away (once per rest).

Multiclassing

Multiclassing works about the same with the Artificer class except for one key difference—to determine your total spell slots, you apply half your artificer levels and round up instead of down.

I love seeing Unearthed Arcana stuff grow and change. My favorite thing about this update is the Archivist subclass. What are your thoughts? Favorite/least favorite thing about the update? Let me know in the comments!