Artificer Battle Smith guide: The Techno-Knight

My first Artificer build. This build is a Gnome techno-knight, mounted on their Steel Defender, the Techno-Knight uses a Lance and Shield in combat, with their gizmos flying around firing support.
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The final build can be found here:
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Introduction to the Artificer: • The Artificer D&D 5e: ...
Artificer questions answered: • The Artificer: Questio...

[@Porphyrogenitus1]

The Techno-Knight is a member of the Order of the Cobra Motto: Strike hard ~ Strike Fast ~ Gnome Ercy~!

[@mdsyabil]

My first artificer build is a warforged battlesmith with a steel defender who looks exactly like him and a homunculus servant which is just a tiny flying version of him

[@Porphyrogenitus1]

They all nest inside of each other like Matryoshka and at the very center of it all is a fine-sized gremlin that operates all the controls (including those of "your" warforged battlesmith). The controls are arrayed sort of like the *Machine of Lum the Mad*

[@OlderSnake]

This is so tempting

[@Indomakio]

Multiclass into Echo Knight for the ultimate Egotistical character

[@vernonhampton5863]

Does he call him... Mini-Me?

[@svarten70]

You can take something useful at 1:st level, like fire bolt or Frostbite. And then switch out to Mending at level 3 when you actually get use for it. (Artificer can change cantrips as well)

[@acm4bass]

Heat Metal: Cook and book

[@ChristnThms]

Love it! I've been drooling over playing a Battlesmith ever since I read it. I wasn't looking at using the defender as a mount, but it sure seems to synergize well. This ends up being much closer to what I've wanted from the other half casters for a long time. WOOHOO!!! Btw, I love that you include using the infused items to boost the rest of the group too. This class is going to be a real boon to groups who cooperate well.

[@Startoshadows]

Mending isn't useful until level 3 for Battle Smith and 6 for other artificers. Since you can swap out a cantrip each time you take an artificer level, I think it would be better to take a more useful cantrip in the meantime.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Was switching out cantrips a UA thing? I don't see it in the official version

[@Startoshadows]

@@TreantmonksTemple It was in the UA, but it's also in the official version. On page 55, under Spellcasting -> Cantrips (0 - Level Spells), the last sentence: "When you gain a level in this class, you can replace one of the artificer cantrips you know with another cantrip from the artificer spell list."

[@TreantmonksTemple]

@@Startoshadows I had missed that feature - thanks for letting me know.

[@irian42]

Great built! I originally was looking for a Battlesmith that would allow melee weapon in main hand and hand crossbow in the off hand, but as this seems impossible, this is the next best thing for me! Thanks!

[@michaelellis772]

Crossbow expert and/or repeating weapon infusion? I feel like Artificer is the only character that can do that.

[@Startoshadows]

One thing you might consider at level 6 is to give one of those reaction-granting infusions to other player's equipment since the Battle Smith already can use Shield/Absorb elements as a reaction. (Make sure you still have at least one infusion equipped so you can cast spells through it though.)

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Good idea

[@kmoustakas]

For my artificer, I went with guidance and magic stone at level 1, dagger and sling. Remember that artificers can CHANGE their cantrips on level up, so at level 3 absolutely switch magic stone with mending since you now have something to repair.

[@shannonjackson3040]

I'm new to D&D and I really liked the sound or a gnome artificier battlesmith but was struggling with understanding how to achieve it. This build was exactly what I was wanting and it was extremely informative. I love how you explained everything in detail, the how's and why's for certain choices. One thing I've had a problem with as a beginner is getting help to understand this class. Most the people I play with never switch up their classes much and dont feel the artificier is all that. I can't thank you enough for making this video!!!

[@Erufailon42]

Gotta say, I love this character. I'm playing a dark gnome with rolled stats, and the ability to rely on intelligence is pretty good as that is my only stat above 14 or so. I'm currently level 4, and the ability to run circles around enemies and demount in tight corridors with the cassowary acting as my shield has been pretty awesome. Oh, by the way my steel defender is a cassowary. Thanks for helping me in my choices for this character.

[@markvfarrugia]

Something you can consider for levels 1-2 is to start with the Magic Stone cantrip, and replace it when you reach level 3 (since Artificers can swap cantrips every level anyway). For Alchemist/Artillerist, you can swap it later at level 5 when Fire Bolt becomes better.

[@JamesNino]

definitely the best guide on yt for this type of character, thank you so much. joining my first dnd group this month

[@karpmageddon4155]

I like using a kobold for this because while I love gnomes, pack tactics with a mount is just too good. And if you throw in levels of rogue you can then add sneak attack on top to make your damage output even better.

[@justinjacobs1501]

Got a kobold Battle Smith who's Steel Defender is a suit of power armor... They have an AC of twenty, know the shield and absorb elements spells, and the Steel Defender can impose disadvantage on attacks against him. He fights waist deep in the brawl with his +1 Longsword.

[@othin5229]

lance is disadvantage while within 5 ft. pack tactics is within 5 ft. you would need another ally in order for this to work, or use a different weapon.

[@karpmageddon4155]

@@othin5229 The mount you are on is your ally. ☻

[@othin5229]

@@karpmageddon4155 yes it is, but Lances have disadvantage within 5 ft so they cancel each other out. Straight roll.

[@othin5229]

@@karpmageddon4155 I was talking about the topic of a lance, you were obviously talking about using finesse weapons, I just read about your sneak attack portion. We are both right in different contexts lol. My bad.

[@seankeaney823]

I know it is DM dependent, do not forget the proficiency in Firearms at first level. Repeating Shot on a pistol that does 1d10 + dex or int[@3rd] is better than a d6 hand crossbow in almost all ways as long as you don’t care about stealth. It will be an even option with fire bolt past 17th level.

[@KarmaEpsilon]

Yes! Lance using Battlesmith until he gets a Holy Avenger was where I was plotting to take my Deep Gnome in our next campaign actually

[@zeedar412]

I am really glad you didn't go for the crossbow master /sharpshooter build. It is the most boring thing ever.

[@BreakingStarGames]

And Battlemasters do it best. Maneuvers being part of the attack and precision attack being insane with sharpshooter.

[@vernonhampton5863]

... maybe I'm showing my age here, but when I read Techno-Knight I kept getting images in my head of Technoman (aka Tekka-man Blade), from the 90s. But this is an interesting build, if I ever play artificer battlesmilth, i will play as a small character that can mount a steel defender.

[@Porphyrogenitus1]

> Robo-doggo Like from Battlestar Galactica. Younguns won't know what I mean because the recent series had no rob't-dogs. But Treantmonk will.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Muffet if I recall. Also don't forget K9 from Dr Who.

[@Porphyrogenitus1]

@@TreantmonksTemple K-9 is a much much better example. I should kick myself for not thinking of him first. That was the best era of Who.

[@binolombardi]

I think the battle smiths damage can have a bit more burst to it than is accounted for. The battle smith can use the arcane jolts as mini smites when attacking. The limitation on being per turn. The steel defender shares your imitative, but takes its turn after yours. This means that if given a bonus action command to attack, its successful attack occurs on a different turn and can be used again. Another potentially useful way to use the steel defender is that it can take opportunity attacks which can also jolt. Maneuver the steel defender to intercept an enemy and it may have to choose to deal with it or go to you. Either way it is advantageous. -Uses action to disengage to get to you(doesn’t use its action for more impactful choices) -provokes opportunity attack to reach you(potentially takes the hit and maybe a jolt) -focuses on the defender( your hitpoints are a little safer that round) And all of those jolts can be used to burst heal while still doing damage.

[@ordinaryguysgaming2655]

The Artificer I just made for a Descent into Avernus I picked shocking grasp as my cantrip. Because we are starting at level 2 I used my starting gold to pick up a shield and Enhance defense.

[@sesimie]

Mechs in my Fantasy game?!!! That's pretty metal!

[@LordMorin]

I went with a human (variant) battle smith artificer 4/Wizard war mage 2. My feats were crossbow expert at 1st & sharpshooter at 4th. I went artificer 1, wizard 2, and then artificer +3. Because we are playing in Eberron, the DM is using the option that we started with an extra 200 gp. I bought a hand crossbow and shield right off the get go. Because I am not proficient with hand crossbow at this level I only have a +2 (DEX 14) to hit, but I can attack twice per round (Action & Bonus Action). The 2 levels of wizard give me extra spells slots, Arcane Deflection, and the ability to add my INT to my initiative. At 2nd level of artificer I took Repeating Shot (of course), Goggles of Night, Enhanced Defense, and Enhanced Weapon. I usually use the first 2. At 3rd level artificer, I went Battle Smith and am now proficient with my hand crossbow. My Steel Defender is a humanoid-formed bodyguard. At 4th level, I took Sharpshooter. I am still getting used to the changes to my character from UA to RftLW, so we'll see how it goes from here.

[@thenicro]

But forcing an enemy to attack you instead of your mount means your steel defender can then use its reaction ability 'deflection' to impose disadvantage on attacks against you

[@davidthomas2870]

I'm playing a similar idea to the techno knight gnome right now. I'm level 1 right now so idk if the lancer build works yet, but in theory it should. We also have a devotion paladin and a fighter who's thinking of possibly going calvalier, so we be the heavy cavalry party now! Also, why take mending at first level? Why not take magic stone so you can still use your int for weapon attacks, albeit on a fairly weak weapon that also allows you to use a shield? Then you can swap for Mending as it becomes necessary. I've been using magic stones, a sling and shield and the extra AC has already saved my bacon.

[@anthonynorman7545]

Can one load the sling with a shield wielded?

[@davidthomas2870]

@@anthonynorman7545 considering how long people did exactly that in real life, I would certainly expect so. In game, slings do not have the loading or two handed property, so it seems pretty reasonable to use one with a shield in your other hand. You could probably even dual weild them with the Dual Weilder feat (which would be quite impressive if someone could actually do that, but I expect somewhat ineffective).

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@davidthomas2870 a sling still has the ammunition property, so a free hand is needed to load it. Lacking the loading property means on can attack with it multiple times in the same turn (extra attack). Standard shields cause a hand to not be free in 5e.

[@davidthomas2870]

@@anthonynorman7545 huh. Reading over that again, I guess you are technically correct with RAW. After consulting my DM on the matter, he is continuing to allow me to do this for my 1 attack per round right now, so I guess I am sorta getting away with something I'm not supposed to.

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@davidthomas2870 congrats on getting the homebrew in your favor

[@speycah]

All I can see in my head is a gnome artificer sitting on his warforged steel defender who has a chair as a head. When mounting, the defender picks him up and puts him in the chair. Annnnd added to the list of character ideas. I just realized... what I'm picturing is a mech. You can even reflavor some spells as mech weapons, like Web would be an easy one. Holy moly I have to play this character.

[@karpmageddon4155]

If your DM isn't cool about reflavoring things then you can armor up your steel defender and once the armor is infused it can act as your spellcasting focus. Therefore allowing you a mechanical reason for why your spells are being used through your "mech", as well as boosting its AC.

[@speycah]

Karpmageddon Interesting. I would have just flavored the castings through the mount when I was sitting on it, and then flavored it differently when not.

[@karpmageddon4155]

@@speycah Of course you can always do that and I think most DMs be fine with that. But for those who aren't, a mechanical reason is there for us mech enthusiasts.

[@speycah]

Karpmageddon yup. I hope I'll never play under a DM who suppresses reflavoring. Makes for much more characters when you ignore PHB flavor text and think of your own.

[@karpmageddon4155]

@@speycah If I was the DM I'd be fine with it. I might even consider infusions like enhanced defense to be useable on the steel defender, since it's not considered magical and not much different than a suit of armor in terms of what it's constructed from.

[@martenkrings6081]

I have a slight concern about this build, and I'm not sure you've taken it into account, though I may also have missed it. The Steel Defender says that you need to use your bonus action to have it use anything other than the Dodge action. The Homunculus Servant requires the same. A controlled mount does not give you an alternative mechanism that allows you to have the Steel defender use anything other than the Dodge action. Meaning you still need to use your bonus action. This means that the Homunculus Servant can only attack when you don't have the Steel Defender Disengage that turn, which you will generally want to do, because you need the distance to your enemies to not have to attack with disadvantage using your lance. So while this is a melee build, if you try to be the barrier between you and the backline, or you fight against fast enemies, it will put a dent in the damage you do from level 6 upward. Though that is still an increase over level 5, because damage sometimes is more than damage never.

[@ekenks8650]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention the spell-storing items combo with the aid spell. If you have an INT of 20, you get 10 charges per long rest. If you use them to start the day, you’re giving out 150 total hit points. You can make up for your d8 hit die while buffing the hell out of your allies - all without using up a spell slot

[@Balcamion79]

I want to do a legless war forged that fuses with his steel defender like a centaur.

[@luiswi]

19:11 couldn't you boost your armorclass with a shield because you have repeating shot and don't need to reload?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

No, I need 2 hands for a light crossbow, and I don't get proficiency in hand crossbow until the next level

[@luiswi]

@@TreantmonksTemple oh you're right I always mess those two up.

[@robertarrington8323]

How about taking the Sentinel feat with this character? someone hits you, you push them 15 feet away with Repulsion Shield, and when they move back in to attack again, you get an attack of opportunity with your lance while they're still 10 feet away.

[@ExplosiveFloofBall]

both of those require a reaction of which you only get one per round

[@deathless12345678]

Flash of genius is fucking gold! Guaranteed inspiration on Anything but attacks and damage. I have twisted all out of combat with this. And shut down much of combat with it as well

[@ryanparks3413]

I like the combo of enlarge on the steel defender mount and mounted combatant to get advanced against medium or smaller creatures.

[@TheJustpassingthroug]

This is great! I would also love to see an artilerist build.

[@DogboyMarc]

Raw states the steel defender shares the battle smiths initiative count, but it takes its turn immediately after the battle smith. So i don't think you have the choice on the steel defender being a controlled or uncontrolled mount.

[@jinxtheunluckypony]

I want to make a battle smith who’s a lonely old man who built himself a robot son. Who doesn’t love Pinocchio?

[@Midironica]

I don't really see Geppetto sicking Pinocchio on his enemies though lol

[@mitchellreid5091]

That is the best name for a battle Gnome

[@WildVii]

Mounted Combatant becomes a great option if you use Enlarge/Reduce on the mount. By making it large, you’ll almost always guarantee advantage.

[@justinjacobs1501]

Also nice is you can force attacks targeting the Defender to target you instead and then the Defender can impose disadvantage.

[@Comicsluvr]

Something my DM has allowed me to do: Spend extra to make crossbow bolts that are all metal Shoot your target, cast heat metal on the bolt.

[@WildVii]

I’m actually quite surprised you didn’t take the Sentinel feat a bit earlier, given the massive reach weapon you’re using here.

[@sonichalo1527]

Last night on DnD beyond, I made a straight artificer build that is just Dr. Eggman from sonic. The steel defender I called metal sonic. Also since the defender is a creature, it should be able to attune to its own magic items. Boots of Speed, rocket propulsion arm, Helm of teleportation, boom.

[@planetfall5056]

Can nonsentient creatures attune to items? I'd expect there to be some minimum amount of intelligence required.

[@sonichalo1527]

@@planetfall5056 reading the attunement rules in the DMG, it just requires spending a short rest focusing on it and meeting the requirements if it has any. A Steel Defender has an INT of 4 and follows your instructions, so it should be able to do something as simple as that. I'd allow a ranger's animal companion to do it as long as it made sense to their body type, so why not a magi-technical creation of a character who specializes in magic items. Rule of Cool.

[@CodexisInkwind]

I hope he comes back and makes an Armorer build

[@binolombardi]

Did you think about using pole arm master and a spear? Int based Bonus action attack, reliable attacks on reaction. Could enhance a halberd and turn a spear into a returning weapon.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I did. It does more damage eventually.

[@RokuroCarisu]

Instead of a dagger, I would suggest a spear as the starting melee weapon. It does more damage than the dagger and you can later infuse it with Returning Weapon, giving it +1 like Enhanced Weapon and an effective range of 20' without disarming yourself on top of that. A handaxe would also work for that matter, with less potential melee damage but the option to dual-wield it with a hand crossbow.

[@shalomcollege6482]

interesting, I thought more about using the Steel Defender like a Gundam and using Infusion to improve it.

[@etherealhawk]

You're thinking of the Armorer subclass

[@ricardogranelli]

I want to build an IronMan like character with this class, if the DM allow it i'll want to make the iron defender the 'armor' im using on top a fullplate, essencially make the armor use me as the mount.. the armor could not move without me but it keeps the bonus and the reaction in this scenario. also im thinking in dipping 1lvl in forge cleric for the heavy armor profiency and some usefulls cantrips + the forge can enchant +1AC on the shield and the artificer +1AC on the armor with the infusion, giving 18+1+2+1 = 22 AC at lvl 4

[@ricardogranelli]

@@Erufailon42 Yeah thats true, maybe it could be something like: deep gnome (point buy) 8 str 13+1 dex 14 con 14+2 int 14 wis 9 cha 1 lvl forge cleric 10 lvl battle smith using half plate until you get the infusion to make a Gauntlets of Ogre Power , giving 19 in str and wearing the fullplate as an upgrade on the 'armor'

[@TreantmonksTemple]

That will be an artillerist build

[@ricardogranelli]

The stats sure do, but i want the feeling of a full body suit like a Mecha (Gundam / Patlabor) or something like the the IronMan armor.. the ideia of just being a normal person with a suit that makes you powerful With that in mind the Battle Smith is ideal 'lore wise', and with a bit of change on the flavor of the steel defender, making him your sentient armor, upgrading him as the game goes, enchanting him with 'mechanical magical' weapons like describing the Catapult spell as a missel firing from the armor, it just feels nice.

[@acm4bass]

So with spells like dimension door and thunder step you can only take another creature of the same size or smaller. So a gnome wouldn't be able to transport his mount, which needs to be at a size larger, is there a reasonable dip or character feature which allows you to cast spells on yourself and a mount? Paladin perhaps? and if so is there a way to make a artificer and mount transport work?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

No, any share spells features from find steed would not work on the steel defender

[@bigdream_dreambig]

The Artificer doesn't get any teleportation spells, so this is a non-issue unless you multiclass.

[@Moumentai]

Working on my first DnD character. This made me want to try out a battle smith kobold with a allosaur mount. A bit of inspiration from Primal. And since my kobold isn't exactly beefy I thought that a light crossbow would be nice and help with ranged combat.

[@earllemongrab6913]

Why would you lose the bonus action attack when you mount the steel defender? From my understanding the Specific trumps General rule means that since the steel defender rules apply only to itself and the mounted combat rules apply to all potential mounts, the steel defender wins and so its rules take precedent. Although this means it would be forced to take its turn after yours, you can still bonus action attack/grapple/help/disengage/etc (remember you're not limited to just attack action for the steel defender). If you dont command it with a bonus action, it can only dodge.

[@thecharmer5981]

Artificer bards are Techno-dancers. Seriously though imagine a bard artificer artillerist who’s arcane firearm is a electric guitar

[@SenorVilla]

I think amps would work better for the canons, leave the main guitar for the player themselves.

[@ekenks8650]

My DM had us make back-ups to play for nights not everyone could show up for sessions, and I did this build but with a kobold using the Tasha’s origin. At level 4, this build is incredibly fun, and your steel defender activates your pack tactics, which cancels the disadvantage from lance. Moving forward, my question would be can your homunculus use a ring of spell storage? If it can maintain concentration on flight or haste, you could have two concentration spells to really make you into an even more unique class opportunity

[@faithkeep]

Hi Mr. Treantmonk sir, just a question: Wouldn't Mounted Combatant Feat be actually worth it? Granted, you won't usually take advantage of the first bullet point since your mount is medium size, but here's some points: 1. You will definitely be tougher than your steel defender. You will have way more AC which you could augment with Shield Spell. A battle smith with 14 Dexterity, half plate (infused with Enhanced Defense (+2 at level 10)), shield (infused with Repulsion Shield (+1)), and maybe a Cloak of Protection and a Ring of Protection, would have a standing AC of 24 (29 on rounds where the Shield Spell is active) at level 10. This would be way more effective than a steel defender's static 15 AC (17 at level 15). All this means that it would be more desirable to have attacks aimed at you. Even if it an attack somehow hits, you will have predictably more HP than your steel defender. Average level 10 HP of a 14 CON battle smith is 73, while steel defender would have 57. This disparity would be even greater when you get replicate Amulet of Health at level 14. 2. In addition, if you are being attacked, not only will you be able to use Shield Spell, your steel defender would also be able to use Deflect Attack. Again this means it would be way easier to keep you alive than your steel defender. For that one attack that's really gonna hurt, your enemy would be targeting your 29 AC at a disadvantage, instead of your steel defender's 15 AC using a straight roll. 3. If all attacks are aimed at you, the biggest thing your steel defender would be vulnerable to are DEX save effects. And the last bullet point will help it survive those, especially when you augment it with your Flash of Genuis. 4. I do not know that the steel defender is easier to heal and/or keep up than the artificer itself. I see mending as a way to heal the steel defender, but it's basically an out of combat heal for 2d6. I suppose it's easy to "revive" the steel defender, but really, the idea is to not let it fall in the first place, otherwise you would not have the mount for the rest of combat. Really, I think a mounted combatant's greatest weakness is its mount's toughness (or lack thereof). Taking away the mount takes away the concept of such build. Sure, a steel defender mount scales better than most other mounts, but it's still less likely to survive than you, the rider. Hope I can get your thoughts on this. Thank you for your time! More power to you. Edited for additional details.

[@earllemongrab6913]

If you get Mounted Combatant, you can force all attacks to it back onto you. Then it can give that attack disadvantage with Deflect Attack. If you go Autognome (construct) you can also have Steel Defender use Repair on you with your bonus action (2d8) which adds survivability.

[@jonathanmorphew6786]

I'm making a kobald battle smith. Who's focus is ac. I plan on going medium armor master feat, repulsion shield, enhanced defence, cloak of protection, and ring of protection when they become available. Plus 1 lvl fighter to get +1ac. Add it all togeather you get 26 ac. Then cast haste and have tiny servent cast blur using spell storing . 28 ac and if need shield

[@Adurnis]

I'm a little late to the party, but two notes to make: -You get to decide whether your Steel Defender has 4 legs or 2, so when you reach level 10 and Winged Boots become available, change your doggy to an ostrich to stick those winged boots on it. -For your spell-storing item, an interesting idea is to put warding bond in it and give it to your Defender.

[@arsov9885]

I love the idea.

[@PapaDeuce999]

I love these builds

[@luiswi]

Does a magic item used as an improvised weapon count as a magic weapon? Can you use your int mod on attacks with it?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I think that would be up to your DM

[@Banejbt]

I'd rule that as yes, but you'd need Tavern Brawler if you want the proficiency bonus.

[@TabithaFoxglove]

My first thought with an Eberron campaign was a Talenta halfling riding a mechanical velociraptor

[@thecorhamm1]

Could using an enlarge spell on your mount allow you to take advantage of the mounted combatant feat?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

If you cast enlarge on your mount, it becomes too big for a small sized creature to use as a mount.

[@PedroHISilva]

Mine was initially a human battle Smith who was supposed to be good in dpr and support. Suddenly I became the only melee and I am effectively playing as a tank. But I had to take sentinel to punish my opponents. I am at level 4 not using shield, but still a +1 Maul. So far surviving, but I may go back to shield and warhammer build at some point.

[@hansolo9686]

Thank you for this! I was trying to work out the whole Lance thing and this Helps a lot! Now I can finally be a Wolf Rider!! (Wendy Pini Graphic Novels). I will actually take Firebolt at first level though: can use a shield and plus 1 to hit....slightly more damage....retrain to Mending at 3rd level....

[@danielmontry5850]

I always suggest a caster use a light crossbow at low levels because your most reliable damage dealing cantrip is firebolt 1d8, but the crossbow is 1d8+dex, so it is almost always better in the long run.

[@bigdream_dreambig]

Fire Bolt is actually 1d10, not 1d8, so I sometimes find myself taking both. Fire Bolt does magical damage, can set an object on fire, has better non-disadvantaged range (120-ft. versus 80/320-ft.), and usually has better odds to hit since it uses your casting ability modifier (typically +3 or +4) instead of Dex (typically +1 or +2, though sometimes +3). For some builds, those better to-hit odds can make Fire Bolt the better choice; even though it'll do slightly less damage, it does so more regularly. In my mind, the real problem with Fire Bolt comes when more enemies start having fire resistance!

[@krazykaz1983OG]

Just wondering if you'd change anything on this build since Tasha's released etc? Any chance of an updated video if you did? By far my favorite character I've ever played. Thanks!

[@Adurnis]

It’s a great build, i’nnit? Just started playing it and have been blown away.

[@krazykaz1983OG]

@@Adurnis the build is amazing, role play options are so fun, power level and effectiveness on point. I have loved playing it.

[@jiiaga5017]

9:45 Mending should 100% NOT be your first cantrip, if starting at level 1. Artificers get the ability to change out cantrips when they level up. You should take anything BUT mending for the first couple levels, to make your life easier, then switch a cantrip out for mending at level 3.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I had missed that feature. You are correct!

[@crystaltriforce64]

in one of the main campaigns we're doing i'm playing a battle smith artificer who is a 10 year old (who's still short for his age) black smith apprentice and the running gag among our group is how the little kid is the smartest among the party (and how he's probably going to be one of the heaviest hitting characters early on)

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Westley Crusher!

[@patrickb.8485]

Love this concept :) Use spell-storing item (web (or vortex warp)) and give it to your steel defender to use. Web launcher that uses it's concentration and ties them up for you. that works right?

[@Zarsla]

Couldn't you just use the dash action to move your mount with a bonus action. If it's an independent mount, then more likely than not your dm is going to give you the ability to control both you & mount.

[@zeugenberg]

Watched this in preparation for a goblin artificer I'll be playing next year. Not quite the concept I aim for but subclass matches, so... you know... optimization. A few minutes in, two questions: Why taking Percepction Prof. by class AND by background? Artificers cannot perform rituals or am I overreading this permanently?

[@TheWoofy88]

The Guild Artisan background doesn't give Perception proficiency. The artificer can perform rituals.

[@zeugenberg]

@@TheWoofy88 ah, i see. It can cast Rituals but only for prepared spells. Great.

[@FatherOfThursday]

I noticed the "guild artisan" background says "You must pay dues of 5 gp per month to the guild. If you miss payments, you must make up back dues to remain in the guild’s good graces." that sounds like a drawback... especially trying to remember to do it. What do you think?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I mean, I guess it depends on the campaign, but I would imagine in most cases when your 9th level character goes to the guild and they say, "you owe us 60 gp!" the artificer would pull out a gem, "this is worth 500gp, I guess you can put the rest towards future months."

[@FatherOfThursday]

@@TreantmonksTemple True. I never thought of it that way.

[@jaytomioka3137]

There are all sorts or RP benefits to being a guild member: 1. Access to materials (often at wholesale) and labor (apprentices) and facilities (workshops and factories); as well as markets for buying and selling. 2. Great adventure hooks and down time opportunity galore! Guild rivalry and secret societies both within and in between cities. The Freemasons started out as a guild of artisans who worked on cathedrals, so what religious affiliations could there be in a fantasy realm? 3. You could use guild affiliations with other institutions to facilitate multi-classing into Wizard,Cleric, Rogue or just about anything. Guilds were the center of Pre-modern economies and they could open or close doors accordingly. 4. Just like Nobles, Guilds are extremely powerful on a social level and some may have more wealth and influence than the aristocracy.

[@anthonyp3452]

10 tiny objects 1d4+4 for 6 rounds which is 60d4+4 potential damage. Now if we do this as a trap with glyph of warding, only 200 gp each cast at 5th level to hold/control more objects, we could set up say... 50 of them for only 10k gp? Worth a dragon hoard as they don't all have nonmagical immunities... So that is 60d4+4 times 50 which comes out to be 3000d4+200 damage. And you can add another 60d4+4 if you cast on top of that. Fun! Please make a video on this or a build that can effectively use this!

[@buddyb3165]

Fun little exploit I found with this subclass and the mounted combatant feat. Artificers get enlarge reduce, Spell Storing item is 1st or 2nd level spell with casting time of 1 action (something your steel defender could use to cast the spell on it'self and hold con). Mounted combatant gives you advantage on attacks aginst creatures other than you and gives you a way to keep your defender from being hit and making con saves for consentration. BECOME THE CAVELRY!

[@PJGamersLLC]

Why not dip into Wizard for find familiar for an advantage on attacks and booming blade? Since you want to keep enemies at a 10ft distance and you are already expecting to give them an AOO, at a disadvantage because of your defender's reaction. This would give you an excellent amount of extra damage.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Booming blade doesn't work with reach attacks, but a 1 level dip in wizard might still be good.

[@jimwolford7294]

@@TreantmonksTemple Instead of the level dip as wizard, you could take the Spell Sniper feat. Take booming blade as the cantrip and its range would be 10 feet.

[@dcyphermanplays8233]

Would you ever consider doing a multi-class of forge cleric with the artificer battlesmith?

[@curthill5185]

Any chance you could do an artificer/gunslinger multi class? I think it has potential to be fun.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I don't believe there is an official gunslinger in D&D

[@curthill5185]

There is some critical role content. I know you try to stay pretty much in books but I thought it could be interesting.

[@americusfallout4777]

I got my artificer the feat to let me use a 1st wizard spell for find familiar than made my steel defender a 16 by 16 large crawfish since the rulles allowed. Than i made a mobile base out of it and familiar as the eyes until i could install a table that let me see outside of the mobile base. It was a mobile crawfish base or MAB for short lol. I added bunkbeds and storage and did safe saving funiture ideas so my party could be in it and enjoy the ride

[@FatherOfThursday]

So can the steel defender use both Deflect Attack and the Help action on the same turn? (I am thinking about two enemies next to each other)

[@texteel]

question: How often do you play with variant encumbrance rules? Because it seems like not a lot. 8x5 = 40 pounds is quite limiting for a moderately armored character, but I do admit I do not know how weight changes on items fit for small races.

[@nicreap8375]

I'm currently playing a gnome artificer with Str 8, and variant encumbrance rules. It requires a lot of inventory management, also spending money to start swapping out your armor. Chain shirt/breastplate (20lbs instead of 40 lbs) are going to be the armor you are aiming for, and if you can pick up one of those you can fit armor, shield, hand crossbow, and lance in without being encumbered. The mount however, will be encumbered, but it still moves faster than you would anyway. My other solution is having the bag of holding within a saddle bag on the iron defender (it's already going to be encumbered 15 pounds more won't matter) and you can then keep all your essential materials close at hand. If you really want to lean heavily into the knight concept, you could just accept being encumbered and not plan on dismounting ever too.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Never. I think few do. It's a lot of extra math and bookkeeping, and slows down the game.

[@davidkramp9731]

@@TreantmonksTemple Our DM ALWAYS uses Encumbrance. There's no way around it. Kind of surprised you don't mention this in your build videos because there has to be more of us that HAVE to use the variant encumbrance rules. :-(

[@Wanderingsage7]

I mean... if you're forced into range, any damage is good damage especially for martial focused characters.

[@TexanGent12]

Is the thinking behind Lucky over an ASI that you have the enhanced weapon so the INT improvement isn’t as needed?

[@jamescarter7986]

So i wad going to build a character very similar to this one but to use a warhammer would the damage drop be too much? Also with the mounted combatant feat could you use it to move an attack on too you that was at the mount then cause it to have disadvantage?

[@Startoshadows]

You could use the mounted combatant feat like that, but honestly it's not a big problem for your mount to get hit, it's a lot easier to heal it than to heal yourself. Mending costs nothing but some time, and if it fully dies it's still only a level 1 spell slot to bring it back.

[@LifeWithRobD]

For my own edification, were you to attempt this repeating hand crossbow build, what do you prioritize in terms of bumping up INT to 20, Sharpshooter, and Crossbow Expert? Is it get the feats first and worry about your stats later because you can pick up the headband of intellect anyway at level 10?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I would get crossbow expert first. Then sharpshooter - then boost Int.

[@hansolo9686]

Would you recommend dipping Wizard at all? When? How much?

[@Twisttheawesome]

So if you are riding on your Steel Defender, are you not able to use your Bonus Action to command it to attack? I don't see where the conflict is.

[@sillvvasensei]

If anybody is looking for an optimized Alchemist build: Race: Mark of Healing Halfling Build: Life Cleric 1 / Alchemist 19 Benefits of build: - Craft potions of healing at a discounted rate and time - 6th level slot, since you round up for Artificer, rather than down like other half casters. - Disciple of Life stacks with Alchemical Savant when healing using Artificer spells. Alchemical Savant doesn't benefit Cleric spells. - Mark of Healing adds Goodberry, Prayer of Healing, Aura of Vitality, and Leomund's Tiny Hut to your Artificer spell list. - Access to the Bless and Bane spells Good feats: Healer Other multiclassing options: - Life Cleric 3 --- Grants: Spiritual Weapon, Channel Divinity --- Loses: An ability score improvement and an infusion - Life Cleric 4 --- Grants: Spiritual Weapon, Channel Divinity --- Loses: 5th level spells and an infusion I don't consider the Spiritual Weapon spell necessary since you can just get a Homunculus infusion instead.

[@sillvvasensei]

50:32 Bracers of Archery don't work with crossbows. Only longbows and shortbows.

[@ordinaryguysgaming2655]

yeah I noticed this as well.

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Yep, my mistake

[@zhangbill1194]

30:31 i dont think you can hold a action in 5e, you would have to ready a action insted

[@Trenell83]

Am I wrong in thinking that under equipment that the artificer should supply you with tinker's tools instead of thieves since their level 1 ability magical tinkering requires tinker's tool?

[@Trenell83]

@@sharkforce8147 thanks for the reply. Then that's pretty stupid if you ask me. It's a level one ability you should have all the tools you need to (no pun intended) use the ability. That would restrict background choices also. I'll check out the video concerning this as well.

[@xvader9445]

I am putting in a request for a Hobgoblin Artillerist..i theory crafted one and it looks effective form lvl 1 thru 20

[@kylehughes1741]

How did he get rid of the disadvantage of the heavy lance on a gnome

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I didn't, the lance doesn't have the heavy property to begin with.

[@kylehughes1741]

Treantmonk's Temple thanks I forgot it didn’t. I just assumed it did because of how big they are in real life

[@isnook187i8]

only problem I see in this build is that your robodoggo attacks in range of 5ft but your lance has a 10ft with 5ft disadvantage otherwise great build

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I discuss the tactics regarding this in the video

[@hansolo9686]

Would you recommend Charger Feat on this Build?

[@BlueBolt]

Could you make one of these for an Artlillerist Artificer? I really wanna play one

[@Banejbt]

Not a big fan of repulsion shield. Your AC is already pretty high and if you're about to get hit, you'll probably just use Shield. I would only ever wear it if I knew I was going against a boss or something with real high to-hit chance, but you rarely know that in advance, so I guess it's better than nothing.

[@MadNitr0]

Pleas tell me you plan to do the ranged damage artificer!

[@TreantmonksTemple]

I pretty much laid out the blueprint here

[@Sibula]

Arcane Jolt is a level 9 ability, but is counted in the level 8 damage. Also why does it say 20%, when it deals a constant 2d6?

[@Sibula]

Ah the 1 in 5 was explained later, however I think the jolt damage shouldn't be doubled with a critical hit, but I might be wrong.

[@pvrhye]

I don't like xbow expert on even a crossbow wielding battlesmith. I will probably be using my bonus actions to attack with pooch, I will have the reload portion sorted with repeating and if someone gets up in my face I have enough options for that situation. Sharpshooter is, of course, a no-brainer. My artificer concept I am sitting on is, however, melee. Next time my game tone is serious (my DM is running AI right now) I will play a reliquarian. Basically, take the acolyte background and go for that dark fantasy hypercatholic vibe with saint's fingerbones, censers, incense, etc... search old dungeons for lost relics to claim for the use of the faithful. The weapon will be a radiant flail (censer) that I will use as my focus to fling around spells. Since you mentioned lucky. Since you are using a lance and a crossbow, the lucky feat is an easy way to get super advantage.

[@luciangiura1889]

Thanks for the video! One question though: Why are you saying that using the ready action for your attack only allows you to make ona attack?

[@TreantmonksTemple]

Because that's the unfortunate truth. Extra attack only applies on your turn.

[@luciangiura1889]

My interpretation is that the "on your turn" is rather to differentiate between regular attacks vs opportunity attacks. Since ready action uses up both action and reaction, i allow multiattack with it. But it is again, my interpretation on RAI :)

[@TreantmonksTemple]

@@luciangiura1889 We know the RAI. www.sageadvice.eu/2015/06/10/ready-extra-attack/

[@luciangiura1889]

Ah, solid reference :) Thanks for that.

[@mikehalloran93]

It looked like you used the level one warlock instead of the level 3 when doing your baseline? I don't recall the video exactly, but it seemed you didn't have agonizing blast in there. The artificer should be right on the baseline if I'm not mistaken

[@joaodias7152]

Actually, Treant just put the wrong value in the calculation. The 7.65 dmg for level 3 is given by 12*0.6+9*0.05

[@mikehalloran93]

@@joaodias7152 Ah, that's kind of funny. Thanks!

[@taylorpeppers5012]

I would just like to say... yeah I'm playing the sharpshooter build. *but I thought of it on my own damnnit*

[@vampiregoat69]

how do you do good damage with such a LOW str for a melee char? I mean str is a must I figured

[@eshansingh1]

Late but the Battlesmith can use Intelligence for attack and damage rolls with magic weapons