D&D 5E Guide: How To Multiclass – Artificer
Multiclassing in D&D is a great way to add depth to your character. Amp up your Artificer with this 5E Artificer multiclass guide.
Artificers have the distinct honor of being the first (and so far only) official class published outside of the Player’s Handbook. First introduced in Eberron: Rising from the Last War, Artificers use technology and science to accomplish what magic does. In other words, they cast spells. But they also make magic items. Sort of. D&D Artificers are a weird class to play, but they are also one of the most flexible in terms of archetypes. With the right build an Artificer can be a spellcaster, a frontline combatant, a healer/buffer, even a magic laser beam guy.
But if you want to get real weird with it, Artificer multiclassing is the way to go. It can be tricky, because if you’re not familiar with the Artificer and aren’t sure exactly what they do you might be at a loss for how to expand. But multiclassing can open many a door for you. Most often it will add more magic to your repertoire, so let’s look at how to multiclass an Artificer.
Data courtesy of D&D Beyond
There are two big things all Artificers will be working with. The first is their spellcasting. At the end of the day, even the most fightin’-est Artificer is still a mage. In fact for your first level you’ll feel like just a weird wizard, since Artificers and Wizards share many spells.
But once you hit 2nd level, you’ll get the other iconic ability: Infuse Item. This lets an Artificer imbue a mundane item with magic powers, effectively creating magic items that you can use or share with the group. So if you’re going to multiclass, you want to wait until at least 2nd (but probably later).
Especially since at 3rd level you get your Artificer specialization, which really changes the kind of character you play. Do you have your own suit of magitech power armor? Did you build a robodog? How about a magical laser cannon? These and more are possibilities. They all add a little bit extra on top of your spellcasting/magic item framework.
Multiclassing is much the same. Multiclassing can help lean your character towards one style of play or another. In general you’ll multiclass to make your Battle Smith more of a melee combatant, or to make your Artillerist even more of a magical laser haver.. Knowing how to multiclass paves the way.
Multiclassing Your Artificer
It all comes down to what you want to do with your Arificer. And truly, when you multiclass as an Artificer, it’s probably best to think of yourself as an Artificer first with the others mixed in for extra texture.
So with that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the popular multiclass options.
5E Wizard Pairing Options
Multiclassed Artificers and Wizards are the most common combination, and for good reason. You can fill out some of the magical abilities. Having ritual caster on top of Magic Item infusions means you have a ton of long-lasting power options both in and out of combat.
In general, it’s worth dipping in two levels of Wizard to pick up an Arcane Tradition feature. There’s one for pretty much every brand of Artificer too. Divination Wizard is good for everyone. Battlesmiths and Armorers will get a lot out of War Magic or Bladesinger. And if your DM allows you to use Chronurgy Wizard out of Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount, you’re in for a fun time.
Artificers and Fighters make for an excellent pairing as well. Fighter is one of the few classes you might want to start as instead of Artificer. Especially if you’re going for something like Battlesmith or Armorer, as taking your 1st level of Fighter gets you Heavy Armor proficiency which will allow you to eventually make magical plate armor.
Two levels of Fighter is the standard multiclass dip, as it were. But depending on your subclass you might get a little extra out of a 3rd level in Fighter. The more esoteric Fighters, Rune Knight and Psi Warrior play especially well with a combat Artificer. You get an extra suite of abilities that you can use in combat, making you a deadlier warrior. And Psi Warrior works off of Intelligence (like most of an Artificer’s abilities) so there’s built in synergies already.
Especially since Psionic Energy dice are based off of your proficiency bonus instead of your Fighter level, you can just pick up three levels of Psi Warrior and be awesome at whatever. Or you can do more if you really want the 7th level abilities.
Multiclassed Artificers and Rogues make for an interesting combo because Rogue gets you a wide net of abilities that aren’t necessarily what you want. But Thief Rogue is so good for an Artificer who’s looking to use their items, that it’s hard not to at least consider it.
The biggest reason is because Thief, at 3rd level gets the ability called Fast Hands. Fast Hands lets you use the Bonus Action granted by your Cunning Action feature to make a Sleight of Hand, thieves’ tools, or more importantly Use an Object action.
This opens up a number of doors for your infused items. Which is absolute gold for the Artificer. All in all, Artificer is a pretty good flavor all its own, but other classes can help bring out its unique notes.
D&D 5E Artificer Guide
Happy Adventuring! Let us know your favorite 5E Artificer multiclass builds in the comments.
