What makes Artificer a 2/3 caster? - Artificer - Class Forums - D&D Beyond Forums (2024)

FAQs

What is the caster level of an artificer? ›

For purposes of meeting item prerequisites, an artificer's effective caster level equals his artificer level +2. If the item duplicates a spell effect, however, it uses the artificer's actual level as its caster level.

Paladins & Rangers get to cast 1st-5th-level spells, for 5/10 or “1/2” of the levels. Artificers can cast 0th-5th-level spells, “6/10” of the levels. Adding in Ritual casting too makes it easy to round them up to “2/3” casters for simplicity.

Artificers were a rare kind of arcane spellcaster who treated magic in the same manner as a mason might see a chisel as a tool for the creation of marvels.

The Artificer is sometimes called a “half-caster+”. This means that they are a half-caster but at level one, they are (mostly) equal to the full casters in terms of spells, and they gain cantrips automatically.

Generally, caster level is equal to the character's class level for the class which is providing access to that spell. If a character has access to the same spell from different classes only the specific class being used for preparing and casting each instance is used as the caster level.

The half casters are paladin and ranger. The third casters are arcane tricksters and eldritch knights. They are called as such because with multiclassing you add full slots for the full casters, half slots for half casters, and one third slots for the 1/3 casters.

Warlocks

Warlocks offer the easiest gateway into spellcasting within D&D, as they're relatively uncomplicated compared to classes like Wizards or Clerics. While you'll have a list of spells to choose from, this is smaller than most other 'pure' spellcasters, and you only get two spell slots to worry about.

1 Battlesmith

The Battlesmith is the quintessential Artificer subclass in the eyes of many, as it combines many of the most notable traits of the character class while also adding a few unique inventions to the handbook.

Too much good potential to waste. Artificer is already one of, if not the, most powerful class in the game so no, they don't need to be even more powerful. If you want to play a full caster with artificer flavour, go for an Abjuration Wizard or Clockwork Sorcerer instead.

Do artificers need war caster? ›

Classes that benefit from War Caster include: Artificers are proficient with shields, so they might be able to make use of War Caster by casting spells while holding a shield for the armor class bonus.

Gond is the god of artifice, craft, and construction. He is revered by blacksmiths, woodworkers, engineers, and inventors. Anyone who is crafting something might say a prayer to Gond to guide the work, but folk know that Gond smiles most brightly upon new inventions that others find useful.

Arcane casters, such as Bards, Sorcerers, Wizards and Warlocks, cast spells that pull directly on the Weave. Divine casters, such as Clerics, Druids, Rangers, and Paladins, cast spells through something else, such as a god or nature.

Wizards, bards, druids, clerics, and artificers can all do ritual casting as part of their class abilities, but other classes can do it by taking the Ritual Caster feat. Prepare ritual spells from your character's spell list and cast them when you have enough time—which usually means casting them outside of combat.

Artificers: Starting at 3rd level, the alchemist subclass can create a variety of Experimental Elixirs, including one option that grants temporary flight.

Artificers use a variety of tools to channel their arcane power. To cast a spell, an artificer might use alchemist's supplies to create a potent elixir, calligrapher's supplies to inscribe a sigil of power, or tinker's tools to craft a temporary charm.

While its true that Artificers are not spellcasters, and that they do not have spell lists, they do have Infusions, and those infusions act very much like spells. The main differences between spells and infusions is that an infusion can ONLY be placed on an item or a construct.

The caster level determines the item's saving throw bonus, as well as range or other level-dependent aspects of the powers of the item (if variable). It also determines the level that must be contended with should the item come under the effect of a dispel magic spell or similar situation.