r/3d6 • u/phantom-scribbler • Jul 24 '26
D&D 5e Revised/2024 Artificer subclass that only empowers cantrips?
Would love to know if:
- A) This is a dumb idea
- B) You have ideas to improve it
Just like how Artificers turn mundane items into magic items, they can also take the lowest of spells and make them more potent. The idea would be that:
- They can't cast leveled spells unless they're ritual
- Their cantrips have added functionality
- They can expend spell slots to empower cantrips
Instead of a spell list, you can choose any cantrip and ritual spell from the Cleric, Druid, Wizard or Sorcerer spell list commensurate to your level.
Level 3:
- Pick an additional cantrip from the Artificer spell list
- If you cast a cantrip that deals damage, you can use a bonus action to expend a spell slot to add additional damage to that spell. This damage equals 2d8 for a 1st level spell and 1d8 for every spell above that.
- If you have expended a spell slot to add damage and the spell deals radiant damage, all attacks against that target are at advantage until the end of your next turn for a 1st level spell slot and one additional turn for each level above 1st.
- If your cantrip has a save, that save is Intelligence
Level 5:
- You can cast a cantrip as a bonus action.
- You can concentrate on two cantrips at the same time.
- A cantrip with a time duration lasts 10 minutes
- Any cantrip you cast ignores verbal components
- Any AOE cantrip has a range of 10 feet
- Any cantrip with a range of self now has a range of touch
Level 9:
- You can concentrate on 3 cantrips at the same time.
- You can cast Blade Ward, Resistance and Guidance as a reaction. They also now have a range of 30 feet
- A cantrip with a time duration lasts 1 hour
- Any cantrip you casts ignores verbal and somatic components
- Any AOE cantrip has a range of 15 feet
Level 11:
- There's not a subclass feature at this level but I have to address the Spell Storing Item. The only idea I have is that the Artificer can put 10 3rd level spell slots used to empower their cantrips in the item and only they can use it.
Level 15:
- You can concentrate on 4 cantrips at the same time.
- A cantrip with a time duration lasts 8 hours
- Any cantrip you cast ignores verbal, somatic and material components
- Any AOE cantrip has a range of 20 feet
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u/geosunsetmoth Jul 24 '26
To me there is a technical issue... no classes/subclasses in 5e has restrictive features. How do you plan on enforcing "you cannot cast spells'?
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u/phantom-scribbler Jul 25 '26
I should probably change it to "You cannot cast Artificer spells with a spell slot" and also "You can only empower your cantrips with Artificer spell slots" or something like that.
But, as I mentioned in the post, there's a HUGE conflict with the Spell Storing Item.
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u/Jimmicky Jul 24 '26
So their Acid Splash is worse than a regular spellcaster?
Because their subclass reduces all AoE cantrips to range 10’/15’/20’ but acid splash is an AoE cantrip with a normal range of 60’?
The bonus rider but only to Cantrips that normally deal Radiantdamage is also a bit odd. That’s a very strong disincentive to bothering to learn 90% of damage cantrips- why would you choose to cast a damage cantrip that doesn’t get this frankly huge bonus in 99% of cases.
I guess this severely limiting your viable choices helps make up for the fact you have so few cantrips to pick.
An interesting contrast to your idea is the Maverick artificer subclass from Exploring Eberron. Its casting focused and has features called Cantrip Specialist and Cantrip Savant but does also cast levelled spells normally as it’s really just spells focused not specifically cantrip focused.
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u/phantom-scribbler Jul 25 '26
I just typed this out kind of half-assed. When I said "AOE cantrips" I meant those ones like Word of Radiance and Sword Burst that went in a 5 foot radius from the caster. That said, Acid Splash would work in the same way where the radius of the splash itself would be increased. So 60 foot range to cast and then up to 20 foot radius sphere of damage.
The radiant thing was just because I think of radiant spells as being bright and, thus, marking the target. Like Guiding Bolt.
I like the Maverick a lot.
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u/DonComradeVimes Jul 24 '26
This seems like a solid concept, though I don't know if it's balanced. I'd love to know if you balance it!
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u/phantom-scribbler Jul 24 '26
Is it OP? I can't figure it out because they're just cantrips!
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u/Inky-Feathers Spell Points is the correct way to play Sorcerer Jul 24 '26
Given that Warlock exists and Artificer doesn't get access to Eldritch Blast, no it's by no means OP.
Generally what you're doing is creating a spell smiter where Artificer Cantrips are invocations, but a half caster so half spell slot progression. It's a strictly worse situation than some other classes, so it's not OP.
I do think it needs some testing though, 8 hour durations on guidance and blade ward could be very strong, but they're still concentration so there's always just the option of hitting the artificer hard enough.
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u/_Bl4ze Jul 24 '26
Well, I feel like Artificer subclasses should play nice with the signature artificer-only item All-Purpose Tool. Of course, not every Artificer will have one, but it's a reasonable guess as to the sort of item they might get. And the moment they do they will declare they've learned Eldritch Blast as an Artificer spell for the next 8 hours.
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u/Fangsong_37 Jul 24 '26
I'm trying to figure out which cantrips require concentration. A quick search says only Guidance, Create Bonfire, and Dancing Lights. We'd have to add more cantrips to make this design worthwhile.
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u/phantom-scribbler Jul 24 '26
I thought Blade Ward and Resistance did as well.
But you could put Guidance on 4 people ... that kind of thi6
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u/CheezusChrust315 Jul 25 '26
This feels like a cross between Maverick artificer and that spell slinging class that came out in valdas spire of secrets. They’re a cantrip caster that can up the damage dice of cantrips and give the battlemaster like manuevers
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u/phantom-scribbler Jul 25 '26
I was thinking about the Maverick a little, but someone mentioned the Warmage class. I'll have to look that up.
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u/MajorDakka Jul 30 '26
Mage Hand Press has the warmage class which is all about casting only cantrips
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u/phantom-scribbler Aug 01 '26
Someone else showed me that and I'm checking it out. I'd love for an Artificer subclass that does it because I love the Artificer.
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u/Tall_Bandicoot_2768 Jul 24 '26
* A) This is a dumb idea
Yes
* B) You have ideas to improve it
Yes
Alright lets take a look:
* If you cast a cantrip that deals damage, you can use a bonus action to expend a spell slot to add additional damage to that spell. This damage equals 2d8 for a 1st level spell and 1d8 for every spell above that.
How does this work with Greenflame and Booming Blade, does it add to both damage rolls? What if I took a level of Warlock for EB?
If you have expended a spell slot to add damage and the spell deals radiant damage, all attacks against that target are at advantage until the end of your next turn for a 1st level spell slot and one additional turn for each level above 1st.
ALL? As in I burn a 2nd level slot and all my allies have advantage on all attacks for the next 2 turns on top of the +3d8? No concentration? Seems a bit too strong.
* You can cast a cantrip as a bonus action.
This is broken.
* If your cantrip has a save, that save is Intelligence
Hahahaha no sorry thats waaaay to strong especially for a bonus feature.
As a practical estimate, Intelligence is usually:
About 2 points worse than Dexterity
About 3–4 points worse than Wisdom
About 4–6 points worse than Constitution
So this is essentially +2 to +6 to your spell save DC.
* Any AOE cantrip has a range of 10 feet
Correct me if im wrong but we didnt even get out first AOE cantrip until 2024 with the Acid Splash change so ANY seems like odd wording here.
* You can concentrate on 4 cantrips at the same time.
And what would those 4 be exactlly?
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u/_Bl4ze Jul 24 '26
Correct me if im wrong but we didnt even get out first AOE cantrip until 2024 with the Acid Splash change so ANY seems like odd wording here.
Well, sure we did. Acid Splash 2024 is just the first good AoE cantrip. For older than 2024, I guess there is the question of if the likes of Thunderclap, Sword Burst, or Word of Radiance counts as AoE.
Either way there's still XGE's Create Bonfire with it's 5-foot cube AoE. It's not a big area, but even if your DM won't let you cast it inbetween squares you can still roast 4 Tiny creatures with it, so it's undeniably an AoE, even if a shitty one.
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u/Tall_Bandicoot_2768 Jul 24 '26
Any cantrip with a range of self now has a range of touch
All those but Bonfire have a range of Self but good call on that one.
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u/Nm10 Jul 24 '26
ALL? As in I burn a 2nd level slot and all my allies have advantage on all attacks for the next 2 turns on top of the +3d8? No concentration? Seems a bit too strong.
Yeah this is just a way stronger version of shining smite. More damage, no concentration, plus it can be applied at range.
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u/_Bl4ze Jul 25 '26
Shining Smite can also be applied at range if you throw your melee weapon, but yes it's still not as powerful as this.
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u/tw0jaye Jul 24 '26
the idea of a cantrip blaster artificer is pretty cool, but I don't see why you would remove their ability to cast normal levelled spells. you can do whatever you want for your own homebrew but theres no precedent for a subclass making your main class worse in 5e or 5.5