When it comes to the artificer in Dungeons & Dragons, they’ve had an interesting run in fifth edition. Missing from the 2024 Player’s handbook, they’re finally returning in their own sourcebook, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer.
Not only is it all about the artificer in its new form, but it brings new feats, backgrounds, bastion options, and even a new spell. Of course, there are also subclasses for the artificer, with some revamped options and some new options to consider if you’re ready to pick the class back up. To help you decide, we’ve ranked every artificer subclass in a tier list to see which subclass is the best.
Tier List Explanation
While your subclass is entirely up to you in the end, as you should choose whatever seems the most fun or interesting based on how you want to play your character, we’ve ranked them based on a few factors. From how involved they are, how many things you can do with them, and how practical they are in a campaign, we compare them to changes made to other classes in the 2024 PHB to see how they hold up.
Dungeons & Dragons: Best Subclass Of Every Class
While there are a ton of subclasses available in D&D, we list the best for each class option.
S tier
These subclasses offer enough variety to fit into any D&D party, perfectly complementing everyone as the missing piece and all-arounder. They have enough unique actions and options to feel fresh, even next to some 2024 PHB options.
|
Subclass |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Alchemist |
The coolest part about alchemist as a subclass is that it covers a ton of bases. While it may not master any, it’s one of the best classes if you like a ton of options. The Experimental Elixirs you can make do everything from granting the drinker flight, increasing their speed, granting a +1 bonus to AC, healing more than a health potion, or adding a 1d4 to saving throws. Adding the 2d4 Force damage to specific spells is also a nice bonus. |
|
Armorer |
You remove the glass description from glass cannon, making you a heavily armored spellcaster that doesn’t need a high Strength stat to don some seriously hefty armor. Designing your own armor model to either take the lead from the front as The Guardian, dealing concussive blasts and gaining temporary hit points, or designing a dreadnaught that demolishes everything in its path, dealing Force damage on a hit. You have tons of great options here, including gaining a flying speed and extra attack. |
A Tier
These are great subclass options as they follow a path, and they do it well. While not as versatile as some of the other available options, they will absolutely get the job done, and you’ll be dishing out damage and be an expert at your role in the party with any of these options.
|
Subclass |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Artillerist |
The cool thing about the artillerist subclass is that it provides a ton of power to your artificer. You get your own Eldritch Cannon you can use as a Flamethrower, Force Ballista, or Protector. As you level up, you gain two cannons you can use. The only reason this isn’t higher is that it’s all that you get with this subclass. It’s not bad at all; there are just more options with some other subclasses. |
|
Battle Smith |
If you’re a fan of the ranger class and want your own pet, the Battle Smith is a great option. Your Steel Defender gets to have its own options during your turn, making it slightly different than a ranger pet would. Otherwise, it’s a mechanical pet shaped after your own image, combined with extra attack and spellcasting. There’s a lot of fun to be had if you like that type of subclass. |
B Tier
This class is very specifically good at one thing, but that’s it. It’s not bad by any means, but the other options just have a lot more going for them as a potential choice for your artificer.
|
Subclass |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Cartographer |
The Cartographer feels much more like a niche subclass than the others do. Returning from previous iterations, it sticks to map-making and teleportation expertise. While the teleportation aspect is awesome, it unfortunately brings nothing more to the class, making it situational at best and not very useful at worst. |
Dungeons & Dragons: 7 Biggest Changes To The Artificer In Unearthed Arcana 2024
They’re tinkering with this class a little bit.
