This background offers an imperfect but useful way to add the updated spells from the 2024 Core Rules to the Artificer Class. It should only be used if you choose the Artificer as your base class at level 1.

It grants 2 skills of your choice, 2 languages, and 1 origin feat of your choice.

If you had a different background in mind (i.e. Urchin, Acolyte, etc.), talk to your DM so you can use the background feature that comes with it. If you are planning to use a background from the Expanded Rules that comes with a feat different from the Origin Feats (i.e. Bigby's, Dragonlance, Strixhaven, Planescape) or a spell list; you can add make a homebrew copy of those backgrounds and add the artificer updated spells under "Additional Spel List."

Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Arcana, Athletics, Deception, History, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Religion, Sleight of Hand, Stealth, Survival

Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools with which you are proficient, a maker’s mark chisel used to mark your handiwork with the symbol of the clan of crafters you learned your skill from, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a pouch containing 5 gp and a gem worth 10 gp

Spell List

For you, the spells on the Artificer Spells table are added to the spell list of your spellcasting class. (If you are a multiclass character with multiple spell lists, these spells are added to all of them.)

Spell Level	Spells
Cantrip	acid splash, dancing lights, fire bolt, guidance, light, mage hand, mending, message, poison spray, prestidigitation, ray of frost, resistance, shocking grasp, spare the dying, thorn whip
1st	alarm, cure wounds, detect magic, disguise self, expeditious retreat, faerie fire, false life, feather fall, grease, identify, jump, longstrider, purify food and drink, sanctuary
2nd	aid, alter self, arcane lock, blur, continual flame, darkvision, enhance ability, enlarge/reduce, heat metal, invisibility, lesser restoration, levitate, magic mouth, magic weapon, protection from poison, rope trick, see invisibility, spider climb, web
3rd	animate dead, blink, create food and water, dispel magic, elemental weapon, fly, glyph of warding, haste, protection from energy, revivify, water breathing, water walk
4th	arcane eye, fabricate, freedom of movement, leomund's secret chest, mordenkainen's faithful hound, mordenkainen's private sanctum, otiluke's resilient sphere, stone shape, stoneskin
5th	bigby's hand, creation, greater restoration, wall of stone

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. The magic of artificers is tied to their tools and their talents, and few other characters can produce the right tool for a job as well as an artificer.

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the guild artisan background below as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a clan crafter. (For instance, consider the words “guild” and “clan” to be interchangeable.)

Your bond is almost certainly related to the master or the clan that taught you, or else to the work that you produce. Your ideal might have to do with maintaining the high quality of your work or preserving the dwarven traditions of craftsmanship.

d8	Personality Trait
1	I'm full of witty aphorisms and have a proverb for every occasion.
2	I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I can’t help it—I’m a perfectionist.
3	I’m a snob who looks down on those who can’t appreciate fine art.
4	I always want to know how things work and what makes people tick.
5	I’m rude to people who lack my commitment to hard work and fair play.
6	I like to talk at length about my profession.
7	I don’t part with my money easily and will haggle tirelessly to get the best deal possible.
8	I’m well known for my work, and I want to make sure everyone appreciates it. I’m always taken aback when people haven’t heard of me.

d6	Ideal
1	Aspiration: I work hard to be the best there is at my craft. (Any)
2	Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to strengthen the bonds of community and the security of civilization. (Lawful)
3	Generosity. My talents were given to me so that I could use them to benefit the world. (Good)
4	Freedom. Everyone should be free to pursue his or her own livelihood. (Chaotic)
5	Greed. I’m only in it for the money. (Evil)
6	People. I’m committed to the people I care about, not to ideals. (Neutral)

d6	Bond
1	The workshop where I learned my trade is the most important place in the world to me.
2	I created a great work for someone, and then found them unworthy to receive it. I’m still looking for someone worthy.
3	I owe my guild a great debt for forging me into the person I am today.
4	I pursue wealth to secure someone’s love.
5	One day I will return to my guild and prove that I am the greatest artisan of them all.
6	I will get revenge on the evil forces that destroyed my place of business and ruined my livelihood.

d6	Flaw
1	I'm never satisfied with what I have― I always want more.
2	I’ll do anything to get my hands on something rare or priceless.
3	I’m quick to assume that someone is trying to cheat me.
4	No one must ever learn that I once stole money from guild coffers.
5	I would kill to acquire a noble title.
6	I’m horribly jealous of anyone who can outshine my handiwork. Everywhere I go, I’m surrounded by rivals.