Little bit of a ramble. TL:DR. The wand sheath is a viable high level (14+) replicate magic item infusion, and is worth trying out.
The Wand Sheath (from Eberron: RFtLW) is an interesting item, but on a level 14 Artificer I am finding that it could be a top tier infusion. Yes, yes, it is only a common item, but for what it does, It would scale nicely for any artificer.
So what does the Wand Sheath do? RAW it holds a wand, lets you draw it as a bonus action, and keeps your hand free. RAI for a level 20 Artificer it is a third-hand, an 7 attune slot, and if created via the Infusion rules a focus and a spell-storing item, in addition to having a wand always on call. Let me explain
A third hand: As noted in the wand sheath description, you can “use [the wand] as if you were holding it, but your hand remains free.” What can we do with that free hand? Wand and a hand crossbow (with a free hand to reload)?? The wand, Somatic’s for a spell, and a shield? Basically, you are holding a wand that you can use and still have two hands to do other stuff.
As a 7 Attune slot, the sheath is an attuned item, that allows a wand that requires attunement mounted to it, to share this attunement. Sure, it is not a true additional attunement in that you gain the benefit from Soul of the Artificer, but it does not cost you anything either when paired with an attuned wand. A 2 for 1.
(Edit: After rereading the item entry; "sheath and the attached wand count as a single magic item with regard to the number of magic items you can attune to." This makes me wonder if it does work with SotA as the feature only cares about items attuned to, not attunement slots used.)
Both above examples are for the item as written. However, as it is a common magic item, it can be a selection for a level 14 Replicate magic Item Infusion (level 14 because of Magic Item Savant for non Warforges) and this opens a few options. As an infusion (1/10 you know, 1/5 you can have active) it is a viable option to be used as a spell-casting focus. As it is a spell-casting focus, it’s a viable object for the spell-storing item feature. A spell focus with its own bank of spells, with a built-in wand. RAW I do not see this being a problem.
Another minor benefit is that the wand sheath (and maybe by proxy the wand) cannot be removed from you while attuned. No dropping the wand, needing to re-sheathe to tie your boots, or having it stolen from you. You will always have attached to you as your spell casting focus, spell storing item and a wand. There are a few other "cannot remove while attuned" item but their either not replicate-able, or are pale in features.
Ok, so there has to be a downside, right? Well, it does cost a bonus action to set up the wand for use, which would normally be a utilize action as part of the magic action to use the wand. However, this does mean that you can unsheathe the wand and use the utilize action for some other action (say drawing and casting a second wand?)
Which wands would I use it for? Well first choice would be any wand that requires attunement to make use of the unique interaction, but not wands that are created via the Artificers Infusion ability (i.e. Enhanced Spell casting focus, as this would undesirably consume 2 infusion slots). For offensive, The Wand of Winter is a great choice, for its cantrip, control and AOE damage spells. For Utility the classic Wand of Polmorph. But honestly, any wand would be improved with this item with some creativity (A “Wand of Dice rolling: a 38cm metal tube that launches a d20 when you say the command word “I attack”. Holds 7 dice.” for example)
Yeah, so that’s my rambling of the Wand Sheath. IMHO, any high-level Artificer Wand-slinger would not be caught without one.
Little bit of a ramble. TL:DR. The wand sheath is a viable high level (14+) replicate magic item infusion, and is worth trying out.
The Wand Sheath (from Eberron: RFtLW) is an interesting item, but on a level 14 Artificer I am finding that it could be a top tier infusion. Yes, yes, it is only a common item, but for what it does, It would scale nicely for any artificer.
So what does the Wand Sheath do? RAW it holds a wand, lets you draw it as a bonus action, and keeps your hand free. RAI for a level 20 Artificer it is a third-hand, an 7 attune slot, and if created via the Infusion rules a focus and a spell-storing item, in addition to having a wand always on call. Let me explain
A third hand: As noted in the wand sheath description, you can “use [the wand] as if you were holding it, but your hand remains free.” What can we do with that free hand? Wand and a hand crossbow (with a free hand to reload)?? The wand, Somatic’s for a spell, and a shield? Basically, you are holding a wand that you can use and still have two hands to do other stuff.
As a 7 Attune slot, the sheath is an attuned item, that allows a wand that requires attunement mounted to it, to share this attunement. Sure, it is not a true additional attunement in that you gain the benefit from Soul of the Artificer, but it does not cost you anything either when paired with an attuned wand. A 2 for 1.
(Edit: After rereading the item entry; "sheath and the attached wand count as a single magic item with regard to the number of magic items you can attune to." This makes me wonder if it does work with SotA as the feature only cares about items attuned to, not attunement slots used.)
Both above examples are for the item as written. However, as it is a common magic item, it can be a selection for a level 14 Replicate magic Item Infusion (level 14 because of Magic Item Savant for non Warforges) and this opens a few options. As an infusion (1/10 you know, 1/5 you can have active) it is a viable option to be used as a spell-casting focus. As it is a spell-casting focus, it’s a viable object for the spell-storing item feature. A spell focus with its own bank of spells, with a built-in wand. RAW I do not see this being a problem.
Another minor benefit is that the wand sheath (and maybe by proxy the wand) cannot be removed from you while attuned. No dropping the wand, needing to re-sheathe to tie your boots, or having it stolen from you. You will always have attached to you as your spell casting focus, spell storing item and a wand. There are a few other "cannot remove while attuned" item but their either not replicate-able, or are pale in features.
Ok, so there has to be a downside, right? Well, it does cost a bonus action to set up the wand for use, which would normally be a utilize action as part of the magic action to use the wand. However, this does mean that you can unsheathe the wand and use the utilize action for some other action (say drawing and casting a second wand?)
Which wands would I use it for? Well first choice would be any wand that requires attunement to make use of the unique interaction, but not wands that are created via the Artificers Infusion ability (i.e. Enhanced Spell casting focus, as this would undesirably consume 2 infusion slots). For offensive, The Wand of Winter is a great choice, for its cantrip, control and AOE damage spells. For Utility the classic Wand of Polmorph. But honestly, any wand would be improved with this item with some creativity (A “Wand of Dice rolling: a 38cm metal tube that launches a d20 when you say the command word “I attack”. Holds 7 dice.” for example)
Yeah, so that’s my rambling of the Wand Sheath. IMHO, any high-level Artificer Wand-slinger would not be caught without one.