Hi folks,

Apologies that this is an Artificer dip only, but the BH has no forum of it's own. Hopefully you can still lend an ear. I'll start with a bit of context for you...

I am playing a Curse of Strahd campaign later this year, no players or DM have run CoS before and we are trying to stay spoiler free (except the DM obviously). There will be 3 players; one Oath of Vengeance Paladin (double bladed scimitar build), one uncertain though possibly twilight cleric or some flavour of druid, and my Blood Hunter Ghostslayer. I'm trying to add more value and incorporate some spellcasting to the build and was looking at a wizard dip but after looking at the artificer it looks like a much better fit. I believe we will get to level 8 at least, so I'm planning around that.

I'm planning hand xbow dex based Fey Eladrin, with a whip as melee backup (this is a flavour choice, and I appreciate not 'optimal' from a numbers aspect but I'm a Castlevania fan). I'm running Strixhaven Initiate background to get some additional mileage from my reaction and see what Silvery Barbs is actually like in play. My current plan is to be a BH5 / Art2 by level 7:

1) Any suggestions on when to take the Art levels? If I start with them then I'll be slower to actually see BH features and get to xbow master feat but the artificer repeating shot infusion seems like it might mitigate the feat requirement.

2) Any strong recommendations on subclass synergy if I took a 3rd artificer level?

3) I'm also curious whether the Armourer's gauntlet weapons would be synergistic with the BH's Crimson right. If the weapon is in the armour, whether the consensus would allow a single hit of Crimson rite would cover them until a rest.

Any suggestions or directions to other threads I've missed are appreciated.

@PolarBearSoup

I've played a level 20 Blood-Hunter with similar build like the 'Eladrin' race, 'Crossbow (Light)' for ranged combat and 'Double-Bladed Scimitar' for melee attack but my subclass was 'Order of the Profane Soul'. Personally, I'd like to recommend you these options:

1. 'Crossbow Expert' feat lets you make an attack with 'Crossbow (Hand)' as a bonus action. On the other hand, Crimson Rite requires bonus action too. So, you can not activate the rite at the turn when you're spending your bonus action for additional attack. Repeating Shot from the Artificer class is a good option. So please adjust the level accordingly.

2. The armor model of a 'Guardian' has the 'Defensive Field' feature that lets you possess temporary hit points. It will be quite useful since everytime you use the 'Blood Maledict' feature, your Blood-Hunter loses hit points.

3. Yes, Armorer's 'Thunder Gauntlet' can be used to activate 'Crimson Rite' since it's listed as a simple melee weapon and will last till you take a short or long rest, or doff the armor.

Spellcasting opportunity for a Blood-Hunter/Artificer build will be limited, probably it will be less powerful than a half-caster class. But, the pact magic features are quite interesting.

Thanks for the feedback InkedBee.

Yeah, I've factored in the BA clash but as it is only a single use of the BA for Crimson Rite then I'm happy enough at the opening round being slightly lower DPS.

The main issue I've had when looking into the numbers, was actually getting the crossbow expert feat online. Unless I switch ancestry and go custom lineage / vuman, then I'm not using Xbow Expert until lvl6. If I start as an artificer then I can compensate for this by using the crossbow (light) with repeating shot and homonculus infusions. Either way, the DPR is moderate but not amazing - though I'm ok with that I think.

Thanks for the notes around the armorer, temp hp for rite or maledict damage do seem sweet even if it further cramps my BA, I'd only really looked at the infiltrator side so that was a nice find.

I will take a look at the pact feature, but the Ghost Slayer was a large part of the character concept, so I'm reluctant to move away from that. You're correct that the spellcasting will be limited, I felt it was something to explore that might add some utility, which it would, but quite little at the cost of a chunk of DPS, especially at lvl8 onwards.

Quick thoughts on this.

• BH and Artf are both Int-based classes. what about doing a dip into Battlesmith for the battle-ready feature? (using your Int for combat rolls)
• Sounds like you want to stay at range, so using the steel defender as a body blocker/ helper would work nicely as well.
• There still would be a BA clash but manageable as the steel defender can move, dodge, reaction on its own.
• I personally would go 1 level BH, 3 level Artf, 16 level BH after that. Sure you delay your Crimson Rite, however, you gain spells, magical weapons, a familiar (steel defender) beforehand.
• Pick your infusions carefully. You cant change them after level 4 on this build. The returning weapon would work nicely with the crimson rite because it will always be " holding the weapon at the end of your turn". 
• Spell would primarily be utility, yes, and you will be able to freely pick which ones you want as per long rest,  however, some notable ones would be; heroism and shield (battle smith at level 3 for the temp HP that scales with your int, and bonus AC), Booming blade (should stack with Crimesome rite.) Thornwhip (fits your theme and good CC ability)(or lighting lash and go for a full thunder and lighting build)

Thanks Utsu. I've actually shifted slightly on my plans for the build and as you suggest am thinking ART BattleSmith 5 / BH Mutant 5.

• Level progression is currently under review, but likely 1ART - 2BH - 3-6ART - 7-10BH
• Using INT Attack from Bsmith and INT Mutagen, I can focus INT / CON
• Race is likely to be Harengon now, hop isn't quite teleport but serviceable in combat, and this lets me be small and mount by steel defender.
• Debating light xbow & Homonculous infusion, though appreciate that also conflicts with SD BA.

All good. You actually inspired me to make a BH/Art character now :)

I certainly think it will be fun, just trying to balance out the utility against potential damage. In my game we are a small (3-man party), so everyone is wearing multiple hats.