I have been a lurker here for a while now but I wanted to get some advice. My Level 6 Artillerist Artificer recently got a +1 All Purpose tool and I have already been using for the spell bonus but I have no idea what cantrips to temporarily learn with it. Especially since Artificers don't get as many catnips as full casters. Thanks in advance for the help.
My own artificer has an APT as well. I actively avoid making a decision on which cantrip to load up until I need to. Once the choice has been made you're locked in for the day, but if you wait until you need it, you'll always have the option of being able to bust out the right tool for the job. That does require you to basically know every cantrip in the game so you know which tools you potentially have access to, but that's sorta the tax one pays for gaining the best use from an APT.
Thaumaturgy, Prestidigitation, Chill Touch, Mold Earth, Encode Thoughts, Druidcraft, Light, Guidance, Minor Illusion, Message, Mending, Spare the Dying if you REALLY need it, Mind Sliver, Shape Water, Sword Burst/Thunderclap/Word of Radiance if you're getting swarmed, Mage Hand, and Eldritch Blast for when you got someone fire resistant/immune around.
All the cantrips have use depending on your build and current situation, but this list is of all the less niche ones that will come up more often. Don't waste this feature on an attack/save cantrip unless you really need it.
Toll the dead isn't a bad pick either, if you've got a very high AC enemy or ones that are abusing cover (and you don't have your enhanced arcane focus active). Another option, though admittedly niche and particularly bad as an artillerist unless you have no cannon and no spell slots left: in the event where you have a couple allies who have no ranged options to do so, magic stone as a bonus action would let them attack with your int to attack and damage.
If you happen to have booming blade already as a cantrip (or dont mind switching at your next level), shilleleigh is a fun option for using your arcane firearm (staff) and joining the melee line and attacking with INT instead of strength.
Thanks for all the advice so far. I might switch my mending cantrip for some thing else like mage hand or guidance and then use my ATP when I need to heal my cannon.
I really haven't found much time for healing especially since my DM normally has 2 fights a long rest max and enemies rarely attack the cannon and go for the PCs instead.
I agree it fits with the flavor of being a tool expert even without the cannon/defender healing.
One of the common suggestions I've seen for Artillerists is Shillelagh. It allows them to use their staff arcane firearm for melee attacks with INT the way Battle Smith and Armorer do. No Extra Attack like the other subclasses, but they can still Booming Blade/Green Flame Blade with it and add the Arcane Firearm bonus. Downside is activating it takes a bonus action that might be normally used for a cannon activation.
One of the common suggestions I've seen for Artillerists is Shillelagh. It allows them to use their staff arcane firearm for melee attacks with INT the way Battle Smith and Armorer do. No Extra Attack like the other subclasses, but they can still Booming Blade/Green Flame Blade with it and add the Arcane Firearm bonus. Downside is activating it takes a bonus action that might be normally used for a cannon activation.
I can't think of any way to gain Shillelagh as an artificer spell. Gaining it as a druid spell only lets you attack with your druid spellcasting ability (WIS) instead of strength. Warlocks that use it typically use pact of the tome, which lets them gain the spell as a warlock spell. If there is a way, I would be interested in hearing it.
One of the common suggestions I've seen for Artillerists is Shillelagh. It allows them to use their staff arcane firearm for melee attacks with INT the way Battle Smith and Armorer do. No Extra Attack like the other subclasses, but they can still Booming Blade/Green Flame Blade with it and add the Arcane Firearm bonus. Downside is activating it takes a bonus action that might be normally used for a cannon activation.
I can't think of any way to gain Shillelagh as an artificer spell. Gaining it as a druid spell only lets you attack with your druid spellcasting ability (WIS) instead of strength. Warlocks that use it typically use pact of the tome, which lets them gain the spell as a warlock spell. If there is a way, I would be interested in hearing it.
Thanks for all the advice so far. I might switch my mending cantrip for some thing else like mage hand or guidance and then use my ATP when I need to heal my cannon.
This is what I would do, offset the cantrip tax by using ATP to get mending
I have been a lurker here for a while now but I wanted to get some advice. My Level 6 Artillerist Artificer recently got a +1 All Purpose tool and I have already been using for the spell bonus but I have no idea what cantrips to temporarily learn with it. Especially since Artificers don't get as many catnips as full casters. Thanks in advance for the help.
try getting mage hand or attack spells if you want like eldritch blast spell.
My own artificer has an APT as well. I actively avoid making a decision on which cantrip to load up until I need to. Once the choice has been made you're locked in for the day, but if you wait until you need it, you'll always have the option of being able to bust out the right tool for the job. That does require you to basically know every cantrip in the game so you know which tools you potentially have access to, but that's sorta the tax one pays for gaining the best use from an APT.
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Thaumaturgy, Prestidigitation, Chill Touch, Mold Earth, Encode Thoughts, Druidcraft, Light, Guidance, Minor Illusion, Message, Mending, Spare the Dying if you REALLY need it, Mind Sliver, Shape Water, Sword Burst/Thunderclap/Word of Radiance if you're getting swarmed, Mage Hand, and Eldritch Blast for when you got someone fire resistant/immune around.
All the cantrips have use depending on your build and current situation, but this list is of all the less niche ones that will come up more often. Don't waste this feature on an attack/save cantrip unless you really need it.
Er ek geng, þat er í þeim skóm er ek valda.
UwU
Toll the dead isn't a bad pick either, if you've got a very high AC enemy or ones that are abusing cover (and you don't have your enhanced arcane focus active). Another option, though admittedly niche and particularly bad as an artillerist unless you have no cannon and no spell slots left: in the event where you have a couple allies who have no ranged options to do so, magic stone as a bonus action would let them attack with your int to attack and damage.
If you happen to have booming blade already as a cantrip (or dont mind switching at your next level), shilleleigh is a fun option for using your arcane firearm (staff) and joining the melee line and attacking with INT instead of strength.
Thanks for all the advice so far. I might switch my mending cantrip for some thing else like mage hand or guidance and then use my ATP when I need to heal my cannon.
Sounds like the opening sales pitch for a Rent-A-Bard service.
One of the common suggestions I've seen for Artillerists is Shillelagh. It allows them to use their staff arcane firearm for melee attacks with INT the way Battle Smith and Armorer do. No Extra Attack like the other subclasses, but they can still Booming Blade/Green Flame Blade with it and add the Arcane Firearm bonus. Downside is activating it takes a bonus action that might be normally used for a cannon activation.
I can't think of any way to gain Shillelagh as an artificer spell. Gaining it as a druid spell only lets you attack with your druid spellcasting ability (WIS) instead of strength. Warlocks that use it typically use pact of the tome, which lets them gain the spell as a warlock spell. If there is a way, I would be interested in hearing it.
...
Er ek geng, þat er í þeim skóm er ek valda.
UwU
This is what I would do, offset the cantrip tax by using ATP to get mending
The cantrip from the All Purpose Tool is the topic of this thread. It may come from any class list and becomes an Artificer spell.