What are the main Artificer class features?

The Artificer is built from several different systems rather than one dominant class resource. Spellcasting provides magical flexibility. Infusions alter equipment. Tools solve practical problems. Flash of Genius supports important checks and saves. Subclass features determine the character's main combat identity. Higher-level features then make magic items increasingly important to the Artificer themselves.

1st level: Magical Tinkering

Magical Tinkering establishes the theme of placing small magical effects into mundane objects.

The effects are intentionally much smaller than full magic items.

They can be useful for light, signals, recorded messages, sensory effects, markings, roleplay, and creative problem-solving.

Magical Tinkering should not be confused with Infuse Item.

Infuse Item is the feature that provides major equipment-related mechanical benefits.

1st level: Spellcasting

Artificers are Intelligence-based prepared spellcasters.

They gain cantrips and spell slots beginning at 1st level.

The class prepares a selection of Artificer spells after a long rest.

Artificer spellcasting uses tools and later infused items as focuses according to the class rules.

The class follows half-caster spell progression rather than full-caster progression.

This means the Artificer is expected to combine spells with its non-spell features instead of solving every turn with spell slots.

2nd level: Infuse Item

Infuse Item allows the Artificer to learn magical infusions and place a limited number of them into qualifying nonmagical objects.

These infusions can provide offensive upgrades, defensive upgrades, utility, spellcasting benefits, and replicated magic items.

The Artificer knows more infusions than can be active simultaneously.

That means the active infused items form part of the character's daily preparation.

3rd level: Artificer Specialist

At 3rd level, the Artificer chooses:

Alchemist
Armorer
Artillerist
Battle Smith

Specialist features appear at several later Artificer levels.

The Specialist substantially alters how the Artificer fights and which resources dominate the build.

3rd level: The Right Tool for the Job

The Right Tool for the Job allows the Artificer to magically create a set of artisan's tools when the feature's requirements are met.

This supports the idea that the Artificer is difficult to completely separate from their technical role.

The feature is useful for flexibility and preparation rather than direct combat power.

6th level: Tool Expertise

Tool Expertise doubles the Artificer's proficiency bonus on qualifying ability checks made with tools in which the character is proficient.

This makes the Artificer one of the game's strongest dedicated tool users.

Its value depends partly on how much the campaign allows tools to matter.

7th level: Flash of Genius

Flash of Genius allows the Artificer to use a reaction to improve an ability check or saving throw made by the Artificer or another nearby creature.

The bonus equals the Artificer's Intelligence modifier.

The feature has limited uses.

This is one of the class's most reliable ways to directly support another party member without casting a spell.

10th level: Magic Item Adept

Magic Item Adept improves the Artificer's relationship with magic items.

In the pre-2024 class, the feature increases the number of items the Artificer can attune to and provides additional benefits connected to creating certain magic items.

This begins a series of high-level features that make the Artificer unusually effective at using magical equipment.

11th level: Spell-Storing Item

Spell-Storing Item allows the Artificer to store a qualifying 1st- or 2nd-level Artificer spell in a suitable object.

Another creature can hold the item and use an action to produce the spell's effect.

If the effect requires concentration, the creature using the item handles that concentration.

This allows the Artificer to distribute magical effects through equipment rather than personally spending every action producing them.

14th and 18th level: Magic Item Savant and Master

Magic Item Savant increases the Artificer's attunement capacity further and, in the pre-2024 class, allows the character to ignore several normal requirements when attuning to or using magic items.

Magic Item Master later raises the maximum number of simultaneously attuned magic items again.

These features reward a high-level Artificer for collecting and combining magical equipment.

20th level: Soul of Artifice

Soul of Artifice is the Artificer's capstone.

In the pre-2024 class, attuned magic items improve the Artificer's saving throws.

The feature can also allow the Artificer to sacrifice an infusion to avoid dropping to 0 hit points under its stated conditions.

The Artificer's survival has now become mechanically linked to the magical objects they create and use.

How the features work together

Spellcasting provides magical options.

Infusions customize equipment.

Tools provide practical expertise.

Flash of Genius improves important rolls.

The Specialist establishes the main combat identity.

Spell-Storing Item distributes magical power.

Magic Item Adept, Savant, Master, and Soul of Artifice reward long-term equipment management.

The Artificer is therefore not a weak Wizard with tools.

Its class power is deliberately distributed across several interconnected systems.