Summary
Dungeons and Dragonsis getting an update from 5e. CodenamedOne DnD, Wizards of the Coast has described it as an update and expansion to 5e, rather than a completely new version of the game. WithOne DnDcomes a revamp ofDungeonds and Dragons' base classes that appear in thePlayer’s Handbook. AsOne DnDhas not been officially released yet, Wizards of the Coast has released a series of articles calledUnearthed Arcanafor the purposes of playtesting, which use the currentPlayer’s Handbookwith additional information and rules fromOne DnD.Unearthed Arcanaincludes a class list of the core twelveDnDclasses, with the notable exclusion of Artificer.
Artificer is a popular class that was introduced in 3e, and has appeared in everyDungeons and Dragonsedition since. Put simply,Artificers are magic userswho cast spells using a focus such as a set of tools. Their high Intelligence score, potential for character building, and versatile role in combat, Artificers are one of the most rewarding classes to play inDungeons and Dragons. Despite this,One DnDmay launch without the class, just as 5e did.
Classes in One DnD
The Introduction of Artificer in 5e
Artificer was never a part ofDungeons and Dragons' 5e base classes that came with thePlayer’s Handbook, and only arrived with theEberron: Rising from the Last Warexpansion.Tasha’s Cauldron of Everythingexpanded on the Artificer class later. Despite its later addition, Artificer may be considered a popular class and one of the core classes ofDungeons and Dragons.
These are 5e’s original twelve classes from thePlayer’s Handbook, but theUnearthed Arcananotes that the Artificer would fall under Experts and was not included in the originalPlayer’s Handbook. As eachUnearthed Arcanalaunches with new mechanics for players to test, Artificer may join the other classes as a part of the playtest.Artificer is the second class that uses Intelligenceas its primary score, alongside the Wizard. Excluding the Artificer means that only one class in thePlayer’s Handbookuses Intelligence, which can become inconvenient for building a balanced party and roleplaying.
Artificers in Dungeons and Dragons
Artificers are spellcasters, but use their magic through tools and infusing items, which is where their high Intelligence score comes in. They’re a versatile class that can be played in incredibly creative ways thanks to their mechanics. As a core part of the Artificer, crafting and figuring out tool proficiencies, spell lists, and infusions can make the Artificer one of the hardest classes to play for beginners or for those who would rather have a straightforward class. However, it’s exactly this detail thatmakes the Artificer fun to play, as there are so many ways to roleplay and build characters. The popularity of the class has risen so much that some were surprised that it wasn’t included in games likeBaldur’s Gate 3.
With the popularity of Artificers, theclass will inevitably be included inOne DnD. The only question is when it will happen. AsUnearthed Arcanahas a footnote mentioning it alongside the other classes that appear in thePlayer’s Handbook, the Artificer may be on the table forOne DnD’s launch. If not, hopefully players won’t have to wait for five years to get the Artificer in an expansion, as was the case in 5e.
Dungeons and Dragons
Created by Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons is a tabletop game in which players craft their own worlds and band together to take on adventures through mysterious realms outlined in companion materials. One of the best role-playing games ever made, it has been adapted into a variety of video games and other media.
