New Artificer Unearthed Arcana

Hey fellow adventurers! I've been seeing a lot of chatter about 'arbalest 5e' lately, and it got me thinking. As an Artificer enthusiast, I always look for ways to optimize my builds, especially for those heavy-hitting ranged weapons. That's why I was so excited to dig into the new Artificer Unearthed Arcana, and let me tell you, there are some really interesting implications for anyone wanting to wield a powerful arbalest in their next campaign. First off, the Artificer is already a fantastic choice for ranged combat. Infusions like Repeating Shot totally solve the loading property issue for heavy crossbows, letting you fire multiple times without needing the Crossbow Expert feat. And Enhanced Weapon? That's just a cherry on top for accuracy and damage. But what about the new stuff? That's where it gets really exciting! The snippets I've seen from the UA, like those mentioning an 'Eldritch Cannon' and a 'Launcher,' immediately make me think about how much more ranged firepower an Artificer could bring to the table. Imagine deploying an 'Eldritch Cannon' for extra damage or tactical utility while you're raining down bolts from your arbalest. It's like becoming a mobile, self-sufficient artillery platform! I'm picturing my Artificer now, heavy crossbow in hand, with a little cannon buddy blasting away beside them. Talk about covering all angles! While some of the OCR text highlights melee enhancements, like the 'Dreadnought' increasing a 'Flail's' damage die to '2D6 BLUDGEONING DAMAGE,' the core idea of an Artificer boosting their chosen weapon's power is paramount. It makes me wonder what kind of similar enhancements we might see or could homebrew for a heavy crossbow. Even if not directly, the spirit of such modifications is deeply Artificer. Every Artificer I've played loves to tinker, so finding ways to make that arbalest hit even harder is always on the agenda. Then there are the mobility and control aspects. The OCR mentioned gaining 'Giant Stature' and even a 'Flying Speed.' Can you imagine the tactical advantage of an arbalest-wielding Artificer gaining 'Giant Stature' or a 'Flying Speed'? You could hover above the fray, gaining advantage on attacks from height, getting clear sightlines, and staying out of reach of most melee threats. It's a game-changer for positioning and battlefield control. And the 'Wrecking Ball' concept, allowing you to push creatures? While explicitly for certain weapons, it sparks ideas for how an Artificer could imbue their arbalest with a knockback effect, pushing enemies away to create space or into dangerous traps. The possibilities for creative combat scenarios are endless! When building an Arbalest Artificer, beyond the UA, I always recommend considering feats like Sharpshooter for that sweet extra damage, especially if you have reliable ways to gain advantage. For infusions, Repeating Shot is a must, but don't forget Mind Sharpener to keep your concentration spells up, or a Homunculus Servant for bonus action utility. Both the Battle Smith (with its Steel Defender drawing aggro) and Artillerist (for even more cannon fun!) subclasses synergize incredibly well with a heavy crossbow focus. Overall, this new Artificer Unearthed Arcana really excites me for the potential it holds for diverse and powerful builds. If you're like me and love the idea of a clever inventor dominating the battlefield with a custom-engineered heavy crossbow, you'll definitely want to give these new features a close look and start theorycrafting your ultimate 'arbalest 5e' Artificer!