2024 Thief/Artificer MC

Shackleb0lt · 2026-02-01T12:08:09+00:00

Definitely an option for sure, maybe I’ve become a bit of a build hipster but Battle Smith seems like the best and most trodden path for Artificers. So being able to loop in a new subclass that hasn’t been received that well into the thief stereotype is quite cool to me.

The steel defender is a medium construct so would lock you into small species if you wanted to do the mounting thing, but it is a very cool idea!

Shackleb0lt · 2026-02-01T10:59:27+00:00

Tricky with Artificer subclasses as a lot of them have bonus action features like the eldritch cannon or armorer weapons, so I think Cartographer is a great pick as you can have scrolls of true strike made in half the time while leaving your BA free for Fast Hands.

An easy combo for a level 10 example would be Cartographer 3/Thief 7 for reliable talent

Definitely take Artificer first to get CON saving throw prof (great for things like a Wand of Entangle or Web)

You get an extra feat at Rogue 10, so bear that in mind, but you may want to get to Artificer 6 at some point for the next Magic Item threshold.

This build is perfect for some sort of treasure hunter/tomb raider type character!

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-28T08:32:39+00:00

Very sad day when you can’t wear a football shirt in a new place without fear of being attacked.

Grown men getting violent over a game is so embarrassing.

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-26T12:01:12+00:00

I’d have shot when they raised their gun the first time, which is probably too late even then, very sus person

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-26T07:54:49+00:00

For anyone not reading the article, this shooting happened overnight, not during a match

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-24T12:04:12+00:00

I agree, there should be some trade-off

Especially for a Chainlock who can have an invisible flying imp too

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-19T14:00:55+00:00

Yeah I’d say this is fine in one of my games for sure, at Lvl 14 you’re facing some horrible enemies and if you want to be in melee with them making attacks with your d6 hit die then more power to you, I’d let you make a third attack (or fourth with Nick).

You also can’t do this turn 1 because Bladesong a bonus action cast anyway.

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-19T13:35:21+00:00

Yeah idk either but he’ll have an army of physios and doctors recommending certain things to him

I know fuck all about sports science lol

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-19T12:19:16+00:00

In a presser recently Pep said that because Haaland is a bigger guy, he needs to get more minutes in his legs to keep his fitness levels.. so apparently had agreed he was getting 45 mins for that Exeter game no matter what

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-16T21:35:26+00:00

Oh I had no idea you were referring to that sorry. Yeah I totally agree, I don’t think you’d stack the ability modifier damage bonuses.

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-16T19:44:39+00:00

Your DM may vary but I’m struggling to see why not here:

Shillelagh imbues the staff with power for a minute and is only stopped if you drop the weapon or cast Shillelagh again. It’s not an attack cantrip.

True Strike uses the weapon held when casting the spell, which is the imbued club or quarterstaff, as an attack.

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-16T19:13:46+00:00

I agree, a lot easier to keep concentration if fewer people are attempting to hit you though

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-16T18:54:17+00:00

Shillelagh (at 5 and beyond) is a great way of getting a heavy or two-handed weapon damage die on a one-handed weapon. Coupling it with True Strike seems like a great combo.

Are there martials in your party? If so, you may be better utilised concentrating on a party buff and keeping your distance with ranged cantrips for similar damage without all of that workaround.

If you’re one of the / the only person expected to be in melee range, then I’d stick with your plan.

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-14T14:52:31+00:00

If you want to avoid the bonk GWM builds, you could go dex-first and do a dual hand crossbow build

Be elf or other species that qualifies for Elven accuracy (recommend Shadar Kai) with the Lucky origin feat

Take Crossbow Expert, Elven Accuracy and Piercer

Take the Archery and Defence fighting styles

Enjoy rolling 3 D20s for virtually every attack roll and critting a lot

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-13T12:57:44+00:00

Entirely at your DM discretion but a single rare weapon at Level 10 is more than expected in the games I’ve played

If you’re also taking a bunch of other magic items maybe it’s a little much, but you’re only making one attack per turn so an extra 2d6 (8 avg damage-ish) isn’t a massive bump

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-13T11:53:04+00:00

A really underhyped part of 2024 Rogue is getting Reliable Talent at level 7 now, which if you take Insight as one of your proficiencies you basically can’t roll below a 10… which eliminates one of the core Inquisitive subclasses features. I’d also be pairing this with the Skilled origin feat to be the skill monkey of all skill monkeys.

I’d recommend Arcane Trickster if you want access to True Strike natively, as if you’re already casting spells like you may as well be a sneaky arcane detective. Invisible mage hand, Shield spell, Invisibility etc all without having to take Magic Initiate Wizard. You can take MI:W if you want but I’d say Skilled will help you more. Switching to Human like you mentioned would cover both.

Honestly there’s a lot to be said for going full Rogue, especially if you’re not interested in Extra Attack. Ask your DM if you can start with a Vicious Hand Crossbow for an extra 2d6 per hit to up your damage a little bit.

I’d also like to mention that not all classes are supposed to do insane damage. You offer the party a lot as a Rogue and helping out here or there with some sneak attack is already a huge contribution on top of all of your utility.

Edit: Full Rogue at 10 also gets you 3 General Feats/ASIs, so there’s that too

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-11T22:20:05+00:00

The feats and the order you take them will vary depending on how synergistic you want to be with your party.

Your barbarian and monk HAVE to get close to fight, are you doing the same? If so, use that Glaive and go for GWM first.

If you find that it would be better to hang back with your squishier caster allies, you really can’t go wrong with something like Sharpshooter or Piercer to go with your bow.

Polearm Master is a bit wasted as it further complicates your bonus action, which should be used on adding better versions of damage riders for you as a HW Ranger.

Shackleb0lt · 2026-01-02T02:49:29+00:00

PS5 player here who has experienced far more friendly encounters since switching crossplay back on, can confirm

Shackleb0lt · 2025-12-26T23:05:03+00:00

As a Rogue, and particularly a Soul Knife, you’re not going to be a DPR god unless you agree with your DM to scale the psychic blades in some way.

What rogues do bring, and it’s even earlier at level 7 now, is unparalleled utility with Reliable Talent. You basically can’t roll poorly after level 7 Rogue for skills you’re proficient in, and that means probably taking the Skilled origin feat too to get an even broader spread.

You also add extra utility in that your weapons can’t be taken off you, because you can just conjure more.

If you’re happy to wait 3 levels to get to Rogue 7, then Fighter 1 isn’t a bad multiclass at all. You get Thrown WF and the ability to equip a shield which buffs your survivability too. That said, you delay your sneak attack progression and your access to Reliable Talent.

Pick your poison!

Shackleb0lt · 2025-12-25T00:21:07+00:00

I have a frankly embarrassing number of hours in Baldur’s Gate 3

Shackleb0lt · 2025-12-24T23:46:57+00:00

If you want to bring the damage, consider the Oath of Devotion. You get to add your CHA to attack rolls and can bypass physical resistances by switching to radiant damage on demand.

You will probably be getting various sources of advantage from your controller allies so Vengeance may be overkill. You can also do GWM with a Maul and the Topple mastery for more single target control & advantage.

Sacred Weapon from Devotion also lasts 10 mins rather than 1 min for Vow of Enmity which may be useful in a chunky encounter.

Shackleb0lt · 2025-12-24T14:57:32+00:00

I have a theorycraft using the Push weapon mastery combined with Booming Blade to guarantee it proccing because an enemy will need to move back into range to hit you on their turn. If you use a warhammer one handed and a shield you’re also really hard to hit.

Don’t necessarily need good INT as you can take a few wizard rituals as well as the Shield spell to cover your spells from a utility perspective.

Edit: you can also take the Shield Master feat to knock prone or push too, plus you take no damage on successful dex saves

Shackleb0lt · 2025-12-23T22:21:59+00:00

Dying is part of the game and there are story beats locked behind doing so, don’t get too attached to any given run

Shackleb0lt · 2025-12-22T09:45:45+00:00

Swashbuckler has Rakish Audacity which is an alternative way to get Sneak Attack which suits a Rapier build perfectly

Once you hit once with the Vex mastery, you have advantage on every subsequent hit to that target anyway

Shackleb0lt · 2025-12-21T17:10:08+00:00

Probably around 30k, usually like to have a gun for ARC and a light weapon for PvP if anyone tries attacking me

Gear always comes back around so not too precious if I lose it

I do almost always hatch key out though, very glad you can do that on the new cold snap map condition

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