A character’s background has a lot of depth behind it, even if some players don’t regard it as too important.
Backgrounds usually contain two essential aspects that a character needs to consider: whether the stats are beneficial and what the background says about the character before becoming an adventurer.
For a full roleplaying Artificer, you might look for backgrounds focusing on mechanical tinkering (items), alchemy, and magical imbueing.
Contents
Best Artificer Backgrounds
5. Clan Crafter
Description
Skill Proficiencies – History, Insight
Tool Proficiencies – One type of Artisan’s tools
Languages – Dwarvish or one other you choose if you already speak Dwarvish
Equipment
- Set of Artisan’s tools with which you’re proficient
- A maker’s mark chisel used to mark all your handiwork with the symbol of the clan of crafter you’ve learned your skill from
- Set of Traveler’s clothes (Value: 2 GP Weight: 4 lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 5 GP and a gem worth 10 GP
Explanation
Clan Crafter is a lot like Guild Artisan, only better, as it gives you some decent starting gear that fits with an Artificer.
You also get proficiency with a decent Artificer skill (History), allowing you to fill your roster of useful skills.
While the language might not be as important, all the other added benefits make Clan Crafter quite an obvious choice for many Artificers.
4. Sage
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Arcana, History
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- Bottle of ink (Value: 10 GP Weight: 0.0625 lb)
- Quill (Value: 2 CP Weight: 0)
- Small knife [Value: 0 Weight: 0]
- Letter from a dead colleague posing a question you haven’t been able to answer
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 10 GP
Explanation
Sage gives you two very good Artificer skill proficiencies, leaving you with the option to choose other skill proficiencies you’d also need.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t give any tool proficiency, but it makes up for that with the additional two languages.
3. Quandrix Student
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Arcana, Nature
Tool Proficiencies – One type of Artisan’s tools
Languages – One of your choice
Equipment
- Bottle of black ink (Value: 10 GP Weight: 0 lb)
- Ink pen (Value: 2 CP Weight: 0)
- Abacus (Value: 2 GP Weight: 2 lbs)
- Book of arcane theory
- School uniform
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 15 GP
Explanation
The Quandrix Student background gives the Artificer proficiency with two Artificer skills, one being Arcana, which can be very useful, and the other being Nature, which is less useful but still applicable if you’re out in the wilderness.
The starting equipment, as well as the addition of proficiency with one Artisan’s tools, makes this background even better.
Once again, the language might not be very useful, but you’ll at least be able to choose your own language rather than being stuck with one that you don’t want or need.
2. Cloistered Scholar
Description
Skill Proficiencies – History, as well as a choice of one from among Religion, Arcana, and Nature
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- The scholar’s robes (Value: 1 GP Weight: 4 lbs) of your cloister
- Writing kit (small pouch [Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb] with a quill [Value: 2 CP Weight: 0], a bottle of ink [Value: 10 GP Weight: 0.0625 lb], some folded parchment [Value: 1 SP Weight: 0], and a small penknife [Value: 0 Weight: 0])
- Borrowed book (Value: 25 GP Weight: 5 lbs) on the subject of your current study
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 10 GP
Explanation
Cloistered Scholar gives you access to two of the same skill proficiencies as Quandrix Student. Still, it also gives you access to History and Religion, which can be useful in their respects.
While it doesn’t give you a tool proficiency, it does give you two languages of your choice and leaves you with a lot of decent equipment.
1. Haunted One
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Choose two of Arcana, Investigation, Religion, or Survival
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Choose two languages, one of which being exotic (Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Draconic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, or Undercommon)
Equipment
- Monster Hunter’s pack (Total Value: 40 GP, 6 SP, 1 CP Total Weight: 45.5 lbs) containing 15 items
- One trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Gothic Trinket table)
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs) and 1 SP
Explanation
The Haunted One background is one of the best backgrounds you can have as an Artificer, even if it doesn’t give you a tool proficiency.
The Monster Hunter’s pack, as well as the choice of two skills between four, makes this a very alluring option for the Artificer.
You can even get a special trinket that might lead you to something further down the line!
Final Thoughts
Artificers are known as the tinkerers of D&D, experts of item crafting who dabble in all sorts of magic.
Not only do the above-mentioned backgrounds encompass the Artificer’s tinkering nature, but they also provide them with some decent benefits.
Though some backstories might differ from others, changing the details of your background to fit your character’s flavor is entirely possible!