Thoughts for MC on Artificer xbow expert

[Vangalius]

Hello there.

I'm currently playing a warforged artificer who I've decided to take into xbow/sharpshooter territory using the armorer lightning launcher (and a hand xbow, naturally). The idea is a heavily armored weapons platform with some magical tricks. So using full plate + shield and the repeating shot infusion on the xbow.

Thanks to a couple of bonus ASIs the DM threw our way, he's coming online pretty quickly.

After extra attack in armorer, I'm considering other classes, pretty much as dips, and wanted some opinions. Fighter seems like a good choice for the +2 to hit, and going to 3rd there would also get me shield from EK, whose absence from the armorer spell list is kind of annoying. But going with the infiltrator mode is also making me considering leaning into that sneaky role and grabbing some rogue levels to boost damage from sneak attack, and maybe arcane trickster. Then there's wizard. Since I'm not taking homunculus due to bonus action xbow attacks, find familiar + war wizard early features seem good as well.

To put this in context, there's another artificer in our party who has decided to go full on support, hence why I'm not worried about some delayed spell progression or pushing back Flash of Genius a bit, etc. The rest of the party is a psi warrior tank, champion fighter, mercy monk, shadows monk, and spores druid, if that helps.

[That-OneGuy]

What stats are you currently running with?
Which feats do you already have in your list?
If you have enough stats to dip Ranger, you can pick up bother fighting style + snatch gloomstalker for some extra round one burst and extra sneakiness.

If you already have high Int + The feats you already want. Then I would just pick up archery fighting style feat for the extra +2 to hit.

That being said, if I'm an Artificer and plan to MC, it's almost always into Wizard.

[Vangalius]

The DM had us do standard array instead of point buy and gave us two free ASIs. Currently at level 4, with Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 8. I've got Skill Expert (Dex), Crossbow Expert, and Sharpshooter. So technically I've got all the feats I need, though I'll probably want to use the next ASI for Dex +2. Int will eventually get bolstered by Headband of Intellect, which the DM will let me craft (so don't have to wait till 10 artificer to use an infusion on it).

[That-OneGuy]

The DM had us do standard array instead of point buy and gave us two free ASIs. Currently at level 4, with Str 10, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 12, Cha 8. I've got Skill Expert (Dex), Crossbow Expert, and Sharpshooter. So technically I've got all the feats I need, though I'll probably want to use the next ASI for Dex +2. Int will eventually get bolstered by Headband of Intellect, which the DM will let me craft (so don't have to wait till 10 artificer to use an infusion on it).

I'd probably skip the dex upgrade at 4
Your attack modifier is triggered of int for your lightning launcher so (with the exception of your hand Xbox) but you probably will infuse that with Repeating shot anyways. 2 dex doesn't add as much to your total kit since your Medium/Heavy armor. The only thing you really get out of the 20dex is +1attack/damage (for the crossbow attack only ) and +1initative.
Where if you take Fighting style you get +2 to attack on all 3 attacks.

[RogueJK]

If you're considering dipping 3 levels to go for Eldritch Knight, I'd do Fighter 1/War Wizard 2 instead.

The +1 spellcasting level, extra spells known, ritual casting, +INT to Initiative, and Arcane Deflection Reaction are a much better package deal than just Action Surge.


Armorer Artificer 5 -> Fighter 1 -> War Wizard 2 -> Artificer to 17

[Vangalius]

I'd probably skip the dex upgrade at 4
Your attack modifier is triggered of int for your lightning launcher so (with the exception of your hand Xbox) but you probably will infuse that with Repeating shot anyways. 2 dex doesn't add as much to your total kit since your Medium/Heavy armor. The only thing you really get out of the 20dex is +1attack/damage (for the crossbow attack only ) and +1initative.
Where if you take Fighting style you get +2 to attack on all 3 attacks.

I was pumping Dex because you can use your lightning launcher with Dex or Int, but the Xbow is Dex only, so it give me higher overall to hit across all attacks. Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'm worried about lightning resistance and stuff, so I was thinking being able to rely on the Xbow for all attacks might be a good idea. Since I'll eventually get headband of intellect, I'll have a temporary deficit in my spell DC's and things like flash of genius, but we have a 2nd artificer who is pumping Int and will be the one laying down the faerie fires and such allowing me to focus on attacking.

It's definitely a tradeoff because my int features will always be at -1 compared to what I'd get just pushing intelligence, but my stealth and rogue-ish features will benefit and I'll probably be the one picking locks and disabling traps.

I think given the makeup of my party (no rogue, an extra artificer), it's probably the right choice.


If you're considering dipping 3 levels to go for Eldritch Knight, I'd do Fighter 1/War Wizard 2 instead.

The +1 spellcasting level, extra spells known, ritual casting, +INT to Initiative, and Arcane Deflection Reaction are a much better package deal than just Action Surge.


Armorer Artificer 5 -> Fighter 1 -> War Wizard 2 -> Artificer to 17

I think that's a really good point. Thank you for the suggestion!

[Silpharon]

I've got an Armorer 5 sharpshooter as well, though Int instead of Dex based, so I'm using a Homunculus Servant instead of hand crossbow. I'm planning to MC out next level and not come back hence I've been thinking a lot about this too.

First off, I did an analysis a while back to see what combo provided the highest at-will damage at level 7. It turned out that your guy (Dex Xbow expert sharpshooter) with one level of Fighter (archery style) and one level of Genie Warlock (wrath damage) came out on top (for AC ~16 and higher):

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?630277-Highest-at-will-damage-on-level-7&p=25022070

But there are lots of other options too. Here's a smattering of choices:

Consider Chronurgy Wizard (2 levels). Get Shield, Silvery Barbs, and Gift of Alacrity. It's also helpful to have lower level spells prepared even if you have them on the Artificer list, like Absorb Elements and Feather Fall. Take it to 5th level for Spirit Shroud and you will not be ignored, especially if upcast to 7th level and tied with Scorching Ray. War Wizard is another good option, but moreso if you have high int for the initiative bonus.

Consider Genie Earth Warlock (1 level). You get AoA and +pb damage 1/turn. Combine with Crusher (+1 dex) feat to move someone you hit with the damage. Use the vessel to hold your buff Glyph of Wardings (you have a lot of buff spells you can put in these!), then activate them before a fight for concentration free buffs.

Consider Divine Soul Sorcerer (1 level) for Bless, Favored by the Gods, Shield, Healing Word, and a lot of cantrips. Bless is amazing with sharpshooter! If you take it to level 3, grab Quicken metamagic to cast spells while still getting off lightning launcher bolts. Also can grab Prayer of Healing and Silence. 5th level provides a reaction free ability check reroll, Counterspell, and Spirit Shroud.

Consider Gloomstalker Ranger (3-4 levels) for an extra attack per combat, extra darkvision, being invisible in darkness, Archery combat style, Hunter's Mark, Zephyr Strike, Goodberry, Favored Foe (hey, it's free damage), a little more initiative, etc.

Good luck deciding. I ended up just deciding to make a build around six (6!) classes, the "Lightning Ghost" written as the third build in the OP here:

https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?640976-Build-The-Lightning-Sniper-a-Nova-Specialist