Any problems with this combo?

[TheEldritchKnig]

Can you as a level 5 alchemist combine crossbow expert and green flame blade?
Even further can you use your alter self elixir to make a magical natural weapon and use green flame blade on that attack followed by a hand crossbow shot.

[Unoriginal]

Can you as a level 5 alchemist combine crossbow expert and green flame blade?
Even further can you use your alter self elixir to make a magical natural weapon and use green flame blade on that attack followed by a hand crossbow shot.

You can't use Green Flame Blade on a ranged attack or on a natural weapon (weapon needs to cost at least 1 silver coin, IIRC).

[greenstone]

…followed by a hand crossbow shot.
That bit won't work.

From the feat:


When you use the Attack action and attack with a one-handed weapon, you can use a bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow you are holding.


If you cast greenflame blade then you used the Cast a Spel (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#CastaSpell)l action, not the Attack (https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/combat#Attack)action.

[stoutstien]

Saying that I don't think there's anything wrong with letting The alchemist use it this fashion. They're already screwed out of using a shield thanks to needing tools might as well allow them to do something unique

[Unoriginal]

Saying that I don't think there's anything wrong with letting The alchemist use it this fashion. They're already screwed out of using a shield thanks to needing tools might as well allow them to do something unique

They can use the tool in one hand and the shield in the other.

[stoutstien]

They can use the tool in one hand and the shield in the other.

Which excludes them from using any of the blade can trips even though thematically they lineup.

[JackPhoenix]

Which excludes them from using any of the blade can trips even though thematically they lineup.

Or they infuse their weapon/shield and don't care.

[stoutstien]

Or they infuse their weapon/shield and don't care.

Unfortunately unlike the the other subclasses the alchemist doesn't get this option regarding the lv 5 feature. Any of the features infact.

[Unoriginal]

A 5th level Alchemist Artificier using Green Flame Blade with a standard simple weapon in one hand and a tool in the other can deal 1d6+1d8+STR mod+INT mod damages on the initial hit, and 1d8+INT mod on the secondary target.

That's not half bad.

[greenstone]

…and a tool in the other can deal 1d6+1d8+STR mod+INT mod damages on the initial hit, and 1d8+INT mod on the secondary target.

That's not half bad.
It is pretty good, particularly since that the +INT bit will be fire damage, not weapon damage.

That tool must be alchemists supplies, though. This won't work with any other tools or with an infused shield.

[Sherlockpwns]

As always, alchemist is generally crap. As everyone pointed out you can’t do what you want to as RAW.

And everything similar you could do is simply better done as an artillerist. Including GFB (before you say it, yes technically the Alchemist does 0.5 more damage on avg, but let’s be honest the turret more than makes up for it).

For the OP, there are very few ways to really boost ranged (bow or xbow) damage directly. Essentially it comes down to a handful of ranger spells which do kind of terrible damage, a variety of buff spells that add small numbers (usually a d4) to attacks, and fire arrows; which outside of some cheese with animate dead is not worth casting.

In short, you’d get more mileage out of just using the repeater infusion and going battlesmith or even armorer to get 3 attacks. Use a feat or dip fighter to get archery for +2 more to hit at some point and enjoy shredding everything in the game. A bit mechanically dull but super efficient.

That said go play alchemist if you want to. There is no right way to play, just different ones. You can certainly get crossbow expert and GFB and alter self and use them as the situation demands. Just.. not all at once if you are following the rules :)