Mastering Artisan's Tools in D&D 5e: A Comprehensive Guide

Artisan’s tools in D&D 5e aren’t just flavor; they’re a pathway to impactful gameplay, enhancing your character’s abilities and opening up new avenues for adventure. From crafting essential gear to deciphering ancient riddles, the right set of artisan’s tools can be the key to success. This comprehensive guide delves into the seventeen distinct artisan’s tool sets, empowering players to embody a wide range of professions and add depth to their campaign narratives.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Value of Artisan’s Tools

Artisan’s tools provide both mechanical advantages and rich roleplaying opportunities. They are key for crafting and interacting with the game world in meaningful ways. Mastering these tools grants more than just proficiency bonuses; it unlocks crafting opportunities, deepens roleplaying, and adds a tangible dimension to your character’s profession.

Why Your Character Needs Artisan’s Tools

These tools are not merely decorative; they provide tangible benefits. Proficiency grants a bonus to relevant ability checks, and synergy with related skills can provide advantage on those checks, offering further insights. Crafting becomes possible, enabling the creation of specific items. Furthermore, they enhance roleplaying by allowing players to truly embody their character’s profession, expanding gameplay options and adding a touch of realism to their actions.

The 17 Types of Artisan’s Tools

D&D 5e offers a diverse range of artisan tool proficiencies:

Alchemist’s Supplies
Brewer’s Supplies
Calligrapher’s Supplies
Carpenter’s Tools
Cartographer’s Tools
Cobbler’s Tools
Cook’s Utensils
Glassblower’s Tools
Jeweler’s Tools
Leatherworker’s Tools
Mason’s Tools
Painter’s Supplies
Potter’s Tools
Smith’s Tools
Tinker’s Tools
Weaver’s Tools
Woodcarver’s Tools

A Deep Dive into Each Tool Set

Each tool set has unique applications, costs, and benefits. Let’s explore them in detail:

Tool Set	Cost	Weight	Associated Skills	Example Uses	Crafting Potential
Alchemist’s Supplies	50 gp	8 lb	Arcana, Investigation	Identifying poisons, creating alchemical items (acid, alchemist’s fire), analyzing substances	Potions, explosives, alchemical remedies
Brewer’s Supplies	20 gp	9 lb		Brewing beverages, creating specialized drinks, potentially developing potent sleeping draughts or poisons	Potions, consumables, alcoholic drinks
Calligrapher’s Supplies	10 gp	5 lb		Creating forgeries, crafting beautiful invitations, deciphering scripts, creating coded messages	Documents, art, secret missives
Carpenter’s Tools	8 gp	6 lb		Constructing structures, repairing ships, crafting traps, creating makeshift barricades, reinforcing doors	Buildings, furniture, siege weaponry
Cartographer’s Tools	15 gp	6 lb		Drawing accurate maps, charting unexplored territories, navigating treacherous terrain, deciphering ancient maps	Maps, charts, navigational aids
Cobbler’s Tools	5 gp	5 lb		Repairing footwear, crafting simple leather goods, potentially even using leather scraps to create makeshift armor patches	Boots, shoes, sandals, leather goods
Cook’s Utensils	1 gp	8 lb		Preparing meals, creating flavorful dishes, potentially even using spices to create makeshift smokescreens or irritants, identifying ingredients	Food, feasts, potentially poisoned dishes
Glassblower’s Tools	30 gp	5 lb		Shaping delicate glass objects, creating intricate vials, crafting lenses, repairing broken glass items	Bottles, vials, decorative glass items, lenses
Jeweler’s Tools	25 gp	2 lb		Crafting exquisite jewelry, repairing precious gems, appraising valuable stones, creating intricate clockwork mechanisms	Rings, necklaces, earrings, other adornments
Leatherworker’s Tools	5 gp	5 lb		Crafting sturdy leather armor, creating fashionable clothing, repairing harnesses, crafting pouches and bags	Armor, clothing, saddles, leather goods
Mason’s Tools	10 gp	8 lb		Constructing stone walls, building fortifications, repairing damaged structures, sculpting, assessing structural integrity	Walls, buildings, fortifications
Painter’s Supplies	10 gp	5 lb		Creating breathtaking paintings, forging artwork, disguising objects with paint, creating camouflage	Paintings, portraits, disguises
Potter’s Tools	10 gp	3 lb		Crafting sturdy pottery, creating delicate ceramics, designing intricate tiles, creating small figurines	Pots, jars, plates, tiles, figurines
Smith’s Tools	20 gp	8 lb		Forging powerful weapons, crafting sturdy armor, repairing metal objects, crafting tools, working with metal	Weapons, armor, tools, metalwork
Tinker’s Tools	50 gp	10 lb		Repairing broken devices, crafting ingenious contraptions, disabling traps, creating small mechanical devices	Traps, clocks, mechanical devices, small inventions
Weaver’s Tools	1 gp	5 lb		Weaving fine cloth, creating intricate tapestries, repairing torn garments, creating rugs	Clothing, tapestries, rugs
Woodcarver’s Tools	1 gp	5 lb		Carving intricate designs, crafting wooden sculptures, repairing wooden objects, creating furniture	Furniture, sculptures, decorative items

Crafting with Artisan’s Tools

Crafting is a core function of artisan’s tools. Creating mundane items requires proficiency, raw materials (typically half the item’s value in gold), and time (usually one week for every 50 gp of value). Multiple crafters working together can reduce this time. Magical item crafting is more complex and detailed in the Dungeon Master’s Guide (DMG). Alchemist’s Supplies allow for creating specific items during a long rest.

Beyond Crafting: Unconventional Applications

Think outside the box! Artisan’s tools can be surprisingly versatile. A woodcarver might forge a royal seal, a calligrapher could pen a coded message, or a mason might spot structural weaknesses. They can even be useful in combat, like an alchemist creating a smokescreen or a carpenter reinforcing a door.

Proficiency and Skills: A Powerful Combination

Proficiency with artisan’s tools grants a bonus to related ability checks. Combining this with a related skill from Xanathar’s Guide to Everything (XGtE) often grants advantage on those checks, significantly boosting your chances of success. For example, a carpenter proficient with their tools and possessing a high Wisdom (Perception) score might notice subtle structural flaws. A rogue proficient with Thieves’ Tools and expertise in Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) becomes a lock-picking prodigy.

Downtime and Income: Profit from Your Craft

Downtime activities, like brewing ales or crafting jewelry, can generate income, the amount depending on skill checks and lifestyle choices (see XGtE for details).

Artisan’s Tools vs. Other Tools

Disguise kits and forgery kits serve specific tasks, while artisan’s tools represent broader crafts. This subtle distinction clarifies their roles in gameplay.

Tips for Dungeon Masters

Encourage creative tool use! Design scenarios rewarding ingenuity beyond combat. A locked door might yield to tinker’s tools, a hidden message to calligrapher’s supplies, or a collapsing tunnel to mason’s tools. Consider awarding inspiration for clever applications. Incorporating tools into challenges enhances player agency and immersion. Some DMs even allow proficiency to provide advantage on related checks. For instance, a mason proficient with their tools might gain advantage on a Perception check to spot a weakness in a stone wall.

Delve into the celestial wonders and uncover the myths surrounding the altar constellation. Perhaps your players’ artisan skills could even help decipher its secrets.

There is ongoing debate among players and DMs about specific tool applications, with many exploring expanded uses. This guide provides a foundation, but the true potential of artisan’s tools lies in the creativity of players and DMs. Embrace the possibilities, get creative, and watch your D&D 5e games flourish.

Author
Recent Posts

Lola Sofia

Hello, My love for writing is rivaled only by my passion for in-depth research. While many may skim the surface, I dive deep, seeking the hidden gems of information that give a story texture and depth. Every word I write is backed by hours of exploration, ensuring that my work is not just compelling, but also meticulously accurate. Join me on a journey where every piece is a deep dive into the realms of knowledge and storytelling.