Arcanist (Excerpts of Elvhenan)

*"That comes from being self-taught. I discovered most magic on my own, or learned it from my journeys in the Fade."*

– *Solas*

Most Elvhen are intrinsically tied to the Fade– but few study it like the Arcanist does. The magic of the Fade is complex and mysterious, and draws many a student who seeks to master it. Though the casting of a typical spell requires merely the utterance of a few words, the swing of a staff, or sometimes a pinch or clump of exotic materials, these surface components barely hint at the expertise attained after years of apprenticeship and countless hours of study. Many Arcanists spend centuries– millenia or even eternity– mastering their craft. Because magic is so valued in Elvhenan, there are many learning institutions for students and independent, self-taught Arcanists spanning the continent. It is also rumored that Fen’Harel, God of Trickery, once studied as an Arcanist.

Adapted from the D&D 5E Wizard.

***Race Restriction: Unavailable to Dreamless.***

**Schools of Study:**

* Abjuration
* Chronurgy
* Conjuration
* Divination
* Enchantment
* Evocation
* Graviturgy
* Illusion
* Necromancy
* Transmutation

## Class Details

*You must have an Intelligence score of 13 or higher in order to multiclass in or out of this class.*

* **Hit Dice:** 1d6 per Arcanist level
* **Saving Throws:** Intelligence, Wisdom
* **Proficiencies:** Daggers, Darts, Slings, Quarterstaffs, Light Crossbows
* **Skills:** Choose two from Arcana, History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, and Religion

### Equipment

You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment granted by your origin.

* Your personal mage's staff
	+ To hit: 1d20 + spellcasting ability modifier + proficiency modifier
	+ *Melee Attack:* 1d6 of either bludgeoning, slashing, fire, cold, force, or lightning (choose one)
	+ *Ranged Attack:* 1d4 of either fire, cold, force, or lightning damage (choose one) at 60 feet
	+ Two-handed, spellcasting focus
* (a) a scholar's pack or (b) an explorer's pack
* A spellbook

## Spell Casting

As a student of arcane magic, you have a spellbook containing spells that show the first glimmerings of magic beyond your own, innate power.

### Arcanist Spell List

The Arcanist Spell List can be found through this link.

### Cantrips

At 1st level, you know three cantrips of your choice from the Arcanist spell list. You learn additional Arcanist cantrips of your choice at higher levels, as shown in the Cantrips Known column of the Arcanist table.

### Spellbook

At 1st level, you have a spellbook containing six 1st-level arcanist spells of your choice.

The spells that you add to your spellbook as you gain levels reflect the arcane research you conduct on your own, as well as intellectual breakthroughs you have had about the nature of the Fade and the world you live in. You might find other spells during your adventures. You could discover a spell recorded on a scroll in the chest of a slain Arcanist, for example, or in a dusty tome in an ancient library.

***Copying a Spell into the Book.*** When you find an arcanist spell of 1st level or higher, you can add it to your spellbook if it is of a level for which you have spell slots and if you can spare the time to decipher and copy it.

Copying a spell into your spellbook involves reproducing the basic form of the spell, then deciphering the unique system of notation used by the wizard who wrote it. You must practice the spell until you understand the sounds or gestures required, then transcribe it into your spellbook using your own notation.

For each level of the spell, the process takes 2 hours and costs 50 gp. The cost represents material components you expend as you experiment with the spell to master it, as well as the fine inks you need to record it. Once you have spent this time and money, you can prepare the spell just like your other spells.

***Replacing the Book.*** You can copy a spell from your own spellbook into another book-for example, if you want to make a backup copy of your spellbook. This is just like copying a new spell into your spellbook, but faster and easier, since you understand your own notation and already know how to cast the spell. You need spend only 1 hour and 10 gp for each level of the copied spell.

If you lose your spellbook, you can use the same procedure to transcribe the spells that you have prepared into a new spellbook. Filling out the remainder of your spellbook requires you to find new spells to do so, as normal. For this reason, many Arcanists keep backup spellbooks in a safe place.

***The Book's Appearance.*** Your spellbook is a unique compilation of spells, with its own decorative flourishes and margin notes. It might be a plain, functional leather volume that you received as a gift from your master, a finely bound gilt-edged tome you found in an ancient library or even a loose collection of notes scrounged together after you lost your previous spellbook in a mishap.

### Preparing and Casting Spells

The Arcanist table shows how many spell slots you have to cast your spells of 1st level and higher. To cast one of these spells, you must expend a slot of the spell's level or higher. You regain all expended spell slots when you finish a long rest.

You prepare the list of Arcanist spells that are available for you to cast. To do so, choose a number of Arcanist spells from your spellbook equal to your Intelligence modifier + your wizard level (minimum of one spell). The spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots.

For example, if you're a 3rd-level Arcanist, you have four 1st-1evel and two 2nd-level spell slots. With an Intelligence of 16, your list of prepared spells can include six spells of 1st or 2nd level, in any combination, chosen from your spellbook. If you prepare the 1st-level spell Magic Missile, you can cast it using a 1st-level or a 2nd-level slot. Casting the spell doesn't remove it from your list of prepared spells.

You can change your list of prepared spells when you finish a long rest. Preparing a new list of Arcanist spells requires time spent studying your spellbook and memorizing the incantations and gestures you must make to cast the spell: at least 1 minute per spell level for each spell on your list.

### Spellcasting Ability

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for your Arcanist spells, since you learn your spells through dedicated study and memorization. You use your Intelligence whenever a spell refers to your spellcasting ability. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving throw DC for an Arcanist spell you cast and when making an attack roll with one.

Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence  modifier

Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier

### Ritual Casting

You can cast an Arcanist spell as a ritual if that spell has the ritual tag and you have the spell in your spellbook. You don't need to have the spell prepared.

### Spellcasting Focus

You use your Mage's Staff as a spellcasting focus for your Arcanist spells.

### Learning Spells of 1st Level or Higher

Each time you gain an Arcanist level, you can add two Arcanist spells of your choice to your spellbook. Each of these spells must be of a level for which you have spell slots, as shown on the Arcanist table. On your adventures, you might find other spells that you can add to your spellbook.

## Arcane Recovery

You have learned to regain some of your magical energy by studying your spellbook. Once per day when you finish a short rest, you can choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than half your Arcanist level (rounded up), and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher.

For example, if you're a 4th-level Arcanist, you can recover up to two levels worth of spell slots. You can recover either a 2nd-level spell slot or two 1st-level spell slots.

## Arcane Tradition

When you reach 2nd level, you choose an arcane tradition, shaping your practice of magic through one of the following schools. Your choice grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, and 14th level.

* Abjuration
* Chronurgy
* Conjuration
* Divination
* Enchantment
* Evocation
* Graviturgy
* Illusion
* Necromancy
* Transmutation

## Spell Mastery

At 18th level, you have achieved such mastery over certain spells that you can cast them at will. Choose a 1st-level Arcanist spell and a 2nd-level Arcanist spell that are in your spellbook. You can cast those spells at their lowest level without expending a spell slot when you have them prepared. If you want to cast either spell at a higher level, you must expend a spell slot as normal.

By spending 8 hours in study, you can exchange one or both of the spells you chose for different spells of the same levels.

## Signature Spells

When you reach 20th level, you gain mastery over two powerful spells and can cast them with little effort. Choose two 3rd-level Arcanist spells in your spellbook as your signature spells. You always have these spells prepared, they don't count against the number of spells you have prepared, and you can cast each of them once at 3rd level without expending a spell slot. When you do so, you can't do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

If you want to cast either spell at a higher level, you must expend a spell slot as normal.