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Arcanist

Class

These wizards embody the traditional ideals of a mage, studying the eight classical schools of magic and their methods. They usually come to their magics by way of a mentor or schooling, where they learned the arcane arts from a pragmatic, historical lens.


Level 2Scholarly Specialty

When you choose this archetype at 2nd level, choose one classical school of magic as your Scholarly Specialty: abjuration, conjuration, divination, enchantment, evocation, illusion, necromancy, or transmutation. The gold and time you must spend to copy spells from this school into your spellbook is halved. If a feature refers to your chosen school, it refers to the school selected in this feature.


Level 2Esoteric Talent

Also at 2nd level, you gain one of the following benefits, which represents a minor talent you’ve picked up over the course of your studies.

Bend Magic

When you cast a wizard spell with an instantaneous duration that deals damage to an area, you can choose a number of creatures equal to your Intelligence modifier in the area that you can see. The chosen creatures take no damage from the spell.

Flash of Insight

You can use a bonus action to roll a d20, record the result, and choose a creature you can see within 30 feet. The next time that creature makes an ability check, attack roll , or saving throw , it takes that d20 result instead of rolling. If you use this feature again before finishing a short rest , you must sacrifice a spell slot of 1st-level or higher to do so.

Quick Step

After you cast a wizard spell of 1st-level or higher, you can immediately move up to 15 feet without provoking opportunity attacks or spending any of your normal movement.


6th LevelRefined Learning

At 6th level, you’ve developed an impressive expertise in spells of your chosen school. Choose one of the following benefits:

Arcane Armor

When you cast a wizard spell of 1st-level or higher, you store some of its magic to protect yourself, gaining temporary hit points equal to twice the level of the spell, or three times the spell’s level if the spell is from your chosen school. Instead of gaining these temporary hit points yourself, you can use your reaction to grant them to a creature within 30 feet.

Energy Retention

When you expend a spell slot of 2nd-level or higher to cast a wizard spell from your chosen school, you regain one expended spell slot. The regained spell slot must be of a level no more than half the level of the expended spell slot.

War Magic

When you deal damage with a wizard spell from your chosen school, you deal additional damage equal to your Intelligence modifier on the first damage roll for that spell.


10th LevelSuperior Talent

At 10th level, you’ve discovered even greater ways to use your magic to your advantage. Choose one of the following benefits:

Perfect Control

When concentrating on a wizard spell of your chosen school, you only need to roll to maintain concentration when you take damage from an attack, effect, or spell equal to or greater than your Intelligence score + your wizard level.

Secondary Learning

Choose a second school to count as your Scholarly Specialty, and an additional feature from either Esoteric Talent or Refined Learning.

Splinter Spell

When you cast a wizard spell from your chosen school that only affects one creature, you can have it affect an additional creature within range. Once you have used this feature, you cannot do so again until you finish a short or long rest .


14th LevelSpecialized Mastery

At 14th level, you’ve reached the pinnacle of your chosen magics. Choose one of the following benefits:

Battle Hardiness

When concentrating on a wizard spell from your chosen school, you reduce incoming bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage by an amount equal to the level of the spell. 

Heightened Potency

When you cast a wizard spell from your chosen school, it is always treated as though it were cast with a spell slot one level higher (maximum 9th-level) than the one you used, so long as you expended a spell slot to cast it. The slot you use to cast the spell must still be at least equal to the level of the spell.

Precise Understanding

When you see a creature cast a spell from your chosen school, you automatically know what spell it’s casting. You also have advantage on saving throws against spells.