Refractor
The Refractor is an artificer that specialises in deflecting and redirecting attacks using a special type of shield called a Refraction Shield. This shield does so by changing the configuration of its various glass panes. While any blacksmith can create armour and shields to protect against conventional weapons, a Refractor combines the best of both defence and offensive, making them highly flexible in battle.
You gain proficiency with glassblower’s tools. If you already have this tool proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.
You always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Refractor Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don't count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.
As an action, you can use glassblower’s tools and touch a nonmagical shield to create a special type of shield called a Refraction Shield. You gain the following benefits while wielding this shield:
You can switch between different modes when using a Refraction Shield. You choose one of the following shield modes: Concentrator or Dissipator. The mode you choose gives you special benefits while wielding it. You can change the shield’s mode whenever you finish a short or long rest, provided you have glassblower’s tools in hand.
Absorb Impact. When you take damage from a weapon attack and you can see the attacker, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage taken by 1d10 + your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level. If you reduce the damage taken to 0, you can add the surplus damage that was negated from the attack to one damage roll you make on your next turn. Magnify Spell. When you cast an artificer spell that deals damage in an area, has an instantaneous duration, and requires a saving throw, you can use a bonus action to choose a target inside the spell’s area and have the spell only affect that target. You also add a bonus 1d6 to one damage roll of the spell.
Dampen Elements. You always have the absorb elements prepared, and it doesn’t count towards the number of spells you prepare each day. You can cast the spell without expending a spell slot, provided you use the Refraction Shield as the spellcasting focus, and you can do so a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once), regaining spent uses when you finish a long rest. Also, whenever you cast this spell, you can add the extra damage absorbed to one damage roll of a melee or ranged attack you make on your next turn. Expand Spell. When you cast an artificer spell, you can use a bonus action to increase its area. The spell must deal damage in an area, have an instantaneous duration, and require a saving throw. You subtract one damage die from the spell for every 5 feet you increase the area, to a minimum of one die.
You bolster the Refraction Shield with your own tinkering abilities: You know the Enhanced Defense artificer infusion if you don’t already, and it doesn’t count against the number of infusions you know. In addition, you can use this artificer infusion on a Refractor Shield. When you do, you add the AC bonus to the spell attack roll and save DC of an artificer spell you cast that uses the shield as a spellcasting focus.
Your Refractions Shield’s functions have improved, gaining the following benefits to the shield’s Concentrator and Dissipator modes.
Absorb Impact. When you reduce damage taken from a weapon attack to 0, you can also add the surplus damage negated from the attack to your AC, to a maximum of +5, and this bonus lasts until the start of your next turn. You must finish a long rest before you can give yourself this bonus again. Magnify Spell. When you use this ability on a spell, the bonus damage is now a 1d8.
Dampen Elements. You can now cast the absorb elements spell when you take force, necrotic, poison, psychic or necrotic damage. The extra damage from the spell is now a 1d8, and this damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st. Additionally, you can add this extra damage to any attack or spell you make on your next turn. Expand Spell. When you use a bonus action to expand a spell’s area, you can make it so you subtract one damage die for every 10 feet you increase its area. You must finish a long rest before you can increase the area of a spell in this way again.
Your Refraction Shield’s abilities are now even stronger, gaining the following abilities:
Tools of the Trade
3rd-level Refractor featureYou gain proficiency with glassblower’s tools. If you already have this tool proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.
Refractor Spells
3rd-level Refractor featureYou always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Refractor Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don't count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.
| Refractor Spells | |
|---|---|
| Artificer Level | Spell |
| 3rd | shield, thunderwave |
| 5th | shatter, silence |
| 9th | daylight, fireball |
| 13th | ice storm, fire shield |
| 17th | circle of power, cone of cold |
Refraction Shield
3rd-level Refractor featureAs an action, you can use glassblower’s tools and touch a nonmagical shield to create a special type of shield called a Refraction Shield. You gain the following benefits while wielding this shield:
- You can use an action or bonus action to turn the shield invisible or visible.
- You can use the Refraction Shield as a spellcasting focus for your artificer spells.
- You can use a bonus action to gain temporary hit points equal to twice your artificer level, and you must finish a long rest before you can do so again.
- A shield continues to be a Refraction Shield until you use an action to turn a new shield into a Refraction Shield or until you die.
Reflective Platform
3rd-level Refractor featureYou can switch between different modes when using a Refraction Shield. You choose one of the following shield modes: Concentrator or Dissipator. The mode you choose gives you special benefits while wielding it. You can change the shield’s mode whenever you finish a short or long rest, provided you have glassblower’s tools in hand.
Concentrator
Your Refraction Shield focuses energy onto a single point. It has the following features:Absorb Impact. When you take damage from a weapon attack and you can see the attacker, you can use your reaction to reduce the damage taken by 1d10 + your Intelligence modifier + your artificer level. If you reduce the damage taken to 0, you can add the surplus damage that was negated from the attack to one damage roll you make on your next turn. Magnify Spell. When you cast an artificer spell that deals damage in an area, has an instantaneous duration, and requires a saving throw, you can use a bonus action to choose a target inside the spell’s area and have the spell only affect that target. You also add a bonus 1d6 to one damage roll of the spell.
Dissipator
Your Refraction Shield uses its many plates to quickly dispel energy. It has the following features:Dampen Elements. You always have the absorb elements prepared, and it doesn’t count towards the number of spells you prepare each day. You can cast the spell without expending a spell slot, provided you use the Refraction Shield as the spellcasting focus, and you can do so a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once), regaining spent uses when you finish a long rest. Also, whenever you cast this spell, you can add the extra damage absorbed to one damage roll of a melee or ranged attack you make on your next turn. Expand Spell. When you cast an artificer spell, you can use a bonus action to increase its area. The spell must deal damage in an area, have an instantaneous duration, and require a saving throw. You subtract one damage die from the spell for every 5 feet you increase the area, to a minimum of one die.
Enhanced Shield
5th-level Refractor featureYou bolster the Refraction Shield with your own tinkering abilities: You know the Enhanced Defense artificer infusion if you don’t already, and it doesn’t count against the number of infusions you know. In addition, you can use this artificer infusion on a Refractor Shield. When you do, you add the AC bonus to the spell attack roll and save DC of an artificer spell you cast that uses the shield as a spellcasting focus.
Superior Absorption
9th-level Refractor featureYour Refractions Shield’s functions have improved, gaining the following benefits to the shield’s Concentrator and Dissipator modes.
Concentrator
You gain additional benefits below:Absorb Impact. When you reduce damage taken from a weapon attack to 0, you can also add the surplus damage negated from the attack to your AC, to a maximum of +5, and this bonus lasts until the start of your next turn. You must finish a long rest before you can give yourself this bonus again. Magnify Spell. When you use this ability on a spell, the bonus damage is now a 1d8.
Dissipator
You gain additional benefits below:Dampen Elements. You can now cast the absorb elements spell when you take force, necrotic, poison, psychic or necrotic damage. The extra damage from the spell is now a 1d8, and this damage increases by 1d8 for each slot level above 1st. Additionally, you can add this extra damage to any attack or spell you make on your next turn. Expand Spell. When you use a bonus action to expand a spell’s area, you can make it so you subtract one damage die for every 10 feet you increase its area. You must finish a long rest before you can increase the area of a spell in this way again.
Smart Protection
15th-level Refractor featureYour Refraction Shield’s abilities are now even stronger, gaining the following abilities:
- You can use the Absorb Impact and Expand Spell abilities of the Refactor Shield twice per long rest.
- You can cast the globe of invulnerability spell without expending a spell slot and without material components, provided you use the Refractor Shield as the spellcasting focus. You must finish a long rest before you can cast in this way again.
