Golden Needle
Weaving magic from needle and ink, the artificers known as Golden Needles are experts at the craft of putting ink to skin. They create beautiful artworks upon the humanoid form and place their magical impressions into the skin of those they trust dearest.
Piercing foes with their needle-like precision while igniting their brilliant artwork to bolster their allies' power, the Golden Needle is as terrifying as they are colourful upon the battlefield.
Tattooist's Supplies
When you choose this specialization at 3rd level, you gain proficiency in tattooist's supplies. If you already have this proficiency, you gain proficiency with one other type of artisan's tools of your choice.
You are well versed creating magical tattoos which are described in Tasha's Cauldron of Everything. If you to craft a magical tattoo, the gold and time you must spend to make it are halved.
Golden Needle Spells
Starting at 3rd level, you always have certain spells prepared after you reach particular levels in this class, as shown in the Golden Needle Spells table. These spells count as artificer spells for you, but they don’t count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.
Golden Needle Spells
| Artificer Level | Spells |
|---|---|
| 3rd | color spray, disguise self |
| 5th | alter self, branding smite |
| 9th | conjure barrage, hypnotic pattern |
| 13th | confusion, stoneskin |
| 17th | conjure volley, seeming |
Pierce the Skin
At 3rd level, you have trained extensively to pierce skin to create artwork but if needed, you can employ this expertise more violently.
- You are proficient in the following weapons: dagger, dart, javelin, shortsword, spear, rapier and trident.
- When you attack with one of these weapons, you can use your Intelligence modifier, instead of Strength or Dexterity modifier, for the attack and damage rolls.
Power from Ink
At 3rd level, you have learnt a series of magical tattoos and are able to apply them to you and your allies when you finish a long rest. The tattoos can have any design you like. The tattoos do not exhibit magical properties until you activate them using either a bonus action or a reaction. In order to activate a tattoo you must be within 60 ft of the wearer and be able to see them. When you activate a magical tattoo, you cannot activate one again until the start of your next turn.
You can apply a number of magical tattoos up to your Intelligence modifier. If you try to exceed your maximum, you must choose one magical tattoo you have already applied to disappear.
Extra Attack
Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, rather than once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
Ignite the Ink
Starting at 9th level, you can ignite your magical tattoos causing them to burst with vibrant color and grant powerful gifts to whomever wears them.
You can now ignite your tattoos which causes them to produce a new effect. Once the effect caused by the tattoo's ignition has ended, the tattoo becomes a non-magical tattoo and loses all of its magical power until you complete a long rest.
Synthesis of Ink and Skin
At 15th level, both you and the wearer of one of your magical tattoos can activate it (although only you can ignite a tattoo).
In addition, if one of your magical tattoos loses its magical power due to being ignited, it regains its magical power and may be ignited again once you and the wearer complete a short or long rest.
Magical Tattoos
You know all of the following magical tattoos.
Arcane Finger Tattoo. Typically inked over the hands, this tattoo bears a distinctly arcane design.
Activate. Using your bonus action, you grant a wearer of this tattoo advantage on their next spell attack roll until the start of your next turn.
Ignite. Using your bonus action, you cause the tattoo to greatly bolster a wearer's damaging capabilities. Once on each of the wearer's turns when they roll damage for a spell they cast, they may re-roll a number of the spell's damage die up to your proficiency bonus. They must use the new rolls. This effect lasts for 1 minute.
Ironheart Chest Plate. This tattoo protects a wearer with an impregnable design across their chest.
Activate. As a reaction when a wearer of this tattoo takes bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage, they gain resistance to one of those damage types against the triggering attack.
Ignite. As a bonus action, you grant the wearer of this tattoo resistance to bludgeoning, piercing or slashing damage for 1 minute.
Marksman Eye Tattoo. Around or even on the eye, this tattoo greatly helps those who fight at range.
Activate. As a bonus action, you grant a wearer of this tattoo advantage on their next ranged weapon attack roll until the start of your next turn.
Ignite. As a bonus action, you cause the wearer of this tattoo to deal additional damage with ranged weapon attacks equal to your proficiency bonus for one minute.
Shared Arcana Tattoo. Marks all across the body connect you and a wearer's magical essences.
Activate. As a reaction when a wearer casts a spell with a range of touch and can see you, you can deliver the spell as if you had cast the spell. If the spell requires an attack roll or saving throw, you use the casters attack modifier or spell save DC.
Ignite. As a reaction when a wearer casts a spell, you may cause the spell to be cast as though it were cast at one level higher. You can also deliver the spell as if you had cast the spell so long as the caster can see you. If the spell requires an attack roll or saving throw, you use the casters attack modifier or spell save DC.
Shared Mind Tattoo. Typically across the forehead, this tattoo creates a telepathic connection between you and a wearer.
Activate. As a bonus action, you can send a telepathic message to the wearer of this tattoo and they may respond briefly as long as they can see you. You must both understand at least one language to communicate telepathically.
Ignite. As a bonus action, your tattoo creates a psychic shield around the wearer. The wearer gains resistance to psychic damage as well as advantage on Intelligence, Wisdom and Charisma saving throws for 1 minute.
Serrated Arm Sleeves. Along the arms, this tattoo leaves the wearer's body deadly to the touch.
Activate. As a reaction when a wearer of this tattoo is hit by a melee attack, the attacking creature takes slashing damage equal to your Intelligence modifier.
Ignite. As a bonus action you cause the arm sleeves to extrude their blades. Once on each of the wearer's turns for the next minute, they can choose to deal additional damage with any melee attack equal to your Intelligence modifier.
Spiderweb Feet Tattoo. This tattoo both limbers up and enhances a wearer's legs.
Activate. As a bonus action, you cause a wearer of this tattoo to increase their walking speed by 10 feet until the start of your next turn.
Ignite. As a bonus action, you grant the wearer of this tattoo a climbing speed equal to their walking speed for one hour.
Undying Heart Tattoo. This tattoo marks a close bond between you and another.
Activate. As a reaction, when the wearer of this tattoo takes damage you may take the damage instead. This damage cannot be prevented or reduced in any way.
Ignite. As a reaction, when the wearer of this tattoo takes damage you may take half of the damage dealt while they take none. This damage cannot be prevented or reduced in any way. You can immediately make a ranged spell attack as part of this reaction targeting one creature within 60 ft. If you hit that creature, it takes the half of the damage dealt by the attack which you didn't take.
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Tattooist's Supplies
Tattooist's supplies are a set of artisan's tools added to the list of artisan's tools which you can learn. The following describes their contents as well as additional applications outside of creating tattoos.
Knowledge of tattoos extends to the practice of tattooing creatures as well as the culture behind tattoos and both mundane and magical lore.
Components. Tattooist's supplies include a tattoo needle, small hammer, sterilization tools and a variety of inks and pigments suitable for tattooing.
Arcana. Your expertise allows you to identify particular magical tattoos and their magical properties.
History. Your tool proficiency provides you with additional insight into the lore and culture of tattoos in a particular region or subculture. You may be able to identify who inked a particular tattoo.
Sleight of Hand. You can experience creating fine artwork with needles makes you more likely to succeed at similar precise work.
Tattooist's Supplies
| Activity | DC |
|---|---|
| Create a small tattoo | 10 |
| Recall lore about a specific tattoo | 15 |
| Create a detailed, full body tattoo | 20 |
| Identify the magical properties of a tattoo | Varies |
Golden Needle
Created by /u/CrossOut_
Artist Credit: Claparo-Sans – Stigmata
Kit Glogovsky – Tammeraq
Naz Nemati – Daemon
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