Maverick (5A)

This is an Artificer Specialization for 5A.

In the world of artifice, the Maverick is a jack of all trades and master of none. A Maverick is always experimenting with new designs, forever abandoning yesterday’s work in pursuit of a new obsession. While often dismissed by other artificers as eccentric amateurs, in their refusal to follow established tradition, a Maverick may stumble on remarkable breakthroughs—though their idiosyncratic techniques can rarely be replicated by others.

Greyhawk: Gnomes love artificing, and are prone to be mavericks, but humans, halflings, and even some elves practice this art.

Source: Unearthed Arcana @ Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition wiki

Subclass features

Arcane Breakthroughs

Starting at 3rd level, you gain amazing insights into spell effects beyond the reach of most artificers. Choose one of the following classes: bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, warlock, or wizard. This class’s spells become part of your artificer spell list. You can choose an additional class and add its spells to your artificer spell list at 5th, 9th, 13th, and 17th levels. These spells become artificer spells to you, and Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for them.

You can prepare a number of spells equal to your artificer level + your Intelligence modifier. This replaces the number of spells you can prepare from the artificer class.

When you change your list of prepared artificer spells after a long rest, you can prepare an additional 1st-level spell. This spell must be from your Breakthrough spell list. When you reach certain levels in this class, you increase the number of Breakthrough spells that you can prepare. You can prepare an additional 2nd-level spell at 5th level, an additional 3rd-level spell at 9th level, an additional 4th-level spell at 13th level, and an additional 5th-level spell at 17th level. These prepared spells don’t count against the number of artificer spells you prepare.

When you cast a spell you’ve prepared using this feature, it’s considered to be an artificer spell for you, and Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it. When you swap a prepared Breakthrough spell for a new spell, you lose any ongoing benefits from having cast it (such as a steed summoned by find steed).

Cantrip Specialist

At third level when you choose this specialization, you excel at producing minor magical effects—and at abandoning your current projects to pursue new ideas. Starting at 3rd level you gain the following benefits:

You know one additional cantrip beyond what’s normally allowed for an artificer of your level.

When you finish a short rest (instead of when you gain a level in this class), you can replace one of the artificer cantrips you know with another cantrip from the artificer spell list or your Breakthrough spell list. This cantrip is considered an artificer cantrip for you.

You use the Cast a Spell action as a bonus action, but only to cast a cantrip. This allows you to cast two cantrips or a spell and a cantrip on the same turn.

Cantrip Savant

Starting at 5th level, you continue to develop your talent for the simplest spells. You gain the following benefits:

You learn a second extra cantrip beyond what’s normally allowed for an artificer of your level.

As an action, you can replace an artificer cantrip you know with a different cantrip from the artificer spell listor your Breakthrough spell list. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long or short rest.

When casting an artificer cantrip, you gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and to your artificer spell save DC unless your spellcasting focus grants a higher bonus. This bonus increases when you reach certain levels in this class, increasing to +2 at 9th level and +3 at 15th level.

Work in Progress

Starting at 5th level, you can ready half-formed projects for easy completion when needed. As an action, you can replace any prepared artificer spell with any other spell from the artificer spell list, which then counts as a prepared spell for you.

Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or a long rest.

Superior Breakthroughs

Starting at 9th level, when you cast one of the spells, you prepared with Arcane Breakthroughs, you can do so as if the spell was cast using a spell slot two levels higher than the spell slot you expend. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of 1). You regain all expended uses after you finish a long rest.

Final Breakthrough

At 15th level, you gain one additional spell slot of each spell level you can prepare. These spell slots can only be used to cast the bonus spells granted by your Arcane Breakthroughs. As you gain levels and are able to prepare 5th-level artificer spells, you gain an additional spell slot of that level too.

Editor's Notes

I simplified the specialness of this subclass, thereby making it freer in its spell selection.

Removed the distinction between breakthrough spell lists and the artificer spell list.
Added the ability to cast a cantrip as a bonus action.

External Links

Maverick @ Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition wiki