Can I Ride My Eldritch Cannon? A Deep Dive into Artificer Mobility
So, you’re an Artillerist Artificer, blasting your way through dungeons and wondering if you can take a load off by riding your Eldritch Cannon. The short answer, based purely on Rules As Written (RAW), is usually no, unless you are a Tiny creature. The core reason lies in the lack of explicit rules allowing for it, and the cannon’s primary function as a siege-style weapon, rather than a mount. However, the beauty of Dungeons and Dragons lies in its flexibility. A clever DM, embracing the Rule of Cool, might allow it under specific, perhaps hilarious, circumstances!
Ultimately, the decision hinges on your DM’s interpretation of the rules and the overall tone of your campaign. Let’s delve deeper into why riding your Eldritch Cannon is usually a no-go, and explore some alternative (and potentially more entertaining) scenarios.
Eldritch Cannons: More Than Just Boomsticks
To understand why riding your cannon is tricky, we need to understand what it is. An Eldritch Cannon is a magical object, not a creature, created by an Artillerist Artificer. You can only have one active cannon at a time, and creating a new one destroys the old. Regardless of size, it has an AC of 18, hit points equal to five times your Artificer level, and immunity to poison and psychic damage. You activate it as a bonus action on your turn if you’re within 60 feet.
The key here is the “magical object” designation. Objects, unlike creatures, don’t typically have riding rules associated with them. There’s no saddle proficiency, no barding options, nothing. The rules simply aren’t built for it.
The Size Factor: Tiny, Small, or…?
Eldritch Cannons can be either Tiny or Small in size. A Tiny cannon can be held in your hand, and can be worn elsewhere on your body. However, this clearly implies that you carry the cannon, rather than ride it. Trying to ride a Tiny object would be like trying to ride a teacup.
A Small cannon is larger, but still not designed for riding. While it could theoretically support a Tiny creature (again, depending on your DM), it’s not its intended purpose.
The Movement Conundrum
Even if we ignore the size issue, the cannon’s movement further complicates things. On your turn, as a bonus action, you can direct the cannon to walk or climb up to 15 feet to an unoccupied space if it has legs. That’s your bonus action. While you can direct its movement, the rules don’t specify that you can move with it or control it like a mount.
The Rule of Cool Exception
This is where the magic happens. If the idea of you riding your Eldritch Cannon is hilarious, thematic, and fits the tone of your campaign, a good DM might allow it. Perhaps your character has modified the cannon specifically for this purpose, adding a ridiculously small saddle and stirrups. Or maybe your Tiny Gnome Artillerist has always dreamed of riding their creation into battle.
The DM might impose certain restrictions, such as skill checks to maintain balance or increased difficulty in combat while mounted. But the potential for fun and memorable moments makes it worth considering.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Eldritch Cannons
Here are 15 common questions about Eldritch Cannons, providing further insights into their functionality and limitations:
1. Does the Eldritch Cannon have its own turn in combat?
No, the Eldritch Cannon does not have its own turn. You activate and direct it using your bonus action. It acts within your turn.
2. Can I change the type of Eldritch Cannon I have active?
No, you can’t change the type of cannon while the previous one still exists. You must dismiss or destroy the current cannon before creating a new one.
3. How long does an Eldritch Cannon last?
An Eldritch Cannon lasts for one hour, or until it is reduced to 0 hit points. You can also dismiss it early as an action.
4. Can I catapult an Eldritch Cannon?
Yes, you can attempt to catapult your Eldritch Cannon. However, the Eldritch Cannon doesn’t have a ton of health, and could just die on impact. At level 3 there’s about ~40% chance it dies on impact. At lvl 5 it won’t die from Catapult (3d8), but will die ~8% of the time from Arcane Firearm (4d8) and ~35% from a 2nd lvl Catapult + Arcane Firearm (5d8).
5. Can the Eldritch Cannon walk without shooting?
Yes, the Eldritch Cannon can walk without activating its primary function. You can use your bonus action to direct it to move 15 feet to an unoccupied space, regardless of whether you choose to activate its special ability.
6. Does the Eldritch Cannon count as a creature?
No, the Eldritch Cannon is explicitly a magical object, not a creature. This distinction is important for determining which spells and abilities can affect it.
7. Can I make an Eldritch Cannon cast spells?
No, the basic Eldritch Cannon granted by the Artillerist subclass cannot cast spells. Some DMs may allow for custom cannons with spellcasting abilities, but this is homebrew and not RAW.
8. How do I activate an Eldritch Cannon?
You activate the Eldritch Cannon on your turn by using a bonus action. You must be within 60 feet of it.
9. Can I split up the damage from the Eldritch Cannon between multiple targets?
This depends on the type of Eldritch Cannon. The Flamethrower and Protector cannons affect multiple creatures within a defined area. The Force Ballista targets a single creature.
10. Can a Homunculus Servant carry an Eldritch Cannon?
Yes, a Homunculus Servant has a carrying capacity of 30lbs and while the eldritch cannon does not specify a weight it does mention it can be made tiny and easily wielded one handedly (assumedly by a creature in the medium and small size categories) so I can’t imagine the weight would exceed 30lbs.
11. Does using the Eldritch Cannon break Invisibility?
It depends. If you use the cannon as a separate entity/pet I’ll let you stay invisible while commanding it to act, but the cannon itself will not become invisible. If you have a handhold cannon that you use as an item, it will become invisible when you become invisible and if you use it to attack then invisibility ends.
12. How far can the Eldritch Cannon move each turn?
The Eldritch Cannon can move 15 feet on your turn, provided it has legs.
13. How does the Protector Eldritch Cannon work?
The Protector Cannon emits a burst of positive energy that grants itself and each creature of your choice within 10 feet of it a number of temporary hit points equal to 1d8 + your Intelligence modifier (minimum of +1).
14. What is the AC and HP of an Eldritch Cannon?
The Eldritch Cannon has an AC of 18 and hit points equal to five times your Artificer level.
15. Is the Eldritch Cannon a weapon?
Eldritch cannons were a unique magical firearm utilized by artillerists. In game terms it is a magical object with weapon-like effects.
Final Thoughts: Imagination is Key
While riding your Eldritch Cannon might not be strictly legal by the rules, D&D is all about creative problem-solving and storytelling. Talk to your DM, brainstorm some fun ideas, and see if you can come up with a way to make your Artillerist’s dreams of cannon-riding glory a reality. After all, sometimes the most memorable moments are the ones that bend the rules a little. Embrace the potential for inventive gameplay.