Mastering Your Craft: A Comprehensive Guide to Tool Proficiency in D&D 5e

Increasing your proficiency with tools in D&D 5e involves a few different avenues, depending on your character’s class, background, race, and the amount of downtime you’re willing to dedicate. The primary methods include:

• Character Creation: Some classes, like the Artificer and Rogue, grant tool proficiencies during character creation. Similarly, certain backgrounds, such as the Criminal or Urchin, also provide tool proficiencies.
• Racial Traits: Certain races, like the Githyanki with their Decadent Mastery, offer specific tool proficiencies.
• Feats: The Skilled feat grants proficiency in any three skills or tools. The Prodigy feat (Human, Half-Elf, and Half-Orc only) grants proficiency in one skill, one tool, and expertise in one skill.
• Downtime Training: The Player’s Handbook outlines a system where characters can spend downtime to learn new tool proficiencies by dedicating time and resources to training.
• Multiclassing: Some classes, upon multiclassing into them, may grant additional tool proficiencies.

Let’s delve deeper into each of these avenues.

Securing Tool Proficiency at Character Creation

Class-Based Proficiency

Your choice of class significantly impacts your starting proficiencies. The Artificer, for example, is intrinsically linked to tools, gaining proficiency with thieves’ tools and tinker’s tools, along with a choice of one type of artisan’s tools. The Rogue, similarly, gets thieves’ tools proficiency, essential for their roguish activities.

When selecting your class, carefully review its starting proficiencies to see if any align with your character concept and desired tool usage.

Background Proficiencies

Backgrounds provide a narrative framework for your character’s past and grant additional proficiencies. The Criminal background, for instance, grants proficiency with thieves’ tools, while the Urchin background offers proficiency with disguise kits and thieves’ tools. Selecting a background that complements your desired tool proficiency can be an efficient way to acquire it.

Harnessing Racial Abilities

While less common, certain races offer specific tool proficiencies as part of their racial traits. The Githyanki‘s Decadent Mastery allows them to choose a skill or tool proficiency. These racial abilities can provide unique opportunities to gain proficiencies that might otherwise be inaccessible.

Leveraging Feats for Enhanced Proficiency

Feats provide a versatile means of customizing your character and acquiring new proficiencies.

The Skilled Feat

The Skilled feat is a straightforward way to gain proficiency in three skills or tools of your choice. This is a valuable option if you have several tool proficiencies you want to acquire quickly.

The Prodigy Feat

The Prodigy feat (available only to humans, half-elves, and half-orcs) grants proficiency in one skill, one tool, and expertise in one skill. This feat is particularly useful for characters who want to excel in a specific area while also gaining a new tool proficiency.

Mastering Downtime Training

The Traditional Method

The Player’s Handbook (pg. 187) describes a method for learning new languages or tool proficiencies during downtime. This method involves dedicating 250 days and 1 gold piece per day to training. This can be a significant time commitment, but it’s a reliable way to acquire any tool proficiency.

Variant Rules and DM Discretion

Some Dungeon Masters may modify the downtime training rules, potentially reducing the time or cost based on the character’s Intelligence modifier, available resources, or the rarity of the tool proficiency. Always discuss your training plans with your DM to determine the specific requirements in your campaign.

Exploiting Multiclassing Opportunities

Multiclassing into certain classes can grant additional tool proficiencies. However, this is not a primary reason to multiclass, as the benefits may not outweigh the costs in terms of character progression. Thoroughly evaluate the implications of multiclassing before making this decision.

Practical Applications of Tool Proficiency

Tool proficiencies are not merely decorative; they provide tangible benefits in various situations:

• Crafting: Proficiency with artisan’s tools allows you to craft items related to that tool, such as weapons, armor, or potions.
• Repairing: You can use tool proficiencies to repair damaged objects, such as broken weapons, vehicles, or structures.
• Disabling Traps: Proficiency with thieves’ tools is essential for disabling traps and opening locks.
• Performing Specialized Tasks: Certain tool proficiencies grant advantages in specific situations, such as navigating using navigator’s tools or forging documents with forgery kits.

Remember that the specific benefits of a tool proficiency are determined by the DM, and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination and the game world. You can find additional resources about Dungeons and Dragons information at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I become proficient with any tool, regardless of my class or background?

Yes, using the downtime training rules outlined in the Player’s Handbook, any character can become proficient with any tool, provided they have the time and resources.

2. How long does it take to become proficient with a tool using the downtime training rules?

The standard training time is 250 days, costing 1 gold piece per day.

3. Does my Intelligence modifier affect the training time for tool proficiency?

Some DMs may allow the Intelligence modifier to reduce the training time, but this is a variant rule and should be discussed with your DM.

4. Can I use multiple methods to gain proficiency with the same tool?

No, you cannot stack proficiencies. If you already have proficiency with a tool, gaining it again from another source provides no additional benefit.

5. What is the benefit of being proficient with a tool?

Proficiency with a tool allows you to add your proficiency bonus to any ability check you make using that tool.

6. Can I use a tool without being proficient with it?

Yes, you can attempt to use a tool without proficiency, but you will not add your proficiency bonus to the ability check.

7. How do I know which ability score to use with a particular tool?

The ability score used with a tool depends on the specific task and is determined by the DM. For example, using thieves’ tools to pick a lock might require Dexterity, while using carpenter’s tools to build a sturdy structure might require Strength or Intelligence.

8. Are tool proficiencies the same as skill proficiencies?

No, tool proficiencies are distinct from skill proficiencies, although they may overlap in certain situations. For example, proficiency with carpenter’s tools might grant an advantage on a Strength (Athletics) check to lift a heavy beam.

9. Can I get expertise in a tool?

Yes, some feats, like the Prodigy feat, grant expertise in a tool. Expertise allows you to double your proficiency bonus when using that tool.

10. What happens if I lose my tool proficiency?

Tool proficiencies are generally permanent and cannot be lost unless specifically stated by a curse, magic item, or DM ruling.

11. How do I add a tool proficiency to my character sheet in D&D Beyond?

In the “Proficiencies & Languages” section of your character sheet, click the cogwheel icon. In the sidebar that opens, you can add new tool proficiencies.

12. Can I create new magical items with tool proficiency?

Creating magical items typically requires specific spells, rituals, and rare components, but proficiency with certain artisan’s tools may be necessary to complete the crafting process.

13. Are there any magic items that grant tool proficiency?

Yes, some magic items grant proficiency with specific tools. These items are often thematically linked to the tool they provide proficiency with.

14. How does tool proficiency interact with advantage and disadvantage?

If you have advantage on an ability check involving a tool, you roll two dice and take the higher result. If you have disadvantage, you roll two dice and take the lower result. Your proficiency bonus still applies to the final result.

15. Is proficiency better than advantage?

The answer to this question depends on your proficiency bonus and the target number you’re trying to reach. In general, having advantage is slightly better around the middle of the spectrum of possible results, and slightly worse at the extremes. As your proficiency bonus increases, it eventually surpasses the benefit of advantage.

Conclusion

Mastering tool proficiencies in D&D 5e adds depth and versatility to your character. Whether you choose to acquire proficiencies through your class, background, race, feats, or downtime training, remember that tool proficiencies are a valuable asset that can enhance your roleplaying and problem-solving abilities. Embrace the possibilities, experiment with different tools, and work with your DM to create memorable and rewarding experiences.