The New DnD 2024 Artificer Cartographer (Subclass Deep Dive)

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Maps have always been a huge part of Dungeons & Dragons, both in terms of the lore of the game and actual use at the table. So in a way it’s surprising that we’ve never really seen any dedicated character features that are all about exploring the world through maps and magic.

Enter the Artificer Cartographer, a brand new DnD subclass that will be featured in the upcoming Eberron: Forge of the Artificer sourcebook slated for release in August 2025. It’s currently available as part of the most recent Unearthed Arcana playtest, so it’s possible we may see it change before it reaches it final destination, but its current form gives us a lot unexplored new territory. Notably, the Cartographer will be one of several new subclasses featured for the new Artificer, which is also in the playtesting stage.

So does the new Cartographer cover any new ground in DnD? Below, we survey all the features of this new uncharted subclass.

What are the Artificer Cartographer subclass features?

Artificer Cartographers are known for their skills as premier navigators and reconnaissance agents. Using their magically powered mechanical creations, Cartographers can highlight threats, safeguard their allies and carve portals to distant locations. Their key features (as outlined in the late February 2025 Unearthed Arcana playtest) are as follows:

Level 3: Tool Proficiencies

You gain proficiency with Calligrapher’s Supplies and Cartographer’s Tools. If you already have one of these proficiencies, you gain proficiency with one other type of Artisan’s Tools of your choice. In addition, when you scribe a Spell Scroll using the crafting rules in the Player’s Handbook, the amount of time required to craft it is halved.

Level 3: Cartographer Spells

When you reach an Artificer level specified in the Cartographer Spells table, you always have the listed spells prepared.

Cartographer Spells

Artificer Level	Spells
3	Faerie Fire, Guiding Bolt, Healing Word
5	Locate Object, Mind Spike
9	Clairvoyance, Haste
13	Freedom of Movement, Locate Creature
17	Scrying, Teleportation Circle

Level 3: Adventurer’s Atlas

Whenever you finish a Long Rest while holding Cartographer’s Tools, you can use that tool to create a set of magical maps by touching at least two creatures (one of whom can be yourself), up to a maximum number of creatures equal to 1 plus your Intelligence modifier (minimum of two creatures).

Each target receives a magical map, which is illegible to all others. The maps last until you die or until you use this feature again, at which point any existing maps created by this feature immediately vanish.

While carrying the map, a target gains the following benefits:

• Awareness. The target adds 1d4 to its Initiative rolls.
• Positioning. The target knows the location of all other map holders on the same plane of existence. When casting a spell or creating an effect that requires seeing the target, a map holder can target another map holder regardless of sight, so long as the other map holder is still within the spell or effect’s range.

Level 3: Scouting Gadgets

You gain the following benefits:

• Boost. On your turn, you can expend half your movement to teleport to an unoccupied space you can see within 10 feet of yourself. You can’t use this benefit if your Speed is 0.
• Radar. You can cast Faerie Fire without expending a spell slot. You can do so a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once), and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

Level 5: Portal Jump

As a Bonus Action, you teleport up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space you can see. You can use this feature a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier (minimum of once). You regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest.

You can also use this ability without expending a use if the destination space is within 5 feet of a creature carrying a map created with your Adventurer’s Atlas. Doing so destroys the map that creature carries.

Level 9: Ingenious Movement

When you use your Flash of Genius, you or a willing creature of your choice within 30 feet of you can teleport up to 30 feet to an unoccupied space you can see as part of the same Reaction.

Level 15: Superior Atlas

Your Adventurer’s Atlas improves, gaining the following benefits:

• Safe Haven. When a map holder is reduced to 0 Hit Points but not killed outright, that creature can destroy its map. The creature is then teleported to an unoccupied space within 5 feet of you or another map holder of its choice and is Stable.
• Unerring Path. If you are one of the map holders for your Adventurer’s Atlas, you can cast Find the Path without expending a spell slot, without preparing the spell, and without needing spell components. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a Long Rest.
• Unshakeable Mind. While at least one map created with your Adventurer’s Atlas still exists, taking damage can’t cause you to lose Concentration on your Artificer spells.

Is the New Artificer Cartographer worth playing?

The new Cartographer seems like an incredibly cool idea and a solid addition to the Artificer class. There’s a ton of potential here both mechanically and in terms of roleplaying, particularly when it comes to the Adventurer’s Atlas feature.

That being said, we won’t actually see the final Cartographer until the Eberron: Forge of the Artificer sourcebook launches in August 2025. In the meantime, if you want to check out Wizards of the Coast’s first crack at this new subclass you can download it directly from the latest Unearthed Acana playtest.

Below is also a video from the official Dungeons & Dragons YouTube channel with DnD designer Makenzie De Armas breaking out the details on the new subclass.

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