Tools

Sometimes a tool is a single item, like a musical instrument. Other times a tool encompasses a kit or set of supplies containing multiple items. When using a tool, you must have all of its component items to make ability checks with it.

Just like skills, you don’t need to be proficient in a tool to use it, but proficiency with a tool allows you to add your PB to ability checks you make using that tool.

Also, like skills, tools aren’t tied to specific ability scores. The ability score assigned to each ability check using a tool depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For example, when using construction tools, the GM might ask you to make a STR (Construction Tools) check to hammer nails into a hard surface, but ask for a DEX (Construction Tools) check to use the same tools to carve a wooden sculpture.

Alchemist Tools

Alchemist tools are used to perform a variety of tasks such as identifying potions or foreign substances, mixing reagents together to cause alchemical reactions, and crafting alchemical substances.

Associated Abilities: DEX, INT.

Components. This tool kit includes an array of mixing and storage vessels, an alembic still, a metal frame for holding a mixing vessel above a flame, a mortar and pestle, and a variety of common alchemical reagents.

Craft Items. Alchemist tools can be used to make items like those listed in the Alchemical Concoctions section of the Adventuring Gear table, with the crafting downtime activity.

Artist Tools

Artist tools are used to create illustrated art objects and ornamental documents, pen illuminated texts, and skillfully paint objects.

Associated Abilities: DEX, CHA.

Components. This tool kit includes brushes, spades, stirrers, inks, paints, a square and triangle, a canvas stretcher and an easel, and rolls of vellum, parchment, and canvas.

Craft Items. Artist tools can be used to make art objects with the crafting downtime activity.

Charlatan Tools

Charlatan tools are used to craft disguises and forge documents.

Associated Abilities: DEX, CHA.

Components. This tool kit includes hair dyes, small props, cosmetics, a few choice articles of clothing, a selection of wax seals, gold and silver leaf, inks, a variety of parchments, and sculpting tools to fashion melted wax into seals or prosthetics.

Create Disguise. Over the course of an hour (which can be done as part of a rest) you can create a disguise to make yourself or someone else—including any clothing or equipment—look like a different creature. A disguise can make a creature seem slightly taller, shorter, fatter, or thinner, but can’t conceal true size or basic arrangement of limbs. It takes 1 minute to don such a disguise once created. A set of charlatan tools only has enough materials to create one disguise at a time, but you can disassemble a disguise to create a new disguise as part of the time spent making a disguise. A creature can use its action to inspect a disguised appearance, and must succeed on an INT (Investigation) contest versus your DEX (Charlatan Tools) to discern a disguise.

Forge Documents. Over the course of one hour (which can be done as part of a rest) you can create a simple false document of 5 pages or less—like a personal letter, a party invitation, or a sales permit. With the GM’s permission you can create longer or more complicated documents over the course of several hours or days. A creature can use its action to inspect a forged document, and must succeed on an INT (Investigation) contest versus your DEX (Charlatan Tools) check to discern a forgery.

Clothier Tools

Clothier tools are used to sew, make, or tailor fabric objects such as clothing or shoes.

Associated Abilities: DEX, CHA.

Components. This tool kit includes pins and needles, specially sharpened shears, a small hammer and shoe horn, a variety of dyed threads on spools, and thicker waxed threads and yarns.

Craft Items. Clothier tools can be used to make items with the crafting downtime activity.

Construction Tools

Construction tools are used to build and repair items primarily made of wood or stone.

Associated Abilities: STR, DEX.

Components. This tool kit includes hammers and a mallet, a variety of fasteners, a square and triangle, chisels, a saw, brushes, and spades.

Fortify. You can spend 1 minute fortifying a chest, door, window, or other sealable object or structure. When you do so, the object’s AC increases by an amount equal to your PB or creatures have disadvantage on STR (Athletics) checks made to penetrate the fortification (the GM decides which is more relevant). An item doesn’t receive additional benefits from multiple attempts to fortify it.

Build Cover. You can spend 1 hour (which can be done as part of a long rest) erecting a 5-foot by 5-foot wall panel in an unoccupied space, provided you have the raw materials to do so. The panel provides three-quarters cover for one Medium or smaller creature, and it can’t be moved. A panel of cover created with this feature is an object with an AC equal to 10 + your PB and 15 HP if made of wood or 25 HP if made of stone. It is immune to psychic and poison damage.

Craft Items. Construction tools can be used to make items with the crafting downtime activity.

Gaming Set

Gaming sets are used to gamble, entertain, or engage in fortune-telling. There are three types: cards, dice, and board games. When you have proficiency in a gaming set, choose one type for your proficiency, not all gaming sets. You must have multiple proficiencies to have proficiency with more than one type of gaming set.

Associated Abilities: DEX, CHA.

Components. A gaming set is typically a full set of cards, a full set of dice with a dice cup, or a collection of special pieces used to play a particular game. If you are unsure what to choose, consult your GM about games and game sets played in the world of your game.

Herbalist Tools

Herbalist tools are used to store and brew plants and other organic materials into potions, antidotes, and poisons.

Associated Abilities: INT, WIS.

Components. This tool kit includes glass vials, a mortar and pestle, pouches for ingredient storage, clippers, a pair of leather gloves, and a small pot for brewing.

Craft Items. Herbalist tools can be used to make items like those listed in the Herbal Concoctions section of the Adventuring Gear table, with the crafting downtime activity.

Musical Instrument

Musical instruments come in many shapes and sizes with varying regional and cultural popularity. When you have proficiency in a musical instrument, choose one type: strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, or keyboard instruments. You must have multiple proficiencies to have proficiency with more than one type of instrument.

Associated Abilities: DEX, CHA.

Components. A musical instrument typically includes an instrument, a protective case, and any small pieces necessary for play, such as picks or reeds.

Navigator Tools

Navigator tools are used to read and draw maps, find your path or prevent you from becoming lost, and determine likely locations on a map for secret doors or hidden features.

Associated Abilities: INT, WIS.

Components. This tool kit includes quills, ink, and parchment along with two compasses, calipers, and a ruler as well as a sextant or telescope.

Draw Map. Navigator tools can be used to create accurate maps while traveling, which grant advantage on checks made to prevent becoming lost.

Provisioner Tools

Associated Abilities: CON, WIS.

Provisioner tools are used to prepare meals, make rations, and craft beverages.

Components. This tool kit includes a large jug, several jars, a siphon with several feet of tubing, a rolled set of knives for chopping, sawing, paring, and deboning, a metal soup pot and a large skillet, a small bundle of spoons, spatulas, ladels, and whisks, several mixing bowls, a cutting board, and quantities of hops, dried herbs, and powdered spices.

Craft Items. Provisioner tools can be used to make items with the crafting downtime activity.

Smithing Tools

Smithing tools are used to build and repair items primarily made of metal. The use of smithing tools typically requires a dedicated forge, furnace, or some other source of intense heat. A campfire is only suitable for the smallest tasks like spot repairs.

Associated Abilities: DEX, CON.

Components. This tool kit includes a small anvil, tongs, hammers, heat-resistant hide or cloth towels, calipers, and billows.

Craft Items. Smithing tools can be used to make items with the crafting downtime activity.

Trapper Tools

Trapper tools are used to set hunting traps, harvest hides or fur, and craft or repair leather goods like armor, pouches, or sturdy garments.

Associated Abilities: DEX, WIS.

Components. This tool kit includes a knife, a small shovel, a wooden mallet, a small bundle of edgers, hole punchers, and sturdy needles, thread, leather scraps, a 30-ft. length of strong cord, a quantity of salt, and tanning oil.

Craft Items. Trapper tools can be used to make items with the crafting downtime activity.

Thieves’ Tools

Thieves’ tools are used to pick locks, disable traps, and sabotage unattended items like saddles and doffed armor.

Associated Abilities: DEX, INT.

Components. This kit includes a roll of lockpicks and probes, a small, telescoping mirror on a pole, several triangular files, a long set of scissors, and a pair of pliers.

Disarm Traps. Thieves’ tools can be used to disarm traps.

Pick Locks. Thieves’ tools can be used to pick locks. If no DC to pick a lock is provided, a standard nonmagical lock can be opened with a DC of 15.

Tinker Tools

Tinker tools are used to construct mechanical or clockwork devices, repair damaged devices, or determine how to use unfamiliar mechanical or clockwork systems.

Associated Abilities: DEX, INT.

Components. This tool kit includes an array of hand tools, an array of files, pliers, tweezers, etching styluses, threads, needles, cloth and leather scraps, glue, loose cogs and pins, and a few sheets of thinly hammered metal.

Craft Items. Tinker tools can be used to make items with the crafting downtime activity.

Tools

Tool	Cost	Weight
Alchemist tools	50 gp	8 lb.
Artist tools	10 gp	5 lb.
Charlatan tools	25 gp	3 lb.
Clothier tools	10 gp	10 lb.
Construction tools	10 gp	8 lb.
Gaming set
Card set	5 sp	—
Dice set	1 sp	—
Smithing tools	20 gp	8 lb.
Herbalist tools	5 gp	3 lb.
Musical instruments
Bagpipes	30 gp	6 lb.
Drum	6 gp	3 lb.
Flute	2 gp	1 lb.
Lute	35 gp	2 lb.
Lyre	30 gp	2 lb.
Horn	3 gp	2 lb.
Navigator tools	25 gp	2 lb.
Provisioner tools	20 gp	9 lb.
Trapper tools	5 gp	5 lb.
Thieves’ tools	25 gp	1 lb.
Tinker tools	50 gp	10 lb.