By default, an arcane trickster cannot use an arcane focus to cast their spells, as they lack the class feature that wizards and warlocks have that allows them to; this forces them to use a component pouch for their material needs.
When can an arcane focus be used?
Arcane Focus. An arcane focus is a special item—an orb, a crystal, a rod, a specially constructed staff, a wand-like length of wood, or some similar item—designed to channel the power of arcane spells. A sorcerer, warlock, or wizard can use such an item as a spellcasting focus, as described in chapter 10.
Do Artificers get an arcane focus?
As an artillerist, Yes. Any wand, staff, or rod can be an arcane firearm. HOWEVER you cannot make a wand, staff, or rod that is already magical into a enhanced arcane focus.
Which is closer to nature arcane or druid?
The druid is much closer to nature and uses a druidic focus rather than an arcane one. We see that the staff for the druidic focus has a far more…utilitarian description.
Can the arcane / Druidic focus staff double as?
There are however other logical reasons for reaching this conclusion if the DMG excerpt is unsatisfactory:
Can you use an arcane focus as a weapon?
If a magic user commonly uses an arcane focus which is a staff, he’d have to be pretty foolish not to use it as a weapon – especially since all mages are proficient in the use of the quarterstaff in 5 – unless it was impossible to reinforce a magical staff sufficiently for it to be used as a weapon.
What do you use as a focus in Druidic magic?
A focus for druidic magic. “A druidic focus might be a sprig of mistletoe or holly, a wand or scepter made of yew or another special wood, a staff drawn whole out of a living tree, or a totem object incorporating feathers, fur, bones, and teeth from sacred animals.” You’ve got options, just keep it natural.
