Use a technologically enhanced body to become tougher and more reliable.
Mechagnomes are the construct creations of the titans and the precursor to the Gnomish species before the flesh curse transformed them. Some Gnomes have used technology to help them transform into these mechanised forms once again, merging flesh with technology to become Mechagnomes.
The Mechagnome is a brand new species from D&D: World of Warcraft though it takes a lot of ideas from the Autognome species from Spelljammer: Adventures in Space. Below, I’ve analysed the new species, giving guidance on how best to use a Mechagnome and which classes work well with it.
Is a Mechagnome the right species for me?
Choose a Mechagnome if you want…
- More accurate d20 tests
- More resilience
- To not suffocate underwater
A Mechagnome might not be for you if…
- You make very few d20 tests
- You don’t want a mechanised body
Mechagnome traits
| Creature Type | Construct |
| Size | Small |
| Speed | 30ft |
| Traits | Built for success, emergency fail-safe, mechanical nature, sentry’s rest, specialized design |
| Resistances | Poison, paralyzed, poisoned |
| Proficiencies | Two tool proficencies |
| Darkvision | No |
| Innate spellcasting | None |
| Book found in | D&D: World of Warcraft |
Built for success – 5/5
A few improved d20 tests each day is really good and if you use this wisely, you can swing the odd minor failure into a success. Great for nasty saving throws, really crucial ability checks or important attacks that need to land (like a rogue’s sneak attack).
Emergency fail-safe – 5/5
Great defensive trait. Using hit dice during combat is far better than during a rest as you need them more in that moment. You also get better healing per hit die with the constitution modifier added on. Great on anyone, but best on frontline warriors that will get bloodied a fair bit, have larger hit dice and are likely to prioritise constitution more.
Mechanical nature – 4/5
Poison damage and the poisoned condition are both really common so these are great resiliences. Paralyzed is far less common, but a decent extra.
The lack of exhaustion on those 3 things will rarely come up, especially as many tables don’t worry about food and drink. However, where this is more interesting is for suffocation. This means that you can be underwater as long as you like and can even cast spells with verbal components and not worry about suffocation while submerged. It’s very situational, but certainly a nice to have.
Sentry’s rest – 1/5
You make a great sentry. But I find this doesn’t tend to make much difference, most groups will just use sentry’s and still have everyone gain a long rest by taking turns. Would be great in real life, but mechanically, in practice, this is mostly just flavour.
Specialized design – 2/5
Tools aren’t usually a big deal unless you really want to be crafting (which is a bit more important in D&D: World of Warcraft). This still doesn’t amount to much, but thieves’ tools are universally useful, especially on a dexterity build.
How good is the Mechagnome?
Mechagnomes are based almost entirely on autognomes when it comes to mechanics. Autognomes have a better AC for dexterity builds, but Mechagnomes get some mid-combat healing. Either way, the species is excellent with great boosts to d20 tests and some excellent resilience features.
Not only that, but the species can be pretty good for just about any class and excellent on certain ones.
Score: 5/5
Choosing a class for your Mechagnome
Below I’ve scored how well each class works with an Mechagnome. I’ve used the renamed class reskins in D&D: World of Warcraft, but these change little mechanically from the typical classes in the Player’s Handbook so you can use the same guidance below with the original versions of these classes if you happen to not be playing in a Warcraft setting:
Demon hunter: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Death knight: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Druid: ⭐⭐⭐
Evoker: ⭐⭐⭐
Hunter: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mage: ⭐⭐⭐
Monk: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Paladin: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Priest: ⭐⭐⭐
Rogue: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Shaman: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Warlock: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Warrior: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
*Star ratings scored out of 5
Best classes for a Mechagnome
Mechagnomes really help to increase resilience which will be best on melee builds who draw a lot of attacks and tend to have high hit dice. They’re also great on classes that make a lot of high stakes d20 tests (like a rogue with their sneak attack or many ability checks). Death knights, demon hunters, shamans, warriors, hunters and paladins are also all great options for the Mechagnome too.
Worst Mechagnome classes
There are no bad Mechagnome classes. A moon druid might benefit a lot less from the traits due to often being in wild shape during combat, but otherwise, all other classes stand to gain a decent amount anyway.
About Mechagnomes
Appearance
Mechagnomes are gnomish in appearance. They’re short with bearded faces but their body has been transformed with technology. Each Mechagnome implements technology and mechanisms into their body differently.
History
Like Earthen, Mechagnomes were created by the titans. They were intended to be the servants and caretakers of the world and fulfilled this role as Azeroth took shape.
However, many Mechagnomes were eventually tainted by the flesh curse, becoming Gnomes. Some few Mechagnomes remained, but there were also those Gnomes that desired to unlock the technological secrets that would transform them into Mechagnomes once again. These Gnomes found the compromise between technology and flesh, becoming a new form of Mechagnome.
