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Let's use Fighter McFighterson as our test case.

As a level 1 variant human, McFighterson takes the Magic Initiate feat. Mage Armor is his choice, let's say (alongside two, inconsequential, cantrips).

Does this allow McFighterson to create a potion/scroll/etc of Mage Armor? (assuming that the item is craftable by a "proper" spellcaster)

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    \$\begingroup\$ Can you define the scope of your question further? Are you asking about crafting magic items per the DMG? Or per the alternate (and more permissive) system presented in Xanathar's Guide to Everything? \$\endgroup\$
    – screamline
    Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 17:39
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    \$\begingroup\$ @screamline I don't think it is unfair to expect answers to refer to both set of rules honestly. I don't think it makes the question too broad. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 17:40
  • \$\begingroup\$ I assume that your DM (if it isn't you) allows PCs to craft said items? As they are not normally allowed to do so without optional rulings. \$\endgroup\$
    – Slagmoth
    Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 17:49
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Slagmoth as per the last clause in parenthesis, yes. \$\endgroup\$
    – goodguy5
    Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 17:56

3 Answers 3

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Per the DMG, no, the Magic Initiate feat by itself does not enable one to create magic items.

Page 128 of the DMG describes the requirements for crafting magic items, and specifically states

The character must also be a spellcaster with spell slots...

Although the Magic Initiate feat (arguably) does turn a non-spellcasting character into a spellcaster, it does not give a character spell slots; it only gives a character cantrips and the ability to cast a single non-cantrip spell once per long rest.

Per XGtE, even characters with no spellcasting ability whatsoever -- not even spells from Magic Initiate -- can craft most magic items if they have proficiency in Arcana or the relevant tool.

The alternate, and wholly optional, system for crafting magic items presented in XGtE, at p. 128, permits any character to craft a magic item, not just spellcasters. (Whether they have the Magic Initiate feat remains irrelevant.) However, the character does need some applicable proficiency:

To complete a magic item, a character also needs whatever tool proficiency is appropriate, as for crafting a nonmagical object, or proficiency in the Arcana skill.

There are two notable exceptions. First, brewing a potion of healing specifically requires proficiency with herbalism kit. Second, for spell scrolls, the crafter must indeed be a spellcaster. See XGtE p. 133.

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No, as crafting requires the caster to have spell slots

The rules for crafting magic items can be found in the DMG.

From the DMG, pg 128-129, on Crafting a Magic Item:

To start, a character must have a formula that describes the construction of the item. Their character must also be a spellcaster with spell slots and must be able to cast any spells that the item can produce.

Since the Magic Initiate feat doesn't provide you with spell slots, only a spell, it does not qualify for crafting magic items.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ You may want to expand this answer to also include the rules outlined in XGtE. \$\endgroup\$ Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 18:12
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    \$\begingroup\$ @Rubiksmoose Unfortunately, at this point that would mean just copy-pasting from screamline's answer, which seems like bad practice... \$\endgroup\$
    – NathanS
    Commented Jul 3, 2018 at 19:50
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Not strictly RAW...

Thematically, crafting requires the crafter to have an intimate understanding of the magic they are applying. So only someone who knows the spell well enough to be able to cast it can craft with it, and of course the only people who know spells well enough to cast them are (surprise!) the people who are capable of casting them. This is represented in-game by spells slots.

So someone who has a magic item or natural ability to produce the effect of a spell without a spell slot, does not necessarily understand the spell well enough to craft with it. Being a Planetar or owning a ring of spell storing with Blade Barrier in it will both let you cast Blade Barrier, but in neither case do you really understand the spell.

However, as @screamline notes, this understanding can instead be covered by a relevant skill, which again implies a certain level of knowledge in the crafter. I don't think it would be unreasonable for a DM to rule that magic initiate implies enough knowledge of the spell to craft with it, but it's not quite RAW on it's own. The question is, does Magic Initiate mean you have developer a (super)natural casting ability (like a Planetar), or does it mean you have intensively studied just that one spell until you have the knowledge to cast (and craft) it?

End of the day, if you want to allow the fighter to craft, you need to either give them something else (i.e. a multiclass, or a feat that grants slots, or the arcane proficiency with XGtE variant, etc), or use DM prerogative to tweak the rules a little bit.

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    \$\begingroup\$ wait, where does it say sorcerers can't craft? \$\endgroup\$
    – goodguy5
    Commented Jul 5, 2018 at 1:50
  • \$\begingroup\$ @goodguy5 You're right, my mistake - I corrected it to refer to Innate Spellcasting \$\endgroup\$
    – Benubird
    Commented Jul 5, 2018 at 10:22

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