So, I've made a concept for a dex based battlemaster and want some advice on how to make him optimal. I'm not looking for a mega minmaxed character, just someone who isn't a pile of clap in fights. I've taken the variant human subrace for the extra feat, and my dm allows for 1 free feat at level 1 so I can get a maximum of 2 feats starting. Duel wielder will be one of them, and since my character background is about hunting down cultists, i want the wizard initiate feat as well, that way i can get booming blade, mage armor, and truesight or green flame blade.
Defensive dueling comes at lvl 4, but after that I'm not sure what I should do. Any advice on where I should go? Or if I should rethink my beginning choices? Any help is greatly appreciated.
You might want to stay away from the cantrips - RAW, the bonus action for two-weapon fighting is only available after the Attack action, which is not the same as casting Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. Likewise, you might want to avoid Feinting Attack and Rally as your maneuvers, since your bonus actions will usually be dedicated to your offhand attack. Other than that, have fun with it! Dual-wielding isn't the most optimal fighting style, but it can still definitely work and be a lot of fun. Be as garish as possible.
I played a similar character--human variant with dual wielder feat, Eldritch Knight at 3rd level, and Magic Initiate at 4th. I can vouch for Ratwhowouldbeking's advice and say that those particular cantrips went perpetually unused as the off-hand weapon attack was typically the best thing to do in the fight. It's an overall fun character to play, but I'd suggest taking utility cantrips that help in non-combat scenarios instead.
Dex based with two free feats begs for a crossbow expert plus sharpshooter combo, crazy damage at range and melee. Also crossbows look great on witch hunter type ascetics for that cult-hunting. Dual wielding melee is usually the weakest weapon orientation since you cant get a plus 10 damage from anything, and you need to burn a feat AND fighting style to make it work. there are many better ways to get that bonus action attack. I’ve tried extensively to make two weapon fighting work, but it’s just noticeably worse than the alternatives.
At fifth level the damage output would look like this
Sharpshooter/crossbow expert: +4 to hit 3d6+42 (52.5) DPR
Dual wielding/magic initiate(wizard): +7 to hit 3d8+12 (25.5) DPR
if the mega-damage isn’t what your going for you can go rapier and buckler with the defensive dualist and shield expert feats and be very hard to hit while giving protection to your allies and knocking enemies prone. Just watch out for only having one reaction.
switching to an elf and using elven accuracy for super advantage would also be pretty rad.
something with mage slayer might also work with the cult hunting background, and the two weapon fighting would allow you to force three concentration saving throws at dissadvantage to an unfortunate cultist (maybe mix with sentinel so they can’t escape?)
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Learning is power, power corrupts, study hard be Evil.
Hmmmm, I like this buckled idea. I can still use booming blade and be quick on my feat, plus with the mobile feat I can really utilizenthenextra damage and set up stuff strategically. I think this is what im going with, thanks for the advice!
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So, I've made a concept for a dex based battlemaster and want some advice on how to make him optimal. I'm not looking for a mega minmaxed character, just someone who isn't a pile of clap in fights. I've taken the variant human subrace for the extra feat, and my dm allows for 1 free feat at level 1 so I can get a maximum of 2 feats starting. Duel wielder will be one of them, and since my character background is about hunting down cultists, i want the wizard initiate feat as well, that way i can get booming blade, mage armor, and truesight or green flame blade.
Defensive dueling comes at lvl 4, but after that I'm not sure what I should do. Any advice on where I should go? Or if I should rethink my beginning choices? Any help is greatly appreciated.
You might want to stay away from the cantrips - RAW, the bonus action for two-weapon fighting is only available after the Attack action, which is not the same as casting Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. Likewise, you might want to avoid Feinting Attack and Rally as your maneuvers, since your bonus actions will usually be dedicated to your offhand attack. Other than that, have fun with it! Dual-wielding isn't the most optimal fighting style, but it can still definitely work and be a lot of fun. Be as garish as possible.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
I played a similar character--human variant with dual wielder feat, Eldritch Knight at 3rd level, and Magic Initiate at 4th. I can vouch for Ratwhowouldbeking's advice and say that those particular cantrips went perpetually unused as the off-hand weapon attack was typically the best thing to do in the fight. It's an overall fun character to play, but I'd suggest taking utility cantrips that help in non-combat scenarios instead.
Dex based with two free feats begs for a crossbow expert plus sharpshooter combo, crazy damage at range and melee. Also crossbows look great on witch hunter type ascetics for that cult-hunting. Dual wielding melee is usually the weakest weapon orientation since you cant get a plus 10 damage from anything, and you need to burn a feat AND fighting style to make it work. there are many better ways to get that bonus action attack. I’ve tried extensively to make two weapon fighting work, but it’s just noticeably worse than the alternatives.
At fifth level the damage output would look like this
Sharpshooter/crossbow expert: +4 to hit 3d6+42 (52.5) DPR
Dual wielding/magic initiate(wizard): +7 to hit 3d8+12 (25.5) DPR
if the mega-damage isn’t what your going for you can go rapier and buckler with the defensive dualist and shield expert feats and be very hard to hit while giving protection to your allies and knocking enemies prone. Just watch out for only having one reaction.
switching to an elf and using elven accuracy for super advantage would also be pretty rad.
something with mage slayer might also work with the cult hunting background, and the two weapon fighting would allow you to force three concentration saving throws at dissadvantage to an unfortunate cultist (maybe mix with sentinel so they can’t escape?)
Learning is power, power corrupts, study hard be Evil.
Hmmmm, I like this buckled idea. I can still use booming blade and be quick on my feat, plus with the mobile feat I can really utilizenthenextra damage and set up stuff strategically. I think this is what im going with, thanks for the advice!