Going to be joining a game in a couple of days and liked the idea of playing a Halfling that uses a whip. Any thoughts on how I could optimize using a whip?
So far my plan has been to start as a Fighter and take Duelist so I get +2 damage, and then try to maneuver so I can force opportunity attacks whenever possible.
Are there other ways I could really bring this character idea to life?
The main problem with whips (beyond the low damage die) is that they don't get to benefit from the Polearm Master feat like other reach weapons, which then chains into the Sentinel feat combo. Same goes for Great Weapon Master.
But they're good for DEX Paladins since they're melee weapons (so you can still smite with them, without being right next to someone), or for Rangers for stacking Hunter's Mark and subclass damage dice (maybe with the Dual Wielder feat). They can still be good for DEX Fighters, though, and you can use them with the Defensive Duelist feat, as well as Elven Accuracy.
Besides DEX paladins and DEX fighters with Dueling fighting style, rogues wouldn't be hindered by the small damage die either, but you'd have to pick up proficiency through multiclassing or feats. Kensei monks can also use them effectively, though there's not much of a reason for them to prefer whips over other weapons at low levels.
The main problem with whips (beyond the low damage die) is that they don't get to benefit from the Polearm Master feat like other reach weapons, which then chains into the Sentinel feat combo. Same goes for Great Weapon Master.
But they're good for DEX Paladins since they're melee weapons (so you can still smite with them, without being right next to someone), or for Rangers for stacking Hunter's Mark and subclass damage dice (maybe with the Dual Wielder feat). They can still be good for DEX Fighters, though, and you can use them with the Defensive Duelist feat, as well as Elven Accuracy.
Didn't think of Hunters Mark, I'll look into that as well. Thanks!
bugbear Gloom Stalker ranger with duelist as the weapon style. 15ft reach, +6 damage at level 3, if you get the drop on something your looking at 1d4+6+2d6+1d8 using a whip, not terrible....
I had been considering a whip using bugbear who was a lion tamer in a circus and retooling a shield to loo like a wooden chair!
bugbear Gloom Stalker ranger with duelist as the weapon style. 15ft reach, +6 damage at level 3, if you get the drop on something your looking at 1d4+6+2d6+1d8 using a whip, not terrible....
I had been considering a whip using bugbear who was a lion tamer in a circus and retooling a shield to loo like a wooden chair!
'not terrible'
I'll look into Ranger a little more, the game I was going to ended up being Pathfinder rather than 5e, and I ended up using a Ranger there, but haven't really looked into a Ranger with a whip, other than Hunters Mark.
Stacking hexblade (cha to damage), thirsty blade (+cha with your hex weapon), oathbreaker paladin's aura of hatred (+cha to weapon), and dueling fighting style (+2 to damage) can make any weapon pretty fierce... +17 flat damage is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you start eldritch or divine smiting on top of that.
Stacking hexblade (cha to damage), thirsty blade (+cha with your hex weapon), oathbreaker paladin's aura of hatred (+cha to weapon), and dueling fighting style (+2 to damage) can make any weapon pretty fierce... +17 flat damage is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you start eldritch or divine smiting on top of that.
Thirsting Blade
You can attack with your pact weapon twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
so thirsting blade doesnt add your charisma modifier as damage it lets you attack twice. you are thinking of life drinker :
When you hit a creature with your pact weapon, the creature takes extra necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).
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Going to be joining a game in a couple of days and liked the idea of playing a Halfling that uses a whip. Any thoughts on how I could optimize using a whip?
So far my plan has been to start as a Fighter and take Duelist so I get +2 damage, and then try to maneuver so I can force opportunity attacks whenever possible.
Are there other ways I could really bring this character idea to life?
The main problem with whips (beyond the low damage die) is that they don't get to benefit from the Polearm Master feat like other reach weapons, which then chains into the Sentinel feat combo. Same goes for Great Weapon Master.
But they're good for DEX Paladins since they're melee weapons (so you can still smite with them, without being right next to someone), or for Rangers for stacking Hunter's Mark and subclass damage dice (maybe with the Dual Wielder feat). They can still be good for DEX Fighters, though, and you can use them with the Defensive Duelist feat, as well as Elven Accuracy.
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
Besides DEX paladins and DEX fighters with Dueling fighting style, rogues wouldn't be hindered by the small damage die either, but you'd have to pick up proficiency through multiclassing or feats. Kensei monks can also use them effectively, though there's not much of a reason for them to prefer whips over other weapons at low levels.
Didn't think of Hunters Mark, I'll look into that as well. Thanks!
bugbear Gloom Stalker ranger with duelist as the weapon style. 15ft reach, +6 damage at level 3, if you get the drop on something your looking at 1d4+6+2d6+1d8 using a whip, not terrible....
I had been considering a whip using bugbear who was a lion tamer in a circus and retooling a shield to loo like a wooden chair!
'not terrible'
I'll look into Ranger a little more, the game I was going to ended up being Pathfinder rather than 5e, and I ended up using a Ranger there, but haven't really looked into a Ranger with a whip, other than Hunters Mark.
Stacking hexblade (cha to damage), thirsty blade (+cha with your hex weapon), oathbreaker paladin's aura of hatred (+cha to weapon), and dueling fighting style (+2 to damage) can make any weapon pretty fierce... +17 flat damage is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you start eldritch or divine smiting on top of that.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
If you take the feat Spell Sniper you can use the melee cantrips with the whip as well. (Booming Blade, Green-Flame Blade)
Thirsting Blade
You can attack with your pact weapon twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.
so thirsting blade doesnt add your charisma modifier as damage it lets you attack twice. you are thinking of life drinker :
When you hit a creature with your pact weapon, the creature takes extra necrotic damage equal to your Charisma modifier (minimum 1).