I'm not. All of this is assuming the AA or whatever fighter goes first.
Edit: Also, the Simulacrum Microwave plan really isn't necessary against most builds the Fighter can produce. It's there for the super tanky, but low damage ones like that dang Yuan-Ti champion.
Most Fighters have no means of disrupting or outlasting what the Wizard is doing and can lose to simpler strategies like casting Invulnerability or turning into a Dragon.
Dread casts Maze before Wish, which is incredibly hard for the Fighter to get out of. If they do manage it, it took their action, and their DPR will be significantly lower that round. The nova builds don't produce enough damage to kill Dread within this timeframe.
In the case of the AA, even if they do escape the Maze, then they are out of action surges after their flurry of action in rounds 1-3 and have to pass the turn. Or, because the AA is out of banishing shots and can no longer challenge the concentration on Invulnerability, Dread just skips the simulacrum stuff and beats it that way.
Umm where you getting that initiative from bud? How can you go first if Dread’s initiative is +2. While the AA is almost a triple your initiative at +5 so how you going to cast maze again?
Dread's whole purpose is that he intentionally fails initiative and then tanks 50 shots straight to the head before laughing at the pitiful fighter.
Also in order to beat dread you need to roll several crits and hit all your attacks with at least average damage using a min-maxed Arcane Archer. Meanwhile Dread doesn't have to roll a thing. That's rough. In other words, most fights Dread is going to win.
Edit for emphasis.
Oh- and yeah as stated earlier the min-maxed Arcane Archer has a 50% chance of even hitting dread, plus needing those several crits. And if Dread makes a single saving throw the Arcane Archer might as well do 0 damage.
Point One:
“Dread's whole purpose is that he intentionally fails initiative and then tanks 50 shots straight to the head before laughing at the pitiful fighter.”
Answer: I know that but he just dismissed it by saying he would cast maze but he doesn’t have the initiative to do so that why I emphasized him being not able to do so.
Point two:
”Also in order to beat dread you need to roll several crits and hit all your attacks with at least average damage using a min-maxed Arcane Archer.“
Answer: Not several just one and in 20 arrow shots that is not at all unreasonable to presume one of the attacks is a critical. And yes I do need to hit my attacks but not all as if I miss some I can come back with sharpshooter. And guys I think you forget that my AA has lucky (Three rerolls), precision strike, and two attacks with advantage due to unseen attacker and hide with the goblin and some dropped object/thing for cover to hide (he could literally by raw drop a blanket on top of him and hide) so I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility that this little goblin can kill the bigger hobgoblin. The reason I used average damage is because that’s all you can really account for... an average chance/roll. As with “using a min-maxed Arcane Archer” your using a non-maxed abjuration wizard so what’s your point also the point is to have the most min-maxed build as you are comparing a fighter vs wizard and why would you put one build less just because it’s “min-maxed.”
Point Three:
”Meanwhile Dread doesn't have to roll a thing. That's rough. In other words, most fights Dread is going to win.“
Answer: Well he doesn’t have to roll a thing since he was made to be just a meat bag with tricks up his sleeve. And yes I never said my AA build would win a majority of the times even if he could win 40% of the time that still means it’s better than other builds who have a 0% winrate.
Point Four:
“Oh- and yeah as stated earlier the min-maxed Arcane Archer has a 50% chance of even hitting dread, plus needing those several crits. And if Dread makes a single saving throw the Arcane Archer might as well do 0 damage.“
Answer: Not a 50% chance as he can influence the rolls in many ways and then again only needs one crit of which I did on a normal attack not a special attack (banishing arrow). As with making th saves I say good luck Dread has a good old total of +0 against banishing arrow so I don’t think he’ll make the saves. Additionally, remember if the Arcane Archer misses a couple he can just start Hail Marying sharpshooter to regain the lost damage (like I said).
I'm not. All of this is assuming the AA or whatever fighter goes first.
Edit: Also, the Simulacrum Microwave plan really isn't necessary against most builds the Fighter can produce. It's there for the super tanky, but low damage ones like that dang Yuan-Ti champion.
Most Fighters have no means of disrupting or outlasting what the Wizard is doing and can lose to simpler strategies like casting Invulnerability or turning into a Dragon.
Point One:
“I'm not.”
Answer: Fair enough.
Point Two:
”All of this is assuming the AA or whatever fighter goes first.“
Answer: Well as the fighter has almost triple Dread’s initiative I’d assume that yes the fighter will go first.
Point Three:
“Also, the Simulacrum Microwave plan really isn't necessary against most builds the Fighter can produce. It's there for the super tanky, but low damage ones like that dang Yuan-Ti champion.“
Answer: True enough.
Point Four:
“Most Fighters have no means of disrupting or outlasting what the Wizard is doing and can lose to simpler strategies like casting Invulnerability or turning into a Dragon.“
Answer: Well the AA doesn’t need to disrupt or outlast the wizard (Dread) when his best chance is to Nova him and win. As with the invulnerability, and becoming a dragon both require concentration which the AA has banish that can incapacitate and therefore stop your concentration and pull you out of your spell.
While the AA can pretty easily take out invulnerability, it can't do anything to the dragon.
For some reason, Wotc decided that True Polymorphing doesn't grant the target Lair Actions or Legendary Actions, but it DOES grant legendary resistances. With 3 legendary resistances against only 2 arrows, it is impossible to banish the dragon. And in order to even have a 5% chance of interrupting through damage, the archer needs to deal 30+ damage in a single shot. That's only possible with a sharpshooter crit AND good rolls on your damage, and the dragon still has another legendary resist to blow on the rare chance it rolls a 1(+13) on its Con save against that lucky shot.
The whole thing is to cast Invulnerability AFTER the AA uses up their Banishing Arrows in their barrage. If the AA decides to hold on to one or both, then they are doing significantly less damage, and Dread has plenty of time to use other lesser concentration spells (like greater invisibility) to try and bait out some banishing arrows. If the AA refuses still, then Dread with Greater Invisibility and Mirror Image is going to be insanely difficult to kill and he can take his time laying the AA on his ass.
Edit: Also Aethelwolf's point about True Polymorph for legendary resistances is spot on. Just don't even bother dancing around banishing arrows.
Answer: Well the AA doesn’t need to disrupt or outlast the wizard (Dread) when his best chance is to Nova him and win. As with the invulnerability, and becoming a dragon both require concentration which the AA has banish that can incapacitate and therefore stop your concentration and pull you out of your spell.
I give you credit the AA build is still really good. Do remember you can't both nova and stop concentration, you can only do one. If you don't nova- wizard wins. Do nova, pretty good chance of wizard winning.
Also this forum is going so fast- I just noticed that HeironymusZot pointed out that Goblins have disadvantage on attacking with longbows because they are a small race. You did mention you had a backup race option, I think it was Aasimar? Either way probably doesn't make too much on a difference, just a slight adjustment.
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if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
While the AA can pretty easily take out invulnerability, it can't do anything to the dragon.
For some reason, Wotc decided that True Polymorphing doesn't grant the target Lair Actions or Legendary Actions, but it DOES grant legendary resistances. With 3 legendary resistances against only 2 arrows, it is impossible to banish the dragon. And in order to even have a 5% chance of interrupting through damage, the archer needs to deal 30+ damage in a single shot. That's only possible with a sharpshooter crit AND good rolls on your damage, and the dragon still has another legendary resist to blow on the rare chance it rolls a 1(+13) on its Con save against that lucky shot.
There isn’t a point of discussing what the wizard can do on his turn as I have already shown that if the wizard gets a turn he wins.
Point One:
”While the AA can pretty easily take out invulnerability”
Answer: True.
Point Two:
”it can't do anything to the dragon.“
Answer: Oh yeah forgot about the legendary resistances but as what is written above as the wizard gets a turn to cast a spell the fighter loses.
Point Three:
”For some reason, Wotc decided that True Polymorphing doesn't grant the target Lair Actions or Legendary Actions, but it DOES grant legendary resistances. With 3 legendary resistances against only 2 arrows, it is impossible to banish the dragon. And in order to even have a 5% chance of interrupting through damage, the archer needs to deal 30+ damage in a single shot. That's only possible with a sharpshooter crit AND good rolls on your damage, and the dragon still has another legendary resist to blow on the rare chance it rolls a 1(+13) on its Con save against that lucky shot.“
Answer: the reason for no legendary/lair actions i think is balance and so no player can “truely” become a dragon so it fits with the polymorph just being an imitation and not the “true” legendary creature but still wield it’s power of the legend it is. Additionally, legendary actions and lair actions are that actions they are there to balance a fight between a party and monster so the monster just doesn’t get ragdolled by the party in the action economy.
Answer: Well the AA doesn’t need to disrupt or outlast the wizard (Dread) when his best chance is to Nova him and win. As with the invulnerability, and becoming a dragon both require concentration which the AA has banish that can incapacitate and therefore stop your concentration and pull you out of your spell.
I give you credit the AA build is still really good. Do remember you can't both nova and stop concentration, you can only do one. If you don't nova- wizard wins. Do nova, pretty good chance of wizard winning.
Also this forum is going so fast- I just noticed that HeironymusZot pointed out that Goblins have disadvantage on attacking with longbows because they are a small race. You did mention you had a backup race option, I think it was Aasimar? Either way probably doesn't make too much on a difference, just a slight adjustment.
How whoops haha but yes I have aasimer as a backup-ish thing but yes true.
Point One:
”I give you credit the AA build is still really good. Do remember you can't both nova and stop concentration, you can only do one. If you don't nova- wizard wins. Do nova, pretty good chance of wizard winning.“
Answer: Thanks and yes the AA build is the best chance the fighter got. As with Nova and stopping concentration banishing arrow contributes to both. Just saying if the wizard has concentration that means the wizard cast a spell and if he cast a spell he had a turn if he had a turn he could have won. Additionally, the only way the fighter wins is through Nova as waiting it out means the wizard takes a turn and wins using one of my spell combos or just something else which the fighter cannot deal with. So essentially it is a game of can the fighter kill/incapacitate/hold down a wizard before he gets a turn that he can cast spells. As with the wizard having a good chance of winning that’s evident in every build as the wizard is just... well better to put it simply.
Point Two:
”Also this forum is going so fast- I just noticed that HeironymusZot pointed out that Goblins have disadvantage on attacking with longbows because they are a small race. You did mention you had a backup race option, I think it was Aasimar? Either way probably doesn't make too much on a difference, just a slight adjustment.“
Answer: I didn’t notice that thanks in response I’ll be making an aasimer arcane archer build or otherwise called the AAA (even if I could just say the goblin uses a short bow and use sharpshooter more to gain back the lost damage but ehh more builds the better right?). Thanks btw.
I think this whole "every shot hits" exercise has really blown the AA's chances against Dread out of proportion. 20 attacks with hex does an average of 152 damage to him. It's really important to note, this does not factor in things like martial adept, fury of the small, or piercer, but it also does not factor in magic resistance. Not to mention that with only a 50% hit chance, the AA really has to think about when they declare their banishing shots as they can't just bank on the last arrow hitting. It's very likely the total number of shots will be a lower number. So all in all, I feel like giving the AA a rough estimate of 150 is accurate enough and even a bit generous.
Dread mops the floor with the Arcane Archer. Tweaking races and such isn't going to change that.
I think this whole "every shot hits" exercise has really blown the AA's chances against Dread out of proportion. 20 attacks with hex does an average of 152 damage to him. It's really important to note, this does not factor in things like martial adept, fury of the small, or piercer, but it also does not factor in magic resistance. Not to mention that with only a 50% hit chance, the AA really has to think about when they declare their banishing shots as they can't just bank on the last arrow hitting. It's very likely the total number of shots will be a lower number. So all in all, I feel like giving the AA a rough estimate of 150 is accurate enough and even a bit generous.
Dread mops the floor with the Arcane Archer. Tweaking races and such isn't going to change that.
Overall it seems Chrono wizard (Take your pick on race) and Dread have the best chances against most fighter builds.
The one that would give a fair amount of trouble would actually be the Eldtrich Knight as they can use some magic to help them out....particularly Counter spell. Getting lucky with a roll means that a big spell does not go off which could be massive for them.
They can also Misty Step out of Wall of Force which makes the Microwave strat much harder.
So this is the Aasimer Scourge Build (there can be more to it but eh). There is another build I have but it would be contentious/controversial as not like full RAW but would absolutely rekt the wizard if it works.
Level 20 Fighter Arcane Archer Aasimer. Stats: 20 Dex. Feats: Lucky, Martial Adept, and Magic Initiate (Hex) and sharpshooter. The Aasimer is a scourge Aasimer.
I then again assume all hit with one crit.
First Round: Hex, Action Radiant Consumption, Action Surge 4 arrows, 1 has +20 damage and the last is banishing arrow. At end of turn fighter takes ten damage.
Second Round: Action 4 arrows, 1 has +20 damage, Action Surge 4 Arrows the last is banishing arrow. At end of turn fighter takes ten damage.
Thrid Round: Action Four Arrows, 1 is a crit. 1 has +20 damage, and you use The superiority die for precision strike of 1d6 (3.5). Fighter and wizard take ten damage.
Total arrow of damage of arrows: 15 arrows is (1d8 (4.5) + 5 (20 Dex) + 1d6 (Hex: 3.5 - 1.75)) x 15 = 168.75. The crit is (2d8 (9) + 5 (20 Dex) + 1d6 (Hex: 7 - 3.5)) x 1 = 17.5. The 2 banishing arrow damage is 4d6 (14). The total damage from Radiant consumption is 20 + 20 + 20 + 10 = 70. Plus 1d6 (3.5) from precision strike. The total is 168.75 + 17.5 + 14 + 70 for a total of 270.5 damage.
Counterspell can't stop a major spell, since the wizard also has counterspell. At best, you can burn away their shield to ensure you pump out more damage. Dispel Magic, on the other hand, can help to undo one major spell after its cast, though it still requires a lucky roll.
Counterspell can't stop a major spell, since the wizard also has counterspell. At best, you can burn away their shield to ensure you pump out more damage. Dispel Magic, on the other hand, can help to undo one major spell after its cast, though it still requires a lucky roll.
Yeah it would be basically to burn the shield away and get advantage on your attacks somehow. It would DRASTICALLY increase your damage output
The Eldritch Knight is horrible what do you mean? The wizard has Counterspell so what ever the Eldritch Knight tries to counter you can just cast a Counterspell to counter their counter. As with the Eldritch Knight stoping shield sure he can do that but he still won’t be able to kill the wizard before he gets a turn and wins.
Dropping shield is a nice way to boost your nova potential, but I'm not sure how you are also getting advantage. Without shield, you are looking at a nova turn of 137 vs an 18 AC wizard or ~130 vs Dread.
Edit: Forgot to take hex out of sharpshooter calculations, which can't be cast alongside of Counterspell. Fixed.
Dropping shield is a nice way to boost your nova potential, but I'm not sure how you are also getting advantage. Without shield, you are looking at a nova turn of 160 vs an 18 AC wizard or ~150 vs Dread.
Point One:
”Dropping shield is a nice way to boost your nova potential”
Answer: True.
Point Two:
“but I'm not sure how you are also getting advantage.“
Answer: I have nothing to add to that as there really isn’t much the fighter could as an Eldritch Knight get advantage (lucky would work-ish).
Point Three:
“Without shield, you are looking at a nova turn of 160 vs an 18 AC wizard or ~150 vs Dread.”
Answer: Would like to know where you got those numbers on the 160 damage. Also against a Chronurgist wizard you’d would never go first but you would go first against the Dread build.
The Eldritch Knight is horrible what do you mean? The wizard has Counterspell so what ever the Eldritch Knight tries to counter you can just cast a Counterspell to counter their counter. As with the Eldritch Knight stoping shield sure he can do that but he still won’t be able to kill the wizard before he gets a turn and wins.
Actually if you go first as an EK and counterspell the wizards attempt at a shield (They can't counterspell this as they used their reaction for shield) which could drastically increase damage output thanks to a significantly lower AC (23 vs 18) with an upcast Shadowblade, elven accuracy, and dueling fighting style. You would have a reasonable way of getting advantage on the attacks if you are in dim light.
Edited my numbers down, actually. I was including hex damage from a previous calculator. The calculation is ((Hit chance * Sharpshooter damage) + (crit chance * Sharpshooter crit)) * 8 attacks.
Against Chronogist wizard you actually can go first, but its harder because of their initiative boost. Convergent future does not help with Initiative rolls, since they do not actually have an explicit success/failure point.
One possible option against Dread though: EK opening with Hold Person, backed by Counterspell. Go GWM to take advantage of paralysis. With Lucky, you have a >50% chance at succeeding with your Counterspell, and then Dread has a 35% chance to fail his wisdom save (+6 with advantage against DC 19).
If they do fail, you can burn through Dread's 265 HP with 13 attacks, 5 of which autocrit. That's a ~20-25% chance at victory when going first against Dread, which is low but not ignorable.
Edited my numbers down, actually. I was including hex damage from a previous calculator. The calculation is ((Hit chance * Sharpshooter damage) + (crit chance * Sharpshooter crit)) * 8 attacks.
Against Chronogist wizard you actually can go first, but its harder because of their initiative boost. Convergent future does not help with Initiative rolls, since they do not actually have an explicit success/failure point.
One possible option against Dread though: EK opening with Hold Person, backed by Counterspell. Go GWM to take advantage of paralysis. With Lucky, you have a >50% chance at succeeding with your Counterspell, and then Dread has a 35% chance to fail his wisdom save (+6 with advantage against DC 19).
If they do fail, you can burn through Dread's 265 HP with 13 attacks, 5 of which autocrit. That's a ~20-25% chance at victory when going first against Dread, which is low but not ignorable.
Whats funny about this to me...
To beat a wizard (or attempt to) the fighter has to....become more like a wizard lol.
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I'm not. All of this is assuming the AA or whatever fighter goes first.
Edit: Also, the Simulacrum Microwave plan really isn't necessary against most builds the Fighter can produce. It's there for the super tanky, but low damage ones like that dang Yuan-Ti champion.
Most Fighters have no means of disrupting or outlasting what the Wizard is doing and can lose to simpler strategies like casting Invulnerability or turning into a Dragon.
Point One:
“Dread's whole purpose is that he intentionally fails initiative and then tanks 50 shots straight to the head before laughing at the pitiful fighter.”
Answer: I know that but he just dismissed it by saying he would cast maze but he doesn’t have the initiative to do so that why I emphasized him being not able to do so.
Point two:
”Also in order to beat dread you need to roll several crits and hit all your attacks with at least average damage using a min-maxed Arcane Archer.“
Answer: Not several just one and in 20 arrow shots that is not at all unreasonable to presume one of the attacks is a critical. And yes I do need to hit my attacks but not all as if I miss some I can come back with sharpshooter. And guys I think you forget that my AA has lucky (Three rerolls), precision strike, and two attacks with advantage due to unseen attacker and hide with the goblin and some dropped object/thing for cover to hide (he could literally by raw drop a blanket on top of him and hide) so I don’t think it is out of the realm of possibility that this little goblin can kill the bigger hobgoblin. The reason I used average damage is because that’s all you can really account for... an average chance/roll. As with “using a min-maxed Arcane Archer” your using a non-maxed abjuration wizard so what’s your point also the point is to have the most min-maxed build as you are comparing a fighter vs wizard and why would you put one build less just because it’s “min-maxed.”
Point Three:
”Meanwhile Dread doesn't have to roll a thing. That's rough. In other words, most fights Dread is going to win.“
Answer: Well he doesn’t have to roll a thing since he was made to be just a meat bag with tricks up his sleeve. And yes I never said my AA build would win a majority of the times even if he could win 40% of the time that still means it’s better than other builds who have a 0% winrate.
Point Four:
“Oh- and yeah as stated earlier the min-maxed Arcane Archer has a 50% chance of even hitting dread, plus needing those several crits. And if Dread makes a single saving throw the Arcane Archer might as well do 0 damage.“
Answer: Not a 50% chance as he can influence the rolls in many ways and then again only needs one crit of which I did on a normal attack not a special attack (banishing arrow). As with making th saves I say good luck Dread has a good old total of +0 against banishing arrow so I don’t think he’ll make the saves. Additionally, remember if the Arcane Archer misses a couple he can just start Hail Marying sharpshooter to regain the lost damage (like I said).
Point One:
“I'm not.”
Answer: Fair enough.
Point Two:
”All of this is assuming the AA or whatever fighter goes first.“
Answer: Well as the fighter has almost triple Dread’s initiative I’d assume that yes the fighter will go first.
Point Three:
“Also, the Simulacrum Microwave plan really isn't necessary against most builds the Fighter can produce. It's there for the super tanky, but low damage ones like that dang Yuan-Ti champion.“
Answer: True enough.
Point Four:
“Most Fighters have no means of disrupting or outlasting what the Wizard is doing and can lose to simpler strategies like casting Invulnerability or turning into a Dragon.“
Answer: Well the AA doesn’t need to disrupt or outlast the wizard (Dread) when his best chance is to Nova him and win. As with the invulnerability, and becoming a dragon both require concentration which the AA has banish that can incapacitate and therefore stop your concentration and pull you out of your spell.
While the AA can pretty easily take out invulnerability, it can't do anything to the dragon.
For some reason, Wotc decided that True Polymorphing doesn't grant the target Lair Actions or Legendary Actions, but it DOES grant legendary resistances. With 3 legendary resistances against only 2 arrows, it is impossible to banish the dragon. And in order to even have a 5% chance of interrupting through damage, the archer needs to deal 30+ damage in a single shot. That's only possible with a sharpshooter crit AND good rolls on your damage, and the dragon still has another legendary resist to blow on the rare chance it rolls a 1(+13) on its Con save against that lucky shot.
The whole thing is to cast Invulnerability AFTER the AA uses up their Banishing Arrows in their barrage. If the AA decides to hold on to one or both, then they are doing significantly less damage, and Dread has plenty of time to use other lesser concentration spells (like greater invisibility) to try and bait out some banishing arrows. If the AA refuses still, then Dread with Greater Invisibility and Mirror Image is going to be insanely difficult to kill and he can take his time laying the AA on his ass.
Edit: Also Aethelwolf's point about True Polymorph for legendary resistances is spot on. Just don't even bother dancing around banishing arrows.
I give you credit the AA build is still really good. Do remember you can't both nova and stop concentration, you can only do one. If you don't nova- wizard wins. Do nova, pretty good chance of wizard winning.
Also this forum is going so fast- I just noticed that HeironymusZot pointed out that Goblins have disadvantage on attacking with longbows because they are a small race. You did mention you had a backup race option, I think it was Aasimar? Either way probably doesn't make too much on a difference, just a slight adjustment.
if I edit a message, most of the time it's because of grammar. The rest of the time I'll put "Edit:" at the bottom.
There isn’t a point of discussing what the wizard can do on his turn as I have already shown that if the wizard gets a turn he wins.
Point One:
”While the AA can pretty easily take out invulnerability”
Answer: True.
Point Two:
”it can't do anything to the dragon.“
Answer: Oh yeah forgot about the legendary resistances but as what is written above as the wizard gets a turn to cast a spell the fighter loses.
Point Three:
”For some reason, Wotc decided that True Polymorphing doesn't grant the target Lair Actions or Legendary Actions, but it DOES grant legendary resistances. With 3 legendary resistances against only 2 arrows, it is impossible to banish the dragon. And in order to even have a 5% chance of interrupting through damage, the archer needs to deal 30+ damage in a single shot. That's only possible with a sharpshooter crit AND good rolls on your damage, and the dragon still has another legendary resist to blow on the rare chance it rolls a 1(+13) on its Con save against that lucky shot.“
Answer: the reason for no legendary/lair actions i think is balance and so no player can “truely” become a dragon so it fits with the polymorph just being an imitation and not the “true” legendary creature but still wield it’s power of the legend it is. Additionally, legendary actions and lair actions are that actions they are there to balance a fight between a party and monster so the monster just doesn’t get ragdolled by the party in the action economy.
How whoops haha but yes I have aasimer as a backup-ish thing but yes true.
Point One:
”I give you credit the AA build is still really good. Do remember you can't both nova and stop concentration, you can only do one. If you don't nova- wizard wins. Do nova, pretty good chance of wizard winning.“
Answer: Thanks and yes the AA build is the best chance the fighter got. As with Nova and stopping concentration banishing arrow contributes to both. Just saying if the wizard has concentration that means the wizard cast a spell and if he cast a spell he had a turn if he had a turn he could have won. Additionally, the only way the fighter wins is through Nova as waiting it out means the wizard takes a turn and wins using one of my spell combos or just something else which the fighter cannot deal with. So essentially it is a game of can the fighter kill/incapacitate/hold down a wizard before he gets a turn that he can cast spells. As with the wizard having a good chance of winning that’s evident in every build as the wizard is just... well better to put it simply.
Point Two:
”Also this forum is going so fast- I just noticed that HeironymusZot pointed out that Goblins have disadvantage on attacking with longbows because they are a small race. You did mention you had a backup race option, I think it was Aasimar? Either way probably doesn't make too much on a difference, just a slight adjustment.“
Answer: I didn’t notice that thanks in response I’ll be making an aasimer arcane archer build or otherwise called the AAA (even if I could just say the goblin uses a short bow and use sharpshooter more to gain back the lost damage but ehh more builds the better right?). Thanks btw.
I think this whole "every shot hits" exercise has really blown the AA's chances against Dread out of proportion. 20 attacks with hex does an average of 152 damage to him. It's really important to note, this does not factor in things like martial adept, fury of the small, or piercer, but it also does not factor in magic resistance. Not to mention that with only a 50% hit chance, the AA really has to think about when they declare their banishing shots as they can't just bank on the last arrow hitting. It's very likely the total number of shots will be a lower number. So all in all, I feel like giving the AA a rough estimate of 150 is accurate enough and even a bit generous.
Dread mops the floor with the Arcane Archer. Tweaking races and such isn't going to change that.
Overall it seems Chrono wizard (Take your pick on race) and Dread have the best chances against most fighter builds.
The one that would give a fair amount of trouble would actually be the Eldtrich Knight as they can use some magic to help them out....particularly Counter spell. Getting lucky with a roll means that a big spell does not go off which could be massive for them.
They can also Misty Step out of Wall of Force which makes the Microwave strat much harder.
So this is the Aasimer Scourge Build (there can be more to it but eh). There is another build I have but it would be contentious/controversial as not like full RAW but would absolutely rekt the wizard if it works.
Level 20 Fighter Arcane Archer Aasimer. Stats: 20 Dex. Feats: Lucky, Martial Adept, and Magic Initiate (Hex) and sharpshooter. The Aasimer is a scourge Aasimer.
I then again assume all hit with one crit.
First Round: Hex, Action Radiant Consumption, Action Surge 4 arrows, 1 has +20 damage and the last is banishing arrow. At end of turn fighter takes ten damage.
Second Round: Action 4 arrows, 1 has +20 damage, Action Surge 4 Arrows the last is banishing arrow. At end of turn fighter takes ten damage.
Thrid Round: Action Four Arrows, 1 is a crit. 1 has +20 damage, and you use The superiority die for precision strike of 1d6 (3.5). Fighter and wizard take ten damage.
Total arrow of damage of arrows: 15 arrows is (1d8 (4.5) + 5 (20 Dex) + 1d6 (Hex: 3.5 - 1.75)) x 15 = 168.75. The crit is (2d8 (9) + 5 (20 Dex) + 1d6 (Hex: 7 - 3.5)) x 1 = 17.5. The 2 banishing arrow damage is 4d6 (14). The total damage from Radiant consumption is 20 + 20 + 20 + 10 = 70. Plus 1d6 (3.5) from precision strike. The total is 168.75 + 17.5 + 14 + 70 for a total of 270.5 damage.
Please tell me if I missed something!
Counterspell can't stop a major spell, since the wizard also has counterspell. At best, you can burn away their shield to ensure you pump out more damage. Dispel Magic, on the other hand, can help to undo one major spell after its cast, though it still requires a lucky roll.
Yeah it would be basically to burn the shield away and get advantage on your attacks somehow. It would DRASTICALLY increase your damage output
The Eldritch Knight is horrible what do you mean? The wizard has Counterspell so what ever the Eldritch Knight tries to counter you can just cast a Counterspell to counter their counter. As with the Eldritch Knight stoping shield sure he can do that but he still won’t be able to kill the wizard before he gets a turn and wins.
Dropping shield is a nice way to boost your nova potential, but I'm not sure how you are also getting advantage. Without shield, you are looking at a nova turn of 137 vs an 18 AC wizard or ~130 vs Dread.
Edit: Forgot to take hex out of sharpshooter calculations, which can't be cast alongside of Counterspell. Fixed.
Point One:
”Dropping shield is a nice way to boost your nova potential”
Answer: True.
Point Two:
“but I'm not sure how you are also getting advantage.“
Answer: I have nothing to add to that as there really isn’t much the fighter could as an Eldritch Knight get advantage (lucky would work-ish).
Point Three:
“Without shield, you are looking at a nova turn of 160 vs an 18 AC wizard or ~150 vs Dread.”
Answer: Would like to know where you got those numbers on the 160 damage. Also against a Chronurgist wizard you’d would never go first but you would go first against the Dread build.
Actually if you go first as an EK and counterspell the wizards attempt at a shield (They can't counterspell this as they used their reaction for shield) which could drastically increase damage output thanks to a significantly lower AC (23 vs 18) with an upcast Shadowblade, elven accuracy, and dueling fighting style. You would have a reasonable way of getting advantage on the attacks if you are in dim light.
Damage actually looks pretty good: https://imgur.com/URnqBxW
Still not going to be enough but actually more respectable damage than most fighter builds.
Edited my numbers down, actually. I was including hex damage from a previous calculator. The calculation is ((Hit chance * Sharpshooter damage) + (crit chance * Sharpshooter crit)) * 8 attacks.
Against Chronogist wizard you actually can go first, but its harder because of their initiative boost. Convergent future does not help with Initiative rolls, since they do not actually have an explicit success/failure point.
One possible option against Dread though: EK opening with Hold Person, backed by Counterspell. Go GWM to take advantage of paralysis. With Lucky, you have a >50% chance at succeeding with your Counterspell, and then Dread has a 35% chance to fail his wisdom save (+6 with advantage against DC 19).
If they do fail, you can burn through Dread's 265 HP with 13 attacks, 5 of which autocrit. That's a ~20-25% chance at victory when going first against Dread, which is low but not ignorable.
You can't use Shadowblade and Counterspell on the same turn. Bonus action rule.
Whats funny about this to me...
To beat a wizard (or attempt to) the fighter has to....become more like a wizard lol.