My current character is a triple-class Eldritch Knight Fighter/Hexblade Warlock/War Magic Wizard, although to be fair, I'm still one level-up away from officially claiming the Eldritch Knight subclass.
I took Fighter 1 for heavy armor and shields. I was a weird 1st level fighter with +1 strength, +1 intelligence, +2 charisma and no ranged attacks.
Then took hexblade warlock 1 for the ability to use charisma rather than strength or dexterity for weapon attacks (as well as gaining a 1st-level spell slot with shield and hellish rebuke, and gaining two cantrips, with Eldritch Blast still being my character's only ranged attack).
Next I took wizard 1 to gain 3 more cantrips, two prepared spells (absorb elements and feather fall) as well as four ritual spells (find familiar, comprehend languages, detect magic and identify... unlike most ritual casters, wizards don't have to prepare rituals to cast them, the rituals just have to be in their book).
Then I built warlock up to level 5, gaining the pact of the blade weapon, agonizing blast, improved pact weapon and thirsty blade along the way.
Then took a second level of wizard going war magic primarily to get better saving throws... I'm done leveling wizard now.
On my last level up I took second level of fighter for action surge.
I'll take Eldritch Knight next for more spell slots (including, thanks to multiclassing rules, two second level spell slots... right now, I don't have actual second level slots despite having second level spells, I have three first level slots from wizard and two third level pact slots from warlock). I'll mostly build up fighter from here, but after I reach level 5 fighter (and gain extra attack), I'll take one more warlock level so I can swap out thirsty blade with another invocation, then go back to fighter for however many levels I have left.
If he reaches level 20, he'll be Eldritch Knight 12/Hexblade Warlock 6/War Magic Wizard 2. Yeah, he won't have any high level spells, topping out at 3rd level spells and I believe top out at 3rd level slots, but he'll be a decent tank who would rather hit something with his trusty warhammer than rely on magic for damage while still having plenty of support magic and some options for when he can't reach his enemy.
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=========================== Laugh at life or life will laugh at you.
Current D&D Characters: Kromen Flintfist, Hill Dwarf Order of the Scribes Wizard/Armorer Artificer Eiphrok, Half-Orc Oath of Glory Paladin/Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer
I don't really get why you'd dip into hexblade for that build. Since your other classes are INT based, gaining the ability to use CHA for weapon attacks seems like at best a lateral move. Seems like in the long run it would be easier just to buff Strength and Intelligence.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I don't really get why you'd dip into hexblade for that build. Since your other classes are INT based, gaining the ability to use CHA for weapon attacks seems like at best a lateral move. Seems like in the long run it would be easier just to buff Strength and Intelligence.
I don't really get why you'd dip into hexblade for that build. Since your other classes are INT based, gaining the ability to use CHA for weapon attacks seems like at best a lateral move. Seems like in the long run it would be easier just to buff Strength and Intelligence.
You are suggesting I should buff two stats. I only need to buff one.
With this build, other than having strength at 13 and intelligence at 13, I can ignore both stats (not counting skill checks and saving throws, of course), as the wizard spells I've taken and the Eldritch Knight spells I plan to take don't actually use intelligence at all. Shield, feather fall, absorb elements, longstrider, the various ritual spells... none of them use the intelligence modifier for either spell DC save or attack bonuses, yet the spells are extremely useful to have. My damage dealing spells are warlock (Eldritch Blast for attack, Hellish Rebuke for reactions), which use charisma (which currently is +3). And by going hexblade, I can use charisma as weapon damage as well, so as long as my strength is high enough to wear chain mail heavy armor and qualify for the fighter class, I'm set there as well.
When a typical fighter/wizard gets a stat boost, they have to decide if they want their weapons or spells to become more powerful. I can do both at the same time.
I don't really get why you'd dip into hexblade for that build. Since your other classes are INT based, gaining the ability to use CHA for weapon attacks seems like at best a lateral move. Seems like in the long run it would be easier just to buff Strength and Intelligence.
Or become a battle smith artificer
I currently don't have access to artificer. Maybe after Tasha's comes out.
=========================== Laugh at life or life will laugh at you.
Current D&D Characters: Kromen Flintfist, Hill Dwarf Order of the Scribes Wizard/Armorer Artificer Eiphrok, Half-Orc Oath of Glory Paladin/Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer
I don't really get why you'd dip into hexblade for that build. Since your other classes are INT based, gaining the ability to use CHA for weapon attacks seems like at best a lateral move. Seems like in the long run it would be easier just to buff Strength and Intelligence.
You are suggesting I should buff two stats. I only need to buff one.
With this build, other than having strength at 13 and intelligence at 13, I can ignore both stats (not counting skill checks and saving throws, of course), as the wizard spells I've taken and the Eldritch Knight spells I plan to take don't actually use intelligence at all. Shield, feather fall, absorb elements, longstrider, the various ritual spells... none of them use the intelligence modifier for either spell DC save or attack bonuses, yet the spells are extremely useful to have. My damage dealing spells are warlock (Eldritch Blast for attack, Hellish Rebuke for reactions), which use charisma (which currently is +3). And by going hexblade, I can use charisma as weapon damage as well, so as long as my strength is high enough to wear chain mail heavy armor and qualify for the fighter class, I'm set there as well.
When a typical fighter/wizard gets a stat boost, they have to decide if they want their weapons or spells to become more powerful. I can do both at the same time.
I don't really get why you'd dip into hexblade for that build. Since your other classes are INT based, gaining the ability to use CHA for weapon attacks seems like at best a lateral move. Seems like in the long run it would be easier just to buff Strength and Intelligence.
Or become a battle smith artificer
I currently don't have access to artificer. Maybe after Tasha's comes out.
A battle smith can use intelligence, instead of strength or dexterity, as their ability for attack and damage rolls with magic weapons, and they can use infusions to create their own magic weapons. And fighters don't need strength 13 to multiclass so long as they have dexterity 13, which you'd want anyway as an artificer in medium armor.
In fact, the artificer's saving throw proficiencies are constitution and intelligence, so you get the only one you really care about. I'd start there, then multiclass into fighter if I was going to multiclass at all. But then there's wizard to consider.
Honestly, it's all kind of a mess. I don't honestly see the point.
I’d recommend going full Wizard and taking the Bladesinger subclass. I hear it’s also going to receive some improvements in Tasha’s Couldron of Everything, such as being able to replace one of its multiple attacks with a cantrip such as Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. It typically synergises with more with DEX builds than the STR we traditionally associate with the fighter.
I’d recommend going full Wizard and taking the Bladesinger subclass. I hear it’s also going to receive some improvements in Tasha’s Couldron of Everything, such as being able to replace one of its multiple attacks with a cantrip such as Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. It typically synergises with more with DEX builds than the STR we traditionally associate with the fighter.
I would recommend the same. You can even get Tough feat as a vHuman in order be more tanky, having equitable HP as a d8 class.
I’d recommend going full Wizard and taking the Bladesinger subclass. I hear it’s also going to receive some improvements in Tasha’s Couldron of Everything, such as being able to replace one of its multiple attacks with a cantrip such as Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. It typically synergises with more with DEX builds than the STR we traditionally associate with the fighter.
I would recommend the same. You can even get Tough feat as a vHuman in order be more tanky, having equitable HP as a d8 class.
Good suggestion. You’ll also have access to the full wizard’s spell list, meaning you can choose a number or spells to improve your survivability, such as the necromancy spell False Life (which also upcasts nicely) to grant you more hit points.
From this point onwards as a spellsword, your greatest challenge is less deciding which spells to cast, but rather when to cast them as there are many good spell options for you here. False Life has a casting time of 1 action, but so does Mirror Image, meaning you’ll want to cast your stack of buff spells before combat initiative to maximise your action economy, but not cast spells TOO soon as to waste your precious spell slots on those vital spells with shorter durations.
I should add that Bladesinger is currently restricted to Elves and Half-Elves, but your DM can waive this or wait for the Tasha’s version to drop which doesn’t have the same racial restrictions.
I’d recommend going full Wizard and taking the Bladesinger subclass. I hear it’s also going to receive some improvements in Tasha’s Couldron of Everything, such as being able to replace one of its multiple attacks with a cantrip such as Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. It typically synergises with more with DEX builds than the STR we traditionally associate with the fighter.
I would recommend the same. You can even get Tough feat as a vHuman in order be more tanky, having equitable HP as a d8 class.
Taking Tough actually bumps a wizard's average HP up to the equivalent of a d10.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
I’d recommend going full Wizard and taking the Bladesinger subclass. I hear it’s also going to receive some improvements in Tasha’s Couldron of Everything, such as being able to replace one of its multiple attacks with a cantrip such as Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. It typically synergises with more with DEX builds than the STR we traditionally associate with the fighter.
I would recommend the same. You can even get Tough feat as a vHuman in order be more tanky, having equitable HP as a d8 class.
Good suggestion. You’ll also have access to the full wizard’s spell list, meaning you can choose a number or spells to improve your survivability, such as the necromancy spell False Life (which also upcasts nicely) to grant you more hit points.
From this point onwards as a spellsword, your greatest challenge is less deciding which spells to cast, but rather when to cast them as there are many good spell options for you here. False Life has a casting time of 1 action, but so does Mirror Image, meaning you’ll want to cast your stack of buff spells before combat initiative to maximise your action economy, but not cast spells TOO soon as to waste your precious spell slots on those vital spells with shorter durations.
I should add that Bladesinger is currently restricted to Elves and Half-Elves, but your DM can waive this or wait for the Tasha’s version to drop which doesn’t have the same racial restrictions.
Tasha’s will reprint Bladesinger and they already stated the racial restriction is gone. Good points about action economy on a Bladesinger. I usually don’t like Mirror Image on characters who have a really good AC, feels like a waste. If I don’t have time to setup in advance, my regular 1st round would activate Bladesong (bonus action) + Attack/Dodge/Cast a good spell (no Concentration).
Then follow-up with Shadow Blade and start attacking.
I’d recommend going full Wizard and taking the Bladesinger subclass. I hear it’s also going to receive some improvements in Tasha’s Couldron of Everything, such as being able to replace one of its multiple attacks with a cantrip such as Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. It typically synergises with more with DEX builds than the STR we traditionally associate with the fighter.
I would recommend the same. You can even get Tough feat as a vHuman in order be more tanky, having equitable HP as a d8 class.
Taking Tough actually bumps a wizard's average HP up to the equivalent of a d10.
Unfortunately no... you will be 2 points behind assuming CON 16 (+3).
The Con score doesn't actually matter as long as it's the same. You'll be 2 HP behind at 1st level but receive the same average HP per level after that. And by third level at the latest, 2HP doesn't make a noticeable difference.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
With my current fighter (dex Psiknight)I'm planning to go full fighter till level 11 (currantly 7, one or two sesions from 8), then whnI get the holy grail of 3-d attack I'm going to switch for Bladesinger wizard. Because +4 AC from bladesingining is insane on a character with already decent AC, and on level 17 if a campaign goes that far I'd get to switch one of my three attacks with supercharged booming blade which works wonders with Psiknight's ability to push people around.
With my current fighter (dex Psiknight)I'm planning to go full fighter till level 11 (currantly 7, one or two sesions from 8), then whnI get the holy grail of 3-d attack I'm going to switch for Bladesinger wizard. Because +4 AC from bladesingining is insane on a character with already decent AC, and on level 17 if a campaign goes that far I'd get to switch one of my three attacks with supercharged booming blade which works wonders with Psiknight's ability to push people around.
And you’ll also get access to Shield, Absorb Elements, Protection from Evil & Good and Mage Armor, that will also increase your AC over Studded Leather or Half-Plate (assuming you have no magic armor). This will be a really good combination.
Just take care because multiple instances of Extra Attack don’t stack. Fighter 11 / Bladesinger 6 is totally subpar. Or you’ll attack three times without any cantrip possibility or you’ll attack two times using one cantrip from the Bladesinger ability. I don’t recommend move to that. Stop at Bladesinger 5 when you get Haste and come back fully to Wizard... if you manage to get some Warcaster in your build, Booming Blade can still be really good in OAs.
Although I've been on DDB for over a year, I'm just starting a new play group. One of my players is interested in starting as a Fighter, then multiclassing to Wizard. As a preparatory step, he chose the Magic Initiate feat.
I, obviously, suggested he not use INT as his dump stat in preparation for his class addition. And completely forgot about Eldritch Knight.
There are tons of variables to consider, I suppose, when trying to decide which is better for that player's style, but it made me think a bit about this.
As an EK, he'll never get spells that are 5th level or higher. He'll also need to wait one extra level (3rd) to get spells; whereas, if he MCs to Fighter 1/Wizard 1 at 2nd level, he'll get his complement of Wizard spells.
Let's look at the extremes for MC (Fighter 1/Wizard 19; Fighter 19/Wizard 1) and then the middle ground (Fighter 10/Wizard 10). First off, if he only takes one level in Wizard, it makes this discussion moot. At an even split, he'll get two 5th-level spells and three bumps in Arcane Tradition. As a F1/W19, well, boom.
This all assumes he doesn't take EK while MCing (which, maybe, someone else would want to analyze).
My head's already spinning trying to digest how these could all play out. What do you think?
This really depends on what your player wants to accomplish by multiclassing. For example, if he just wants to be a fighter who can use a bit of magic to augment his figherness, just straight EK does the trick. If wants to be a primary spell caster who can wear armor and a shield, one level of Cleric is the best rout (it sacrifices NO spell slots). Two levels of fighter will let him Fireball - Action Surge - Fireball. There are so many combinations, it just depends on why he wants to do it.
Generally, I feel that EK doesn't really scratch the itch well for an arcane gish. Ek can be very strong, however most people look for a fighter-mage when they think EK, and that's not really the case. EK is a fighter, who has limited access to magic. If you choose spells that make you a better fighter, EK will be fun. If you're looking to be really magicky, and not as much fightery, EK will probably not get it done for you and MC will be a more solid choice.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Trying to figure out if there's an error in the PHB or if this is by design. Was looking at the rules for multiclassing and noticed the following:
You determine your available spell slots by adding together all your levels in the bard, cleric, druid, sorcerer, and wizard classes, half your levels (rounded down) in the paladin and ranger classes, and a third of your fighter or rogue levels (rounded down) if you have the Eldritch Knight or the Arcane Trickster feature.
But if I look at the progression for the Eldritch Knight, it actually rounds up. Unless you advance to an exact multiple of 3, you slip a level when you add a level of Wizard.
By these rules, EK10 is equivalent to level 4, but EK10/W1 is also level 4 for spell slots.
Thus: EK10/W10 = 13; EK11/W9 = 12; EK12/W8 = 12 . . . Is this by design, or should it be EK10/W10 = 14; EK11/W9 = 13; EK12/W8 = 12 ??
Assuming it's as designed, if you're going to split them, you might as well do EK12/W8 and sacrifice access to 5th-level spells in favor of an additional feat/ability bonus with no loss of spell slots. I mean, you aren't going for a power caster in the first place if you are combining these classes.
OTOH, pairing EK with Bard (College of Swords) would get you the same level of spell access while allowing you to use your weapon as an arcane focus plus it grants an extra fighting style. Down-side, of course, being that you'd need to have good Str/Dex & Int & Cha.
Are you referring to the character builder in DDB? If so, the PHB is correct, and you've discovered a bug. If there is a contradiction between two officially published sources (DDB character builder is /not/ a definitive rules source) then that requires additional clarification.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Are you referring to the character builder in DDB? If so, the PHB is correct, and you've discovered a bug. If there is a contradiction between two officially published sources (DDB character builder is /not/ a definitive rules source) then that requires additional clarification.
I think there's a contradiction within the PHB, or at the very least, extremely inaccurate wording. The multiclassing section in Chapter 6 talks about how you should use a third of the Eldritch Knight level rounded down. However, if you look at the Eldritch Knight spell casting table in the fighter section in Chapter 3 the number of spells and the number of spell slots goes up at 4th level, 7th level, 11th level, and so on, which is not a third rounded down (a third rounded down should increase at level 6, not 7 or 4), and the spell slot numbers, for example, a 4th level Eldritch Knight, are consistent with 2nd level on the multiclass spellcaster table.
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=========================== Laugh at life or life will laugh at you.
Current D&D Characters: Kromen Flintfist, Hill Dwarf Order of the Scribes Wizard/Armorer Artificer Eiphrok, Half-Orc Oath of Glory Paladin/Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer
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multiclass fighter/wizard; eldritch knight gets way too few spells and slots in my mind; I have had good success with a wizard/fighter so far
Rogue Shadow, the DM (and occasional) PC with schemes of inventive thinking
My current character is a triple-class Eldritch Knight Fighter/Hexblade Warlock/War Magic Wizard, although to be fair, I'm still one level-up away from officially claiming the Eldritch Knight subclass.
I took Fighter 1 for heavy armor and shields. I was a weird 1st level fighter with +1 strength, +1 intelligence, +2 charisma and no ranged attacks.
Then took hexblade warlock 1 for the ability to use charisma rather than strength or dexterity for weapon attacks (as well as gaining a 1st-level spell slot with shield and hellish rebuke, and gaining two cantrips, with Eldritch Blast still being my character's only ranged attack).
Next I took wizard 1 to gain 3 more cantrips, two prepared spells (absorb elements and feather fall) as well as four ritual spells (find familiar, comprehend languages, detect magic and identify... unlike most ritual casters, wizards don't have to prepare rituals to cast them, the rituals just have to be in their book).
Then I built warlock up to level 5, gaining the pact of the blade weapon, agonizing blast, improved pact weapon and thirsty blade along the way.
Then took a second level of wizard going war magic primarily to get better saving throws... I'm done leveling wizard now.
On my last level up I took second level of fighter for action surge.
I'll take Eldritch Knight next for more spell slots (including, thanks to multiclassing rules, two second level spell slots... right now, I don't have actual second level slots despite having second level spells, I have three first level slots from wizard and two third level pact slots from warlock). I'll mostly build up fighter from here, but after I reach level 5 fighter (and gain extra attack), I'll take one more warlock level so I can swap out thirsty blade with another invocation, then go back to fighter for however many levels I have left.
If he reaches level 20, he'll be Eldritch Knight 12/Hexblade Warlock 6/War Magic Wizard 2. Yeah, he won't have any high level spells, topping out at 3rd level spells and I believe top out at 3rd level slots, but he'll be a decent tank who would rather hit something with his trusty warhammer than rely on magic for damage while still having plenty of support magic and some options for when he can't reach his enemy.
===========================
Laugh at life or life will laugh at you.
Current D&D Characters:
Kromen Flintfist, Hill Dwarf Order of the Scribes Wizard/Armorer Artificer
Eiphrok, Half-Orc Oath of Glory Paladin/Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer
I don't really get why you'd dip into hexblade for that build. Since your other classes are INT based, gaining the ability to use CHA for weapon attacks seems like at best a lateral move. Seems like in the long run it would be easier just to buff Strength and Intelligence.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Or become a battle smith artificer
You are suggesting I should buff two stats. I only need to buff one.
With this build, other than having strength at 13 and intelligence at 13, I can ignore both stats (not counting skill checks and saving throws, of course), as the wizard spells I've taken and the Eldritch Knight spells I plan to take don't actually use intelligence at all. Shield, feather fall, absorb elements, longstrider, the various ritual spells... none of them use the intelligence modifier for either spell DC save or attack bonuses, yet the spells are extremely useful to have. My damage dealing spells are warlock (Eldritch Blast for attack, Hellish Rebuke for reactions), which use charisma (which currently is +3). And by going hexblade, I can use charisma as weapon damage as well, so as long as my strength is high enough to wear chain mail heavy armor and qualify for the fighter class, I'm set there as well.
When a typical fighter/wizard gets a stat boost, they have to decide if they want their weapons or spells to become more powerful. I can do both at the same time.
I currently don't have access to artificer. Maybe after Tasha's comes out.
===========================
Laugh at life or life will laugh at you.
Current D&D Characters:
Kromen Flintfist, Hill Dwarf Order of the Scribes Wizard/Armorer Artificer
Eiphrok, Half-Orc Oath of Glory Paladin/Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer
A battle smith can use intelligence, instead of strength or dexterity, as their ability for attack and damage rolls with magic weapons, and they can use infusions to create their own magic weapons. And fighters don't need strength 13 to multiclass so long as they have dexterity 13, which you'd want anyway as an artificer in medium armor.
In fact, the artificer's saving throw proficiencies are constitution and intelligence, so you get the only one you really care about. I'd start there, then multiclass into fighter if I was going to multiclass at all. But then there's wizard to consider.
Honestly, it's all kind of a mess. I don't honestly see the point.
I’d recommend going full Wizard and taking the Bladesinger subclass. I hear it’s also going to receive some improvements in Tasha’s Couldron of Everything, such as being able to replace one of its multiple attacks with a cantrip such as Booming Blade or Green Flame Blade. It typically synergises with more with DEX builds than the STR we traditionally associate with the fighter.
I would recommend the same. You can even get Tough feat as a vHuman in order be more tanky, having equitable HP as a d8 class.
Good suggestion. You’ll also have access to the full wizard’s spell list, meaning you can choose a number or spells to improve your survivability, such as the necromancy spell False Life (which also upcasts nicely) to grant you more hit points.
From this point onwards as a spellsword, your greatest challenge is less deciding which spells to cast, but rather when to cast them as there are many good spell options for you here. False Life has a casting time of 1 action, but so does Mirror Image, meaning you’ll want to cast your stack of buff spells before combat initiative to maximise your action economy, but not cast spells TOO soon as to waste your precious spell slots on those vital spells with shorter durations.
I should add that Bladesinger is currently restricted to Elves and Half-Elves, but your DM can waive this or wait for the Tasha’s version to drop which doesn’t have the same racial restrictions.
Taking Tough actually bumps a wizard's average HP up to the equivalent of a d10.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Tasha’s will reprint Bladesinger and they already stated the racial restriction is gone. Good points about action economy on a Bladesinger. I usually don’t like Mirror Image on characters who have a really good AC, feels like a waste. If I don’t have time to setup in advance, my regular 1st round would activate Bladesong (bonus action) + Attack/Dodge/Cast a good spell (no Concentration).
Then follow-up with Shadow Blade and start attacking.
Unfortunately no... you will be 2 points behind assuming CON 16 (+3).
The Con score doesn't actually matter as long as it's the same. You'll be 2 HP behind at 1st level but receive the same average HP per level after that. And by third level at the latest, 2HP doesn't make a noticeable difference.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
With my current fighter (dex Psiknight)I'm planning to go full fighter till level 11 (currantly 7, one or two sesions from 8), then whnI get the holy grail of 3-d attack I'm going to switch for Bladesinger wizard. Because +4 AC from bladesingining is insane on a character with already decent AC, and on level 17 if a campaign goes that far I'd get to switch one of my three attacks with supercharged booming blade which works wonders with Psiknight's ability to push people around.
And you’ll also get access to Shield, Absorb Elements, Protection from Evil & Good and Mage Armor, that will also increase your AC over Studded Leather or Half-Plate (assuming you have no magic armor). This will be a really good combination.
Just take care because multiple instances of Extra Attack don’t stack. Fighter 11 / Bladesinger 6 is totally subpar. Or you’ll attack three times without any cantrip possibility or you’ll attack two times using one cantrip from the Bladesinger ability. I don’t recommend move to that. Stop at Bladesinger 5 when you get Haste and come back fully to Wizard... if you manage to get some Warcaster in your build, Booming Blade can still be really good in OAs.
This really depends on what your player wants to accomplish by multiclassing. For example, if he just wants to be a fighter who can use a bit of magic to augment his figherness, just straight EK does the trick. If wants to be a primary spell caster who can wear armor and a shield, one level of Cleric is the best rout (it sacrifices NO spell slots). Two levels of fighter will let him Fireball - Action Surge - Fireball. There are so many combinations, it just depends on why he wants to do it.
Generally, I feel that EK doesn't really scratch the itch well for an arcane gish. Ek can be very strong, however most people look for a fighter-mage when they think EK, and that's not really the case. EK is a fighter, who has limited access to magic. If you choose spells that make you a better fighter, EK will be fun. If you're looking to be really magicky, and not as much fightery, EK will probably not get it done for you and MC will be a more solid choice.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
Trying to figure out if there's an error in the PHB or if this is by design. Was looking at the rules for multiclassing and noticed the following:
But if I look at the progression for the Eldritch Knight, it actually rounds up. Unless you advance to an exact multiple of 3, you slip a level when you add a level of Wizard.
By these rules, EK10 is equivalent to level 4, but EK10/W1 is also level 4 for spell slots.
Thus: EK10/W10 = 13; EK11/W9 = 12; EK12/W8 = 12 . . . Is this by design, or should it be EK10/W10 = 14; EK11/W9 = 13; EK12/W8 = 12 ??
Assuming it's as designed, if you're going to split them, you might as well do EK12/W8 and sacrifice access to 5th-level spells in favor of an additional feat/ability bonus with no loss of spell slots. I mean, you aren't going for a power caster in the first place if you are combining these classes.
OTOH, pairing EK with Bard (College of Swords) would get you the same level of spell access while allowing you to use your weapon as an arcane focus plus it grants an extra fighting style. Down-side, of course, being that you'd need to have good Str/Dex & Int & Cha.
Are you referring to the character builder in DDB? If so, the PHB is correct, and you've discovered a bug. If there is a contradiction between two officially published sources (DDB character builder is /not/ a definitive rules source) then that requires additional clarification.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
I think there's a contradiction within the PHB, or at the very least, extremely inaccurate wording. The multiclassing section in Chapter 6 talks about how you should use a third of the Eldritch Knight level rounded down. However, if you look at the Eldritch Knight spell casting table in the fighter section in Chapter 3 the number of spells and the number of spell slots goes up at 4th level, 7th level, 11th level, and so on, which is not a third rounded down (a third rounded down should increase at level 6, not 7 or 4), and the spell slot numbers, for example, a 4th level Eldritch Knight, are consistent with 2nd level on the multiclass spellcaster table.
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Laugh at life or life will laugh at you.
Current D&D Characters:
Kromen Flintfist, Hill Dwarf Order of the Scribes Wizard/Armorer Artificer
Eiphrok, Half-Orc Oath of Glory Paladin/Draconic Bloodline Sorcerer